Hair-braiding sparks school row

A row has broken out after a girl was excluded from school for having her hair braided despite two other pupils being allowed to wear the style.

Olivia Acton, 13, refused to change her hair after being excluded by Middleton Technology School in Rochdale.

The school said it had "clear rules about what hairstyles were acceptable".

A school spokesman said two Afro-Caribbean pupils had asked the school if their own braids were OK and they were told that they were.

Click here to have your say on whether school rules should cover hairstyles

The school says there's a difference between the cases as the Afro-Caribbean pupils wore braids to reflect their culture.

The council is now trying to sort out the problem by talking to the family and the school.

Olivia has been given the chance to work in a unit at the school, but she has preferred to study at home, with the school providing lessons for her.