Redcar Academy defends approach in dealing with charity head-shave pupil

School and family of pupil Mia Flood claim that reports she has been banned from class are 'a distortion of the facts.

Lauren, Dawn and Mia Flood on Saturday

A school today defended its approach over a pupil who shaved her head in memory of Marske teenager Georgina Anderson.

Some media reports have suggested Redcar Academy student Mia Flood was today being banned from the classroom for defying the school’s policy against extreme hairstyles.

Mia, 14, shaved her head on Saturday during a fundraising day in Georgina's memory.
She intends to donate her hair to the Little Princess Trust, which makes wigs for young cancer patients.

Reports in local media, and on social media platforms, suggested Mia would be excluded from school today.

It prompted scores of online comments and even a “Let Mia Flood Go Back To School” petition, which has attracted hundreds of signatures.          

Earlier today, it was reported that the pupil was at the Kirkleatham Lane school today.
But conflicting reports began to emerge as the day progressed that the teenager was being schooled at home.

Nobody from the school was available to clarify the situation when called by the Evening Gazette.

Earlier today, about 20 protesting students could be seen in the school grounds, some chanting “we shall not be moved.”

But a joint statement released today by the academy and Mia’s family said the reports - not carried in the Gazette - were “a distortion of the facts”.
It adds that arrangements had been put in place for Mia to be educated if she went ahead with her head shave.

Nobody from the school was available to take the Gazette's calls this morning to detail what the facts were - or officially confirm whether Mia was back at school this morning.
Part of the statement reads: “It is with great regret that the fundraising event held in memory of Georgina Anderson, raising money for Teenage Cancer Trust has been overshadowed by a distortion of the facts."

Redcar Academy

 Also in the statement, Mia’s mum Dawn is reported as saying: “This was never about my daughter or Redcar Academy, it was always about raising funds in Georgina’s memory.

"I am saddened that due to exaggeration and inaccuracies in the press that my family and Redcar Academy have received unnecessary attention from the local media."
Sisters Lauren and Mia Flood, from Redcar, knew Georgina, who passed away from cancer in November aged just 15, through their shared love of performing arts.

Article from Gazette Live:
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/redcar-academy-defends-approach-dealing-6529180#.Ut07QRv-Yl4.facebook