A STUDENT has been excluded from Lakers School, Five Acres for having a blonde stripe dyed through his hair.

Corey Turner, 14 of Sunnybank, Coleford had his hair dyed on Wednesday evening, with his mother's permission.

The following day he was excluded from school.

This is the second time Corey has been excluded for having a controversial hairstyle. In 2006 he was asked to stay at home when he had his hair shaved short all over.

His mother, Lisa said: "I am appalled by the way he has been treated. I am fuming and I did have a go at the teacher and told them I thought they were out of order.

"Most of Corey's girl friends have blonde highlights in their hair and as far as I am concerned this is the same thing. It is extremely sexist to deal with someone differently because they are not a girl. I think it has been dealt with unfairly and wrongly."

She says she will not be asking Corey to dye his hair back again. "At the moment I think I'm going to wait because I can't see what all the big fuss is about," she said.

The Lakers School rules state: "Students are expected to look neat and presentable and take a pride in their personal appearance. Extremes of fashions in clothes, make-up or hairstyles are not allowed – hairstyles should not cause any distraction from learning."

Corey said: "I don't think my hair is a distraction to learning. My friends all told me it looked nice because I had just had it done, but after a few days people would stop noticing it. Blonde is a natural hair colour and a lot of girls in my class have blonde in their hair."

Lakers head Mrs Alison Elliott said: "Upholding standards of uniform and personal appearance in a school is a tricky task these days.  Students are continually bombarded with images and advertising promoting the latest styles.

"As well as monitoring standards, schools have a unique role to play in helping youngsters understand these pressures so that they will make the right choices for themselves in the future. 

"Schools' main function is to help youngsters learn and at Lakers our policy on uniform reflects this.  "We do not allow students to sport styles of hair, clothing or accessories that are a distraction from learning.

"Our policy is widely published so that is clear to all who attend the school.  By insisting that students wear a uniform we have fostered a spirit of community that is a major foundation for all. 

"Students who attend Lakers do so in complete confidence that they will be treated fairly.  Upholding standards of uniform and personal appearance is crucial so that all students continue to feel valued as part of the community and are not sidelined because of what they are wearing or because of the way that they look. 

"Students and staff are proud to be part of this vibrant school and we will continue to work to uphold standards for the benefit of our community."