Mother accuses Catholic school of having 'racist hair policy' after daughter ... trends now Mother accuses Catholic school of having a 'racist hair policy' after claiming her daughter was 'banned from the playground and canteen because she braided a heart into her cornrow hairstyle' Jade Samuels said her daughter had been banned from the playground over hair Claims her daughter was isolated from other students over braided hair patterns She said Bishop Challoner Catholic College have a 'racist' hair policy Birmingham school denies that students are prohibited from wearing braids By Madeleine Ross For Mailonline Published: 16:58 GMT, 19 January 2023 | Updated: 17:01 GMT, 19 January 2023 Viewcomments A Catholic school has been plunged into a race row after a furious mother claimed that her daughter was banned from the playground and the canteen because of her braided hair. Jade Samuels alleged that her daughter was barred from parts of the school in a series of angry tweets. Teachers at Bishop Challoner Catholic College in Birmingham are accused of deciding that the student's hair was 'inappropriate' because she had braided a heart on the side of her head. Ms Samuels said: 'My child is banned from the school playground/canteen for her hair, its neatly braided in a natural colour, I gave them a lesson on the history of black womens hairs cultural significance of braiding, they chose violence, @BishopChalloner has a racist hair policy!!!'. Jade Samuels said her daughter had been isolated from other students as a result of the heart pattern braided into her hair The Birmingham school strongly denied that it did not allow students to wear braids after the mother accused them of having a 'racist' hair policy In a second tweet, she added: 'Just for clarity, the issue the school has is with the heart, as if that makes it any less bad'. Bishop Challoner Catholic College insisted that pupils are allowed to wear their hair in braids. Replying to other tweets from supportive social media users, Ms Samuels said she was 'LIVID' and that her daughter 'has to sit on an isolated table from everyone else at breaks because she's broken their racist uniform policy!' She added that she had spoken to a teacher but she did not believe that the school were prepared to change their policy. 'I've had a conversation with the school teacher and the cultural reference black women's hair and they still refuse to change their policy therefore are making it public knowledge that they will not,' she said. The furious mother blasted the school on Twitter for its uniform policies after her child was banned from the school playground over a heart shaped braid hair pattern The school said: 'Bishop Challoner Catholic College is very clear that braids are allowed to be worn in school. If parents/carers have any issues, there are clear procedures in place which they can follow for their concerns to be addressed.' The Catholic school's uniform policy says that the final decision on any hair styles is 'at the discretion of senior staff'. It also specifies that hair is 'smart in appearance' and that students 'do not have shaved/razored hair styles or lines/patterns shaved into the hair'. 'Extreme changes of hair colour are also not permitted', it adds. In a statement the school confirmed that a decision had been made that if shaved patterns were prohibited, braided patters would also be banned. Bishop Challoner Catholic College added that it followed standard disciplinary procedure with students sitting apart at break and lunch times until the uniform code is followed. Students are permitted to sit with friends at the discretion of teachers, the college said. Speaking before the school issued its statement, Brandwood and Kings Heath councillor Lisa Trickett said it was important for schools to respect student's identities. In a statement on Twitter the school said braids were allowed to be worn at the college and that there were procedures in place for parents with concerns The Labour councillor said: 'Cornrows play a part in a child's racial and cultural identity. It is absolutely given we are now a minority-majority city and that we are utterly respectful of that.' Last year the Equality and Human Rights Commission warned schools not to penalise or exclude pupils for wearing their hair in natural afro styles, including cornrows and braids. The commission warned afro-textured hair and hairstyles were disproportionately affected by discrimination. Jackie Killeen, the EHRC's chief regulator, previously said she wanted to stop pupils being singled out for their appearance. Ms Killeen said: 'Every child deserves to be celebrated for who they are and to thrive in school without having to worry about changing their appearance to suit a potentially discriminatory policy.' The EHRC has previously funded legal action in cases of alleged hair discrimination. In 2020, Ruby Williams won £8,500 in an out-of-court settlement against The Urswick School in Hackney, east London, after she was repeatedly sent home because of her afro hair. The school did not accept any liability. Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility