Schoolboy banned over moustache

Exclusive Mike Keegan

July 01, 2009

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EMBARRASSED: Asif Mahmood, left, with his son Akaash

EMBARRASSED: Asif Mahmood, left, with his son Akaash 1/2 Play Slideshow

A DAD has slammed a school's decision to send his son home for having a moustache - because it doesn't fit in with a strict uniform policy.

Akaash Iqbal, 14, was banished from Manchester Academy - and says teachers told him to shave or not be allowed back.

His dad, Asif Mahmood, claims he was called by the school and told to be on standby with a razor.

But Mr Mahmood, 42, refused and has branded the saga ridiculous as Akaash is stranded at home ahead of an important exam.

Mr Mahmood, from Fallowfield, said: "It's a nonsense. He's not shaving - he's only 14 and if he starts now he'll have to do it for the rest of his life.

"They told us it [the moustache] was not part of the uniform. I thought it was a joke at first.

"They should make it a girls' school. And what about Sikh children whose religion tells them not to shave? Are they not allowed to go there?

'Staggered'

"I'm honestly staggered by it. I had a call telling me to have a razor on standby, shave Asif when he got home and send him back.

"I wasn't going to do that. He's just a growing boy. By the time he's 16 he'd have stubble all over his face."

Akaash, who is in Year 10, said he was embarrassed by what had happened.

He said: "They've embarrassed me and they've embarrassed my family. I was walking down the corridor to registration and one of the teachers took me into a room. I was made to stay there for an hour.

"They then told me that my moustache was against the uniform rules and told me to go home and shave it.

"I'm not shaving it at my age. It will ruin my face. I've got a GCSE to sit and am taking the rest of them next year but I can't go to school. It's just not nice. I feel left out."

The Academy, in Moss Side, is known to have a strict uniform policy which even staff are expected to comply with.

A spokeswoman said it was a standard expectation that children are clean shaven.

She said: "We do not believe it is appropriate to comment on individual students within the Academy.

"The Academy has established rules on personal appearance and dress which students are expected to adhere to."

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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

L L Fontelroy (01/07/2009 at 10:02)

It could be worse, he could have his dad's hair, are Bucks Fizz making a comeback?

Mike S, Manchester (01/07/2009 at 10:05)

Loving his Dad's auburn mullet!

Ace , manchester (01/07/2009 at 10:11)

"He said: "They've embarrassed me" I think youve embarrassed yourself more by putting it in the press? Surely if you had kept it to yourself and the school not to many people would have bothrered.Why not just comply to the school rules or if not find another school for your child.Its that same old addage ,if you dont like it find something that you like dont expect others to change.

Du Pain De Tete (01/07/2009 at 10:21)

Best Photo ever!

alec dicks, manchester (01/07/2009 at 10:22)

just have a shave,
whats the problem

gsw ex CLGS, Warwickshire (01/07/2009 at 10:23)

What is happening? Rules re uniform fine, but forcing adolescents to shave - how ridiculous. I think the head needs some lessons in common sense.

Guten Tag, Manchester (01/07/2009 at 10:26)

Ridiculous! I could understand it if he was parading around in dyed red hair, but a tash? Whoever made up this rule at the Academy really needs to get a life. What next, shave his arm pit hair??

Billy Brag (01/07/2009 at 10:29)

Get the cat to lick it off then lad, you look very silly. The school has set out it's stall, if you don't like their rules there are many more schools to choose from. Good on the school for standing by their values and standards!

Mark smith (01/07/2009 at 10:29)

The Acadamy may have a strict uniform policy but your face isn't part of your uniform, what next send kids home because they have too many spots or because they are wearing glasses instead of contact lenses.
A school is there to give children an education so pulling someone out who is doing there GCSE for something so petty is stupid

Chopper (01/07/2009 at 10:35)

Its only bum fluff ..... Shave it off or stand in a wind tunnel

Theowolfe (01/07/2009 at 10:37)

This is just another example of our restrictive autoritarian society. Personal autonomy is increasingly being removed. It starts with smoking bans and ends up with mothers being coerced into breastfeeding.

Where next?

Ace , manchester (01/07/2009 at 10:38)

You have to ask yourself if the school allows this the next move would be full face beards unshaven. they are right to have set rules and standards.

lebist, blackley (01/07/2009 at 10:51)

This is nothing short of facial discrimination.

Alan Byrne (01/07/2009 at 10:52)

The staff have to adhere to the uniform policy too, does that mean that none of the male (or female I guess) staff have facial hair?? Shaving at 14 would give the boy all sorts of problems with his skin in later teenage years which could have an effect on his confidence, personailty and shape his future life. This is policy gone mad!!!!

Elliott Pest, Newton, Nr. Hyde. (01/07/2009 at 11:06)

When attending the Manchester academy, abid by the academy rule on apperance and dress code.
If you don't like it, find another school which does allow facial hair.
The MEN seems to have nothing decent to report on today.

Jo14, Somewhere on planet Earth (01/07/2009 at 11:10)

If it's only bum fluff - why not try Veet, or something similar?

Tezza, Tyldesley (01/07/2009 at 11:27)

Ace , manchester
Ace , Manchester

How silly of you not to understand that because of his embarrassment his claim will be even bigger, I mean he can now claim for years of psychotherapy, in-depth counselling and god forbid if he fails any of his exams, this could run into millions.

If he doesn’t want to shave then he could always try hair removal cream, its great on my legs and smells nice too.

Mr C, Swinton (01/07/2009 at 11:32)

Get it shaved off

Angie33 , Manchester (01/07/2009 at 11:39)

Its soft hair at that age.If he decides to remove it hair removing cream would do it rather than encouraging growth by shaving.Personally I dont think the school have any right to demand he removes it.They should back down and get him back to school pronto!

The City Chippy, Sydney (01/07/2009 at 11:42)

Hang on a minute, who's the dad in the photo??

Andanotherthing, Mcr (01/07/2009 at 11:54)

Another daft ruling for no apparant reason.

Elb Owdeep (01/07/2009 at 12:00)

follow the rules - or get out!

Elb Owdeep (01/07/2009 at 12:02)

whats going on with his dads orange hair? ban him as well!

John- still Sheikhin' all over (01/07/2009 at 12:05)

i use to use a pencil on my top lip.
all kids are proud of their top lip bum fluff, leave him alone.

i played under 15 school rugby as a defender, and this opposition 6ft long haired bearded forward ran onto the pitch and smiled with evil intent at me.

happy days.

Colin the pie, WIGAN (01/07/2009 at 12:09)

His dad must've died his hair, no one has hair that colour.

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