Quote:

---

Rhys Johnson wanted to raise cash for cancer research after a third relative was diagnosed with the disease.

But Milford Haven School said it had warned the 14-year-old he would be breaking rules and he has been taught in isolation since Monday.

On Friday pupils protested outside the school gates in support of him.

Rhys and a friend had their heads shaved as part of the annual UK-wide Macmillan Coffee Morning on Saturday and raised about £700.

But the school policy on hairstyles says "no shaven heads" so now he is not being allowed to return to his normal classes although he continues to go to school.

His mother Lucy O'Neill said he was being "punished" for trying to do some good.

Rhys helped to raise £700 for his charity head shave stunt
She added that his friend, 14, who also had her head shaved, had encountered no such problems at her school, nearby Tasker Milward.

She said that the school had telephoned to warn her about its policy on hair cut too short but by that stage her son had already collected a lot of his sponsorship money.

"So he said 'I've got to do this mam'," she said.

"When he came home and said he wanted to do something good I backed him 100% but now he's being punished.

"He wants to go back to his lessons."

On Thursday, a Pembrokeshire County Council spokesperson said: "School policy is set by a school's governing body and implemented by the head teacher and school staff.

"When this policy is disregarded by a pupil - and in this instance the policy has been clearly communicated to the pupil concerned - the school is acting appropriately in enforcing its policy."

It said it would be releasing a statement about the protest later on Friday.

It also addressed the issue of why Rhys's friend was treated differently at her school, saying: "Each school governing body formulates its own policy on its uniform code and has its own expectations regarding compliance."

Sean Griffiths, who knows some of the protesting pupils through his dance school, said the students believed the situation was unfair.

"I can understand the school doesn't want kids coming through with different hairstyles. But this was done for a really good reason and I think the kids have recognised that," he said.

---