 says.The guidance will not affect government policy but is intended to help stop hair-based discrimination in schools.Ministers say they have issued advice.Campaigners have long been calling for schools and workplaces to address hair-based discrimination, which covers a range, from describing someone's hair as exotic to banning particular hairstyles.It is an issue that affects people with Afro-textured hair disproportionately, according to the EHRC, which covers England, Scotland and Wales.In 2020, it funded the legal case of a teenage girl who was repeatedly sent home from school because her Afro hair was not considered "of reasonable size and length".Ruby Williams received £8,500 in an out-of-court settlement after her family took legal action against The Urswick School in east London, which did not accept any liability.Media caption, Ruby Williams spoke to the BBC about her experiences in 2020In 2021, an All-Party Parliamentary Group wrote to the EHRC, calling for discrimination towards people with Afro-textured hair to be officially classified as racism.Racism is illegal under the Equalities Act but the parliamentary group also wants legislative changes to enable hair texture and hairstyles to become legally protected characteristics. The EHRC has real-life examples and videos to help raise awareness among school leaders about indirect race discrimination."Discrimination based on hair can have serious and long-lasting consequences for victims and their families," says Jackie Keegan, chief regulator at the EHRC."We want to put a stop to pupils being unfairly singled out for their appearance in schools. "Every c){kind=link}
Children with Afro-textured hair should not be prevented from wearing natural hairstyles at school, new guidance from Britain’s human-rights watchdog says.
School bans on hairstyles such as braids and cornrows are likely to be unlawful if they do not give exemptions on racial grounds, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) says.
The guidance will not affect government policy but is intended to help stop hair-based discrimination in schools.
Ministers say they have issued advice.
Campaigners have long been calling for schools and workplaces to address hair-based discrimination, which covers a range, from describing someone’s hair as exotic to banning particular hairstyles.