THE parents of a schoolgirl are furious because she has been punished for her hairstyle.

Natalie Morris has been ‘internally excluded’ from Ysgol Bryn Alun in Gwersyllt after staff deemed her new haircut “offensive”.

The 14 year-old, who hopes to be a hairdresser when she is older, had part of her hair shaved short and ‘tram-line’ style patterns added.

Now Natalie has to sit by the head of year in all her lessons and is not allowed out of the school at break times.

Mum Dawn told the Leader: “They’re saying it’s offensive and will distract other pupils but I disagree. I don’t see how it can be offensive.”

Natalie is taking a hairdressing course, which has been organised through Ysgol Bryn Alun, and her parents say her new hairstyle is a way of her pursuing this interest.

Dawn added: “Tram lines are just a trend and it’s a way of her expressing her individuality.

“It’s personal choice and with her being passionate about hairdressing it’s just a way of her trying this out.

“She’s never been in trouble before in school and always wears her school uniform correctly. She’s very upset.

“I know they have to have rules but I think this is ridiculous. It’s just a hairstyle.”

Natalie, who is in year 10, had her hair cut last Tuesday and has been told she will be under internal exclusion until it grows back.

She said: “I think it’s ridiculous. I think it’s going to take at least a month for my hair to grow out.

“There was one lad who has spiked hair and they’ve punished him as well. He was put on report.”

Rob Ratcliffe, headteacher at Ysgol Bryn Alun, said: “We have clear standards which all pupils are expected to follow.

“A pupil knowing these standards has chosen to defy the rules and therefore I have applied the appropriate internal sanction consistent with our procedure.”