Schoolboy told he can’t shave head for his Grantham friend as it goes against school uniform policy

A student has been told that he can’t shave his head for charity by his school as it goes against school uniform policy.

Shay Parker, 13, a student at Charles Read Academy, Corby Glen decided to shave his head for his friend Charlie Tacthell, who was diagnosed with a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Shay’s mum Deborah Bass said that she has been left appalled after the school said that it goes against school uniform policy.

Deborah said: “I called the school on the Tuesday to ask for permission and the receptionist said someone would called me back.

“I didn’t hear anything for several days so I rang back and they said that they thought someone had already spoken to me.

 “The school told me that Shay can’t have his head shaved because it goes against the uniform policy and that he would be put in isolation until it grows back to a suitable length.”

Deborah says she was shocked at the schools response, especially when five other pupils taking part have been granted permission to do so by The Priory Ruskin School.

“If he was someone that he’d only known for a few months then I’d question it, but this is someone he’s known for years and years.

“I won’t have him kept in isolation. I won’t have him being put on his own and being punished for something he’s doing out of the kindness of his heart,” said Deborah.

The head shave is part of the fundraising missions currently underway for the E39 ward where Charlie is receiving treatment in Nottingham.

“Charlie sent me a message saying said that he and Shay will always be good mates and he is pleased that he is standing by him,” said Deborah.

I won’t have him kept in isolation. I won’t have him being put on his own and being punished for something he’s doing out of the kindness of his heart,” said Deborah.

The head shave is part of the fundraising missions currently underway for the E39 ward where Charlie is receiving treatment in Nottingham.

 “I will stand by my son’s decision to support his good friend Charlie and I will stand by his actions no matter what the outcome will be.”

Mrs Sue Jones, Principle of Charles Read Academy, told Lincolnshire Live : “We support and value our students raising money for charity. “However we have a uniform policy that states students should not have extreme hair styles.

“We have suggested to the mother and the student that he shaves his leg hair instead and we have since had a male member of staff agree to do this and raise money for the charity.

“The other suggestion is that the student has his head shaved in the summer holidays so it will have grown back in time for the new term.”