THE news that a schoolgirl was ordered to remove her hair braid or face being barred from the classroom because it was ‘extreme’ has sparked a debate online.

Lancashire Telegraph readers took to the website yesterday to voice their views on the controversial story.

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Ellie-Mae Holmes, 15, from Ewood, Blackburn, was warned by Our Lady and St John Catholic College in Blackburn that she would also be barred from school trips because of the plait.

The teenager along with her sisters, Lucy, 11, and Katie, six, got their hair braided in Greece during a family holiday three weeks ago. But yesterday Ellie-Mae was told she had fallen foul of the school’s policy.

Her mother, Becky Gemmell, 33, said the school had not had an issue with her daughter’s hair until Monday when her daughter called home.

Some commenters yesterday came out in favour of the family while others spoke up in defence of the school.

‘Ol’ Crump’ said: “The parent should be supporting the disciplines the school is trying to instil on the pupils, not trying to undermine them.”

“School is not a fashion parade.”

‘JacktheladfromWrexham’ said: “Standards in our country are shocking. Congratulations to the school and do not back down.”

These views were supported by ‘woolywords’ who said: “The clue is in the definition of the word, uniform. If you dare to be different, expect repercussions.”

While ‘WonkyDonkey33’ said: “All schools have a policy regarding hair and the styles that they allow.

“Majority of schools for health and safety deem any hair longer than shoulder length should be tied back.

“Parents should be backing up the schools policy and discipline procedure.”

However, Mrs Gemmell hit back saying that the ‘last she looked a single thread of cotton wasn’t extreme’.

She said: “When one child can have a braid, at the same school, and one can’t, how isn’t that discriminatory?”

“It is absolutely about the lack of consistency with the school.

“My daughters attend school regularly and I am always in full support of the school and their policies “However, how can removing a child in her final year of school from education because of a single cotton thread in her hair be anything other than detrimental to her schooling?”

An Our Lady and St John Catholic College spokesman said on Tuesday: “At Our Lady and St John we set high aspirations and expectations of our pupils, including uniform and personal presentation.

“This is in keeping with the first-class professional organisations we expect our students to aspire to and our experiences of other outstanding schools.”

“We always try to work closely with our parents to provide a first class education for every OLSJ Learner.”