Legal Question in Family Law in United Kingdom

Re: Are school staff members allowed to make children cut their hair even if the

Hello. Thank you for your question to Law Guru. I am impressed by your willingness to help others to right the wrongs of the world and will gladly assist so that you might then move on perhaps to other major problems of the world such as the famine in Niger, earthquake Katrina, and the many human rights issues confronting developing nations.

The answer to your question is that without a doubt your friend has a legal right to grow his hair as he would wish. If the staff at your school try to deny this right and make him cut his hair they could well be guilty of a number of offences and even face criminal charges. Such would doubtless bring an end to their careers and their ability to work with young people.

The matter is not however that simple. I see that you attend a boarding school. Although I appreciate that at times it may not seem such, the fact of going to such a school offers you a number of advantages. These include education, social contact, and generally preparation for the rigours of adult life. As in all things in life there is a price to pay. The price here includes compliance with the schools code of conduct which I expect includes rules about hairstyle. What this means is that if you wish to take advantage of what the school has to offer you, you must in return comply with their rules. If you do not wish to do this there is an easy route open to you which is to leave the school. Thus if you feel unable to comply with the rules and regulations of your school you should discuss this with your parents and the school with a view to leaving and abandoning what I am sure are the many advantages on offer by the school to what I genuinely believe to be in you a talented person with obvious potential. Just do not think that the law is there to resolve for you every personal problem or that there is a legal remedy whenever you disagree with someone.

Kind regards

Andrew Dutton

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