An angry mum says her teenage son has been excluded from lessons by his school for having an "extreme" haircut.

Kane Brooks, who goes to Harris Academy Beckenham, was first placed in seclusion on November 7.

Since then he's not been in classes, apart from on one day, either because of the seclusion or being ill, claims his mother Jayde Brooks.

Ms Brooks, of Cornish Grove in Anerley, said she was told Kane would not be allowed back into lessons until he got a haircut.

The Year 10 student’s mental health is suffering because of the school's stance, according to Ms Brooks who said a letter from Kane’s GP was sent to the school but was ignored.

She said: “It’s disgusting that my son is being treated in this way. It is terrible that they have ignored the medical professional’s advice. I just don’t know how a school can instruct a parent to cut their child’s hair. It’s beyond me.

“He does not want to get his hair cut. He’s come home and said, ‘mum please don’t make me cut my hair.’

“I’m not going to because it hasn’t been a problem for the last two years and I don’t know why it is one now.”

According to Ms Brooks, the school has a policy that says students can’t have an "extreme" hairstyle.

Ms Brooks said: “They are saying that my son has an extreme hairstyle, and I’m saying that is a matter of opinion, because there is no definition of what is extreme and what is not.

“It’s a very, very stressful situation. He’s in Year 10 now and it is a very important year for him and he has missed so many days of education.

“Usually he doesn’t have days off school.

“He’s extremely upset. He comes home crying daily. On Monday the school ended up sending him home because he got so distressed in the exclusion room that they had to send him home.

“He’s being treated like a prisoner. He’s not allowed to speak, he’s in silence. A room like that should only be used if you’ve done something wrong.”

A spokeswoman from Harris Academy Beckenham said: “We are working with the parent in question to resolve the issue.”