A LYDNEY mother is fuming after her son was ordered to sit 'in isolation' because of his spikey hairstyle.

Michaela Marshall said her son Scott, 15, was dismayed at the 'punishment' which she says was meted out by Whitecross School for no good reason.

But the school says the incident was simply a case of Scott being given advice on his presentation, to which he over-reacted.

"Scott is being unfairly picked on," Miss Marshall said. "When he first went in with spikey hair one teacher even congratulated him. But then in the next period another teacher told him to go out and wash it in the toilets."

The isolation move upset her so much she had decided to keep Scott at home.

Whitecross head teacher Olivia McQuillan, who on Monday returned to the school after recovery from major surgery, said acting head Nigel Sampson had taken Scott to one side and suggested he tidied his spikes but the boy had objected.

"As a result of his refusal to cooperate he was placed in isolation. A member of staff is present at all times and the pupil's work is brought in – no schooling is missed. It is one of the measures the government has brought in for us in recent years.

"We do allow spikey hair – let me set the record straight – so long as it is neat and tidy," said Mrs McQuillan. "Scott's was, let us say, a little ragged round the edges.

"We set very high standards, not just in our academic achievements and sport but also in appearance. In fact I have just had a letter complimenting us on how well behaved our pupils are."

She said on Monday she was disappointed Scott had not returned to the 900-pupil school but he would be welcomed back.

"There is certainly no question of picking on the family," said Mrs McQuillan.