A 12-year-old boy was banned from class because he turned up to school in shorts.

Jamie Calver was stopped from mixing with other pupils at Falmer High School, Brighton, because he was wearing knee-length shorts two weeks early.

His father Brian, of The Avenue, Moulsecoomb, Brighton, said: "It's totally ridiculous."

Jamie, who has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and receives one-to-one lessons three days a week, was wearing navy blue knee-length shorts, a white T-shirt, a school jumper and smart shoes.

Mr Calver said: "They told him to go home and change and when he refused they phoned us.

"The school rules say sensible clothing must be worn.

"I think on a hot day like that shorts are very sensible."

Headteacher Antony Edkins said: "He turned up to school in shorts and they are not part of the code.

"I'm not prepared to go into Jamie's personal circumstances but when you are dealing with children aged 11 to 16 you have to act in their best interests."

David Hawker, director of education for Brighton and Hove City Council, said: "The school has a duty to maintain good standards of discipline and behaviour and the dress code is an important part of that."