A school that has been in the news over the past year or so, for having a slightly bizarre approach to discipline is at it again.
This time they’re coming for the childrens’ haircuts.
The Charter Academy in Great Yarmouth has written home to all of the boys at the school’s parents to tell them exactly what they think is an acceptable haircut – and it does not include a style that’s been dubbed the ‘Meet me at McDonald’s’.
So what is a McDonald’s haircut?
Well, apparently it’s a kind of permed top style with a shaved back and sides and it’s basically every schoolboy in the UK’s hair just now.
If the children aren’t sure if their hair is acceptable the school has offered to show them a helpful PowerPoint presentation with some guidelines as to what is appropriate.
The school’s head teacher, Barry Smith has spent the time since he started in his position trying to instil an old fashioned style of discipline in the kids in his charge.
Needless to say, some of the parents are not happy about the decision, probably not least because they’ll have to find childcare for their floppy-haired children if they get sent home.
The Mother Rachael Havens told the Sun: “You can’t take time off sick as it affects your education – but they will happily send you home because they don’t like your hairstyle.”
Another, Sophia Soares said: “I think it is all getting silly now, a hairstyle does not affect a child’s learning.”
Other haircuts that are banned under the school rules include high top fades, overgrown fringes, hair that is deemed to be excessively tall, and any variation on the Mohican.
Fascinatingly, they have not found girls’ hair to be a problem.
Changes had to be made when Mr Smith took over – the school had some of the worst GCSE results in the country when he took over – and boy, has he made some changes.
Students are encouraged to go straight home after school, get to bed for 9pm, and have a 6.30am wake-up call.
They’ve also introduced strict rules about travelling between classes (single file, please) as well as the use of mobile phones is right out – they’ll be confiscated for weeks if seen or heard.
Controversially they also put sick buckets into the classrooms to try to crack down on students trying to get out of lessons by pretending to be ill.
Image credit: Twitter
The guidelines say: “You never pretend to be ill to get out of work because we expect you to work through it. If you feel sick we will give you a bucket. If you vomit – no problem! You’ve got your bucket.
“That’s probably all your body wanted – to vomit. If you are really ill we will make sure you get all the attention you need.”