A teenage girl was recently excluded from Lliswerry High School in Newport, Wales, for dyeing her hair purple, which violated the school’s policy requiring natural hair colors. The incident occurred when 13-year-old Calliah arrived at school with subtle shades of pink and purple in her hair, prompting immediate action from school staff. Calliah was separated from her classmates and was instructed to remain in a different room until her hair was restored to its original color, as per her mother, Lydia Beaumont. Subsequently, Calliah has not been allowed back to her regular classes. The school defended its decision, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the natural hair color policy for all students.
Lydia expressed her disappointment with the school’s handling of the situation, highlighting Calliah’s exemplary behavior and academic record, and her consistent compliance with school rules. She raised concerns about the impact on Calliah’s education and emotional well-being due to the hair color issue. Lydia plans to meet with school officials to address the matter further, emphasizing the need to prioritize more significant issues within the school community.
In response, Lliswerry High School reiterated its uniform policy regarding hair color, emphasizing the requirement for natural hair tones and prohibiting colors like pink, blue, and purple. The school clarified that students who violate the uniform policy are placed in an inclusion room, where they receive guidance from the school’s well-being team and parents are notified of the situation. The school encouraged open communication with parents to address any concerns and work together towards solutions.