Schoolgirl aged just 4 banned from photo over bow in her hair
Little Marcella Marino arrived at the Ramsgate Holy Trinity Primary School in Kent this week after her dad, hairdresser Marcello Marino, fashioned her long blonde hair into a bow.
The hairdresser, who owns Marcello’s Hair Salon in Ramsgate, Kent, said his four-year-old daughter had asked him to make her hair ’like a princess’ for the school photo at her reception class.
But when she arrived at the 210-pupil school - which is rated outstanding by Ofsted - she was told her hairstyle breached the school dress code, which outlaws braided hair.
Dad-of-two Mr Marino, 42, said he was ’shocked’ when his daughter returned home to tell him that she wasn’t allowed to wear her hair in a bow.
He said: “Marcella asked me if I could do her hair like a princess for the school photo and I came up with a simple but elegant style, using her hair to make a bow.
“I thought it looked wonderful and Marcella loved it, but when she went for the school photo on Monday (May 21) she was told she wasn’t allowed to wear her hair in that style because of the dress code.
“It isn’t a hair braid, it is quite simply a knot in the shape of a bow, and I should know because I’m a hairdresser.
“I really cannot see a problem with it and all the other parents said she looked fantastic.”
Mr Marino, who is married to Yaice and has another daughter Amelia, three, added: “All the children were told to look smart for the day and that’s why I decided to make a special effort, but in the end it has just caused tears.
“I am so disappointed - I could understand if Marcella arrived with her hair dyed or something, but this is an elegant look which I think the school should be proud of.
“In the end they cancelled the school photo because of a problem over dates, but I’ve been told not to put Marcella’s hair in a bow again."
Normal
Mr Marino said said that reception class teacher Miss Hooper had told him that headmaster David Haughton had told her ’not to allow the hairstyle’ for either normal class or for the school photo.
Mr Marino added: “Marcella is so
- she thought she looked like a princess, but now the school say it is not allowed.”
A spokesman for the school said that hair bands and ribbons must be ’made of dark colours’ such as maroon, navy blue or black and that hair braids are ’not allowed’.
Headteacher David Houghton also said in a letter to parents this week that the class photos had to be cancelled on Monday after the school made a bungle over the dates and that it has been rearranged for June 18.
The letter stated: “Some children arrived at school expecting these still to take place although the photographer is actually now coming on Monday June 18.
“This is entirely the school’s fault as we failed to let you know that the date had been changed.”
“Well done to those children who arrived at school looking especially well groomed. I hope you will arrive at school looking equally smart on the 18th.”
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