Many students are breaking school's hair rules, claims mother (From Borehamwood Times)

Mother of Chloe Williams claims many other Hertswood School students have unnatural hair shades

12:10pm Wednesday 19th September 2012 in News By Anna Slater

Chloe, 13, and her mother Alexis Williams, after Chloe was banned from lessons because of her faded hair colour

A teenager sent home from school for having faded purple hair is not the only student with an unnatural hair colour, according to her mother.

Chloe Williams, 13, was banned from lessons at Hertswood School until she dyed her locks back to a natural shade.

But her angry mother, Alexis Williams, of Rossington Avenue, said many of Chloe’s peers have “vibrant” hair colours and believes the rule is being applied selectively.

The 34-year-old, who also has a son, said: “It is a laughable matter.

“I sat outside the school after Chloe was sent home for around five minutes and spotted around ten other girls with unnatural hair colours.

“There was everything from bright red to plum and in my opinion they looked worse than Chloe’s hair. None of those girls have been sent home.

“Fair enough I broke the rule and I hold my hands up and admit I got it wrong, but it should be applied to everyone, not selectively.

“I feel the school singled Chloe out and there is just so much inequality there, especially because her hair was barely purple anymore.  

“I tried to tell them this but it is falling on deaf ears.”

Chloe has since been allowed back at the Thrift Farm Lane school after a professional hairdresser offered her services to Chloe for free.

Mrs Williams, a full-time carer to her disabled husband, Jonathan, allowed the year nine pupil to use the temporary colour over summer but it had not faded as hoped.

She missed spent a week at home whilst her mother battled to get her back into school, and claims no homework assignments were sent home.

Jan Palmer Sayer, head teacher of Hertswood School, said the rules were not being applied unequally.

She added: “When Chloe came to school her hair was absolutely vibrant. We go as far as we can to apply the rules as evenly and as best we can, and generally we do get it right.

“There is a fine line between an artificial colour and a natural one. Post box red, for instance, is not allowed.

“The rules are not being applied unequally.”