Afro hair: School bans probably illegal says watchdog

Children with Afro-textured hairsbreadth should not beryllium prevented from wearing earthy hairstyles astatine school, caller guidance from Britain's human-rights watchdog says.

School bans connected hairstyles specified arsenic braids and cornrows are apt to beryllium unlawful if they bash not springiness exemptions connected radical grounds, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) says.

The guidance volition not impact authorities argumentation but is intended to assistance halt hair-based favoritism successful schools.

Ministers accidental they person issued advice.

Campaigners person agelong been calling for schools and workplaces to code hair-based discrimination, which covers a range, from describing someone's hairsbreadth arsenic exotic to banning peculiar hairstyles.

It is an contented that affects radical with Afro-textured hairsbreadth disproportionately, according to the EHRC, which covers England, Scotland and Wales.

Ruby Williams received £8,500 successful an out-of-court colony aft her household took ineligible enactment against The Urswick School successful eastbound London, which did not judge immoderate liability.

In 2021, an All-Party Parliamentary Group wrote to the EHRC, calling for favoritism towards radical with Afro-textured hairsbreadth to beryllium officially classified arsenic racism.

Racism is amerciable nether the Equalities Act but the parliamentary radical besides wants legislative changes to alteration hairsbreadth texture and hairstyles to go legally protected characteristics.

The EHRC has real-life examples and videos to assistance rise consciousness among schoolhouse leaders astir indirect contention discrimination.

"Discrimination based connected hairsbreadth tin person superior and long-lasting consequences for victims and their families," says Jackie Keegan, main regulator astatine the EHRC.

"We privation to enactment a halt to pupils being unfairly singled retired for their quality successful schools.

"Every kid deserves to beryllium celebrated for who they are and to thrive successful schoolhouse without having to interest astir changing their quality to suit a perchance discriminatory policy."

The Department for Education highlighted existing guidance it had issued to schools successful England.

A spokesperson said: "Discrimination has nary spot successful our schools oregon nine and it is unlawful to discriminate against pupils connected the grounds of race.

"We provided guidance to schools past twelvemonth to assistance them adhere to the Equality Act with regards to pupils' appearance, including that leaders should beryllium delicate to the needs of antithetic cultures, races and religions and enactment reasonably successful accommodating these needs."