Boy, 7, forced to leave All Saints Anglican School in Merrimac over his hair
A mother says her son was forced to leave an elite private school on the Gold Coast because his hair did not comply with its uniform policy.
A mother says her seven-year-old son was forced to leave from an elite private school on the Gold Coast because his curly hair did not comply with the uniform policy.
Monique Dobell said she was “disappointed” when All Saints Anglican School in Merrimac withdrew her son Zende’s enrolment earlier this year.
She said Zende, who has been booked for modelling jobs and has Trinidadian heritage, has chin length natural curls.
“He had such good rapport with the teachers and good rapport with the other parents at the school,” she said.
“He was such a bright light and everyone loved him so it is disappointing that kids can have their enrolment withdrawn in 2025for things like hair.”
Ms Dobell said she received a note in Zende’s diary during prep from his teacher saying that he needed a haircut.
“My immediate response was to neatly tie it back,” she said.
Ms Dobell said when they arrived at school with Zende’s hair tied back the next morning staff told her this was not acceptable.
Throughout grades one and two, Ms Dobell said her son was repeatedly approached by teachers who told him he needed to cut his hair, leaving him feeling anxious and refusing to go to school.
In May last year, she asked for an exemption on mental health and cultural grounds to allow him to wear his hair tied back but says this was not granted.
She contacted the school multiple times in an attempt to find a solution.
Correspondence from the school stated Zende’s hair needed to be shorter than his collar and warned his enrolment would be withdrawn if he did not comply with its uniform policy.
In March this year, Ms Dobell received a letter stating Zende’s enrolment would be withdrawn.
“We have made every effort to encourage Zende’s attendance at school, addressed the concerns you raised, and have been clear about our expectations,” it read.
“This decision has not been made lightly.”
Ms Dobell said the school put “so much stress and pressure” on her son.
“We should be celebrating individuality … we need to be recognising their strengths and passions and prepare them for the future, not the past,” she said.
“His hair is a part of his identity.
“It is his beautiful, natural curls, it wasn’t a pink mohawk.”
Ms Dobell said her family felt shocked and hurt when Zende’s enrolment was withdrawn but it turned out to be a “blessing in disguise”.
“The huge silver lining is he’s just a different child. Now, he’s so happy,” she said.
“He’s really thriving at his new school and can’t wait to get there.
“The system is clinging to outdated and rigid rules and instead of preparing them for the world they are growing up in.”
A spokeswoman for All Saints Anglican School said it was not able to comment on individual or family circumstances due to privacy reasons.
“What we can say is that we always work in good faith with families to support positive outcomes,” she said.
“Our uniform policies are made clear at the time of enrolment and are applied consistently across the community.
“We are proud of the standards we uphold and the clear expectations we set for everyone in our school community.
“That is what families expect when they choose All Saints.”
Ms Dobell said it was important for children to be in an environment which supports and celebrates their passion and strengths.
“They do 14 years at school so you can imagine the impact and influence that has on children and who they become,” she said.
“They need to really reform the system, it doesn’t reflect the realities of the world that kids are growing up in today.”
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Originally published as Boy, 7, forced to leave All Saints Anglican School in Merrimac over his hair
