A schoolboy has been sent home from school after he broke uniform rules by growing his hair to raise money for a cancer charity.

Harley Leedham, 11, spent nine months growing his locks so charity the Little Princess Trust could use it to make a wig for children undergoing chemotherapy.

But when he arrived for a parents' evening at St George's Academy in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, he was told his hair broke school rules and told that if he did not get a trim he would be removed from class.

Harley Leedham, 11, (pictured right, with his mother Victoria) was sent home from school after he broke uniform rules by growing his hair to raise money for a cancer charity

Harley's mother, Victoria Leedham, 30, had offered to compromise and said she would send her son, who started at St George's last month, to school with his hair tied back only for him to be sent home. He has now returned to school, and was not excluded from class.

'The school policy is archaic,' said Ms Leedham, who lives in Sleaford. 'It is gender discrimination and sexism. Girls can have short or long hair, why can't boys?

'Harley has been doing really well at his new school and making friends and after three weeks he has been threatened with exclusion but has done nothing wrong.'

Year 7 pupil Harley had wanted to grow his hair so it was 12 inches long before getting it cut in aid of the charity, which provides wigs for young cancer sufferers.

But after the parents evening he was pulled aside by the vice principal and told to get his hair cut or be taught in isolation.

When Harley arrived for a parents' evening at St George's Academy (pictured) in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, he was told his hair broke school rules and told that if he did not get a trim he would be removed from class

St George's Academy is a mixed secondary school catering for 2,250 pupils age between 11 and 18.

The school was rated 'Good' by Ofsted in its latest inspection last July and principal Wayne Birks was praised for his 'incisive leadership'.

Ms Leedham claims the school's policy on hair is unspecific and said Harley - who lives with his mother, her partner Warren Tandy, 35, sisters Rogue, 14, and Blaze, six, and five-year-old brother Creed, had previously been told to cut his hair verbally by a teacher.

Harley added: 'It is upsetting as all I want to do is help people.

'It is because I am growing it for charity which I have already done once and I want to help people who have cancer.

'It is making me feel upset because I am trying to help people and people are trying to stop me.

'There are a few boys with long hair but not as long as mine.'

Ms Leedham said the school has refused to back down despite her explaining about the cancer charity in a meeting with headteacher Mr Birks this afternoon.

The mother-of-four said: 'I met with the headteacher and they have allowed him back to school.

'But I was told was to reconsider their request to cut his hair. We spent 35 minutes in a meeting and they didn't really say much.

Harvey has previously grown his hair long before cutting it for charity. He is pictured before and after the dramatic chop last year

Harley gets his hair cut for the cancer charity, which provides wigs for children undergoing chemotherapy, in May last year

'They have said there will be another meeting if I don't cut his hair. So really we are in the same position.

'We spoke about the Little Princess Trust and everything but the headteacher skirted around everything. He didn't seem to care.

'Harley did it at his previous school and he was very well supported by the headteacher who even put him forward for an award.'

According to the school's uniform policy, published on its website, hair should be a 'suitable, neat style and natural colour'.

The policy states: 'The Academy has adopted the type of uniform worn in all good educational establishments.

'It is intended to ensure that a positive image of high standards is presented at all times and we ask for the support of parents in buying the correct items of uniform in the first instance and by ensuring their child wears them in Academy.

'We expect our students to be neat, clean and smartly dressed as would be expected in any place of employment.

'Hair should be a suitable, neat style and natural colour. Extremes of hair styles and colour, as decided by the Academy, are not acceptable.'

Mr Birks told MailOnline: 'St George’s Academy is very proud of its reputation for upholding standards of behaviour and student appearance in preparing students for the world of work and very recently received significant praise from Ofsted for all aspects of the education we provide.

'We were judged “good” in all areas including leadership and management, student behaviour, achievement and teaching and learning.

'We have a uniform policy which is overwhelmingly supported by parents and which forms the basis for excellent standards of behaviour, appearance and mutual respect between staff and students.

'In this particular incident, the student concerned was not excluded from school.'