Head Boy, 11, Who Has Never Cut Hair ‘Told To Chop It Off’ By New school

Alfie Howard-Hughes is a star student who scored excellent on his test to enroll in Colchester Royal Grammar School. His parents were elated and he was so happy to be able to finally attend the school of his dream. But one big hurdle stands in the way that puts his future in predication.

Grammar School’s code of conduct policy requires that every male student has their hair grown to no longer than collar length. Meanwhile, Alfie has never cut his hair and it’s now close to growing below his waist.

Alfie considers his hair to be a ‘part of him’.

Ever since Alfie was six, he has been aiming for the school and scored all 11 subjects with flying colors. He wants to be a quantum physicist. Back in Cherry Tree Primary School in Colchester, he was also the first head boy with flowing hair and was required to cut it.

“It’s never been a thing in my mind it has always been there. My hair is a part of me. I don’t just want to do it so I can keep my hair but I want to do it for other boys who have long hair,” says Alfie who wants to change things for others like him.

His mother, Katie Cox, 33, thinks the school has a ‘ridiculous’ policy that creates ‘carbon copies’ of students.

“Rules keep our children safe and that’s important but some rules need to be challenged otherwise we would be living in a cave. I think it’s really outdated, with the world how it is and how far equality has come. They need to let children grow and be themselves, it’s like they’re trying to create cardboard cutouts of each of the children,” Alfie’s mother commented.

“Alfie loves academics, to the point where he was upset that his school was not hard enough on him. He loves learning and we thought grammar school with children who have similar minds would be fantastic,” she added.

Alfie recalls the day he knew he passed, “When my dad got the letter, he picked me up from school and I saw it and just starting crying. We were stood there crying with happiness.” After he took the test in September, he got his results in November and had his place in school confirmed in March.

His father was a student in CRGS and thought the policy would have loosened up a bit.

Alfie wrote a letter to convince them that the policy should be updated.

Alfie’s parents contacted Child Law Advice Service and were not sure that legal steps are worth it.

“They said there was a possible line that its discrimination based on gender but that would involve getting a specialist in public law which is expensive. It’s a really good school and a really good basis of education, it puts you on the right path, and that’s why I don’t want him to miss out because his hair is long,” Katie added.

Gary thought the policy would have changed, but didn’t think that they would be involved in a to-and-fro with the school for this. Alfie has also done a lot of preparation to be able to enter this school. Everything, except for his hair.

“He has sacrificed other clubs to do tutoring so he could be prepared. It’s all him he has led his education we have just back him. His dad thought it was just something that had been in place for a while and that a bit of pressure that the policy would be looked at and reevaluated,” said Katie.

The school rules required students to look neat and tidy, which is where the hair policy falls under.

“Initially, I was told that they were preparing them for a professional environment which we challenged because his dad and his friends in big jobs said that their policies were about looking clean and tidy nothing about the length of men’s hair.

“They then said it was untidy but they have girls in their college that are allowed to have long hair and they have female members of staff,” Katie explained.

“Alfie is happy to wear his hair however they want, in a plait, in a bun or even in a hair net! He just doesn’t want his hair cut,” she added.

The school believes this is a private matter between school and students as well as the fact that the policy is legal. Headmaster John Russell simply gave the following reply, “We have taken legal advice from our solicitors. As this is a private matter between the School, the student, and his parents, we will not be commenting further.”