AN A-GRADE pupil has been told he cannot return to school if he continues to have braids in his hair.

Miles Coaley, 15, of Ysgol y Berwyn in Bala decided to express himself by wearing braids to school but he was told he could not receive his education unless he removed them.

The year 11 pupil, according to his dad, Brian Coaley, has never had any trouble in school, with a 98 per cent attendance record and is expecting A grades in his GCSE exams this summer.

However, he was told by headteacher Andrew Roberts that he would have to return home on Monday (November 19) morning because his hair style would ‘attract unwanted attention’.

It is typical for girls to wear braids to school if they wish to do so.

Brian Coaley said: “On Thursday last week Miles’ mum braided his hair for three to four hours.

“We think he wanted the hair style after seeing a rapper with it. Miles just wanted to look different.

“It was Children in Need Day on the Friday and he went to school and nothing was said. All his friends and a few of the teachers said he looked cool.

“But when he went to school on Monday he was immediately told to go home.

“He walked home and I did not receive a call from the school to say this had happened which is a neglect of care.

“When he got home I immediately got him in the car and took him back to school.

“I met with the headteacher Andrew Roberts and he said, ‘I don’t want to talk about it, I don’t want hair like that in the school, it will attract the wrong attention’. He was not open to discussion.

“It is Miles’ last year and he has his mock GCSEs soon so we put his education first and took the braids out.

“He’s a good student, he’s never caused any trouble, has good results and comments from his teachers and we expect quite a few As from his exams.

“He has been growing his hair to have braids for a while so he is disappointed to have to take them out.

“How can a hairstyle affect his education?”

In an email sent to Mr Coaley on Monday afternoon, Mr Roberts said “we as a school have asked him not to attend with his hair styled in a fashion which we do not approve of.

“Our school policy states that pupils should not wear their hair in styles that are unusual.

“It would be beneficial for all if Miles is able to remove the braiding and attend school and conform to the policy.”

Ysgol y Berwyn’s school policy states “we expect pupils to style their hair in a tidy fashion, and not in a way that attracts attention.

“Examples of this are colouring their hair in unnatural colours, or in unusual styles.”

When asked whether girls were able to wear braids, the headteacher was unable to comment.