A TEENAGER has been banned from lessons for sporting a patriotic haircut.

Jamie Jackson, 15, was shown the red card by teachers at Dorothy Stringer School in Brighton when he turned up with the St George flag in his hair.

Hairdressers meticulously shaved and dyed the two-inch by one-inch flag on the side of his head last weekend to tie in with the World Cup.

But on Wednesday Jamie was removed from class and told he could only return to lessons once the red colour faded.

Jamie's family, including his parents, Sharon and Philip, and sister Samantha, 17, are all avid England fans and fly the St George flag from their home in Stanmer Villas and the roof of their car.

Mrs Jackson, 43, said: "We all support England and really get behind the team in every World Cup.

"This is only a little flag. It's not outrageous and it's not putting people off their lessons.

"Jamie is a brilliant pupil, is always in school and wears the correct uniform. At a time like this I think the school should give a little. People should be able to show support for their country. After all, this only happens every four years."

Headteacher Trevor Allen said Jamie was allowed in school but not in lessons until the unnatural red hair dye faded.

He said: "We try to be as considerate as we can in matters of dress and uniform. We know it's an area where children want to kick against the rules.

"We try and keep hair colour within what we call reasonably normal looking. We don't tolerate extreme colours.

"Jamie was given the option to take the dye out and then there wouldn't be a problem."

He said the school took a zero-tolerance approach to brightly coloured hair to stop other pupils copying.

He said: "It's certainly not something personal about Jamie."

Mrs Jackson said she preferred Jamie to be out of school altogether than sit outside a teacher's office all day.

She said: "He's not done anything wrong so it's wrong he should be punished." She hopes Jamie will return to school next week.

Jamie said: "The World Cup is really important to me. I wanted to show support for my country and let people know who I support. It's only a little flag.

"I think it's bad the school has taken me out of lessons."