A STUDENT was barred from sitting a GCSE exam - because of his haircut.

Sixteen-year-old Steven Moores, of Cameron Street, Astley Bridge, was due to sit his Information Systems exam on Monday at Thornleigh Salesian College.

But he was ordered out of the college because his new haircut was deemed "unacceptable."

His furious mother Mrs Christine Moores said: "It's nothing drastic, just short and smart. It's shaved at the back like a lot of the boys have it, but definitely nothing too extreme."

Steven will not be allowed to re-take the exam and his family fear it may jeopardize his chances of getting into further education.

He was hoping for a place on an environmental management course at Newton Riggs College in Penrith.

But headteacher Fr Mervyn Williams said: "Before the year 11 pupils were due to take their exams, we spoke to them about exam requirements and asked them to maintain the same standard of uniform throughout, and Steven's haircut was just unacceptable.

"On Friday he was allowed to sit that day's exams, but he was warned to do something with his hair over the weekend."

Fr Williams admitted that Steven's haircut was not "outrageous" and that all he needed was a trim.

"If he needs certain results to get into college, then it was a bit silly of him not to do something with it over the weekend," he said. "And as soon as he does, he is welcome back."

But Mrs Moores said: "The school should be concentrating on the standards of students' work, not their hair styles."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.