A TEENAGER'S Red Nose Day stunt landed him in hot water with his school.

Robert Taylor, of Manchester Road, Vulcan Village, had joked with teachers about shaving his head for Comic Relief.

The 15-year-old went ahead and cropped off his locks drumming up £30 in sponsorship.

But shortly after Robert arrived at Newton Community High School last Friday, headteacher Peter Reed said Robert had knowingly flaunted school rules and imposed a week-long ban .

"Robert knew perfectly well what the rules were," said Mr Reed. "He's not just had his head shaved - he's gone right the way down to the flesh. They call it a bare blade cut.

"Uniform and appearance are very important at this school. Robert has admitted to me that he knew exactly what he was doing, but he went ahead without approaching any of us."

He added: "Robert's a smashing, happy-go-lucky lad. But there's nothing I can do to correct the length of his hair and we can't have him parading around school.

But Robert's mum Beverly is unhappy with the school's action. She said: "I'm really annoyed. They've given him work to do at home and told him he can't go back until his hair grows. If it was something which might affect Robert's work I could understand it. But he's partly dyslexic and he needs his education.

"Robert's a good-hearted lad. All he was doing was trying to raise a bit of money for charity - he drummed up £30 in sponsorship. I feel he's being made an example of at the cost of his education," she said.

The school has given Robert the option to return to work in isolation.

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