Redhead not ready to dye for her school

Emily Reay is barred from class until she changes her hair colour. Photo / Facebook

A naturally redheaded school pupil has been barred from classes in the north of England for being too ginger.

Emily Reay, 17, has sported the same vibrant ginger hair for the past three years.

But on her return to lessons after the Easter break, she was ordered to tone it down. Teachers at Trinity School in Carlisle decided the colour was inappropriate.

Now, during her last year of A-levels, Emily - who is naturally auburn - has been told she is banned from lessons until she changes her appearance.

"I was very angry at first, and then burst into tears. I've had the same colour for the past three years, and nobody at school has commented on it," said Emily at her home in Carlisle.

Described as a stunningly talented musician, Emily maintains her ginger hair is her trademark.

"Everybody knows me as that 'young ginger singer'. For me it is a confidence thing. If I had to dye my hair brown, I would lose this," she said.

Her parents, Julie and Andy Reay, went to the school to discuss the matter with sixth-form head teacher Andrew Winter.

They claim they were told that Emily's hair colour needed to be changed or she would not be allowed to continue her education.

"I had to dye my hair to a more natural colour, or tone it down considerably," Emily said.

"I offered to pin it up, or wear a beanie hat, but I was told 'no' to both." "They do not realise what her hair means to her," said her mother.

"The irony is she is playing Scaramouche in the school's adaptation of We Will Rock You, which is about society suppressing people's creativity and self-expression.

"The school's uniform policy states no unnatural hair colours, like blue or green. Is ginger not a natural hair colour?"

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