A head teacher has defended his school’s haircut policy after a pupil was pulled out of class for having a style deemed “extreme”.

Strood Academy boss Jon Richardson says the ban on skin fades is part of dress code guidelines that bring “equality and focus” to the school.

The school’s policy states: “No extreme haircuts. eg: Skin fades, graphics, lines and must be a minimum of grade one cut (senior leadership teams discretion).”

But Barry Sandman, whose step-son Liam Farmer was put in a behavioural unit, has called the measure “ridiculous” and “unnecessary”.

The 15-year-old has the skin fade style as a way of cooling his neck because he suffers from severe eczema which gets worse when his head is hot.

The teenager visited the barbers on Saturday, September 21 and remained in lessons until Wednesday, September 25 when he was told his trim did not meet guidelines. He was placed in the unit the next day.

His furious mum went into the school, which is part of the Leigh Academies Trust, and took him home.

Liam spent Friday at home doing school work and visited the doctor where he obtained a letter confirming his skin condition.

He was allowed back into lessons on Monday, September 30, as his hair had been deemed to have grown out long enough, Barry says.

But the 47-year-old says his stepson should have been exempt from the rules due to his eczema.

The builder who lives in Strood told KentOnline: “Something needs to change as Liam shouldn’t be missing out teaching time in his final year of GCSEs for a haircut that looks smart.

"It’s not like he has a mohawk, massively long braids or blue-dyed hair. It is a sensible haircut. Pretty much every teenager in Medway has a similar haircut.

“Professionals have similar trims and it would not stop him from getting a job.

“Plus he has his haircut like this as he has suffered from eczema for years and the skin fade keeps his head cool during the autumn and summer months as the heat from wearing a blazer, shirt and coat makes him sweat and irritates his skin.

“He has been having the same haircut for years and we have provided the school with the medical details but because it doesn't say explicitly that he needs a skin fade the school did not take it into account.

“Him being taken out of class for this is ridiculous and unnecessary. It did not stop him or other kids from getting on with their work.”

Barry says he called reception “18 times” without an answer over the incident and will be lodging a formal written complaint.

But Mr Richardson, who oversees more than 1,300 pupils, says there will be no rule changes.

He said in a statement: “Strood Academy is committed to maintaining a positive and inclusive learning environment where high standards of behaviour and appearance are upheld.

“These standards are consistently applied across the academy to ensure all students are prepared for learning and that our school community remains focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for every child.

“We are aware of concerns raised by a parent regarding a student who was placed in the academy’s behavioural unit following concerns over the length of his haircut, which did not meet the academy’s uniform policy.

“The academy has a clear and well-established dress code, including guidelines on appropriate hairstyles, which is communicated to parents and students at the beginning of each academic year.

“These guidelines are in place to promote a sense of equality and focus across the academy.

‘We always take into consideration any specific circumstances, including medical conditions, and seek to work collaboratively with parents to resolve matters…’

“We are in communication with the parent and have offered a meeting to discuss their concerns in more detail.

“We always take into consideration any specific circumstances, including medical conditions, and seek to work collaboratively with parents to resolve matters.

“At this time, no formal complaint has been lodged, and we continue to engage with the parent to find an appropriate resolution.”