A teenager who turned up for the first day of school was told her hair was too purple.

Fourteen-year-old Keeley Nelson returned to Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College for the start of term sporting a new colour but it did not win admiration from school staff.

Keeley’s mother, Donna Wilton, 32, who has three other children at the school, said her daughter was upset when she returned home prematurely yesterday morning.

She said: “Her brother was with her when the teacher pulled her to one side on the way in and said her hair was not appropriate. She told her to sit down near reception but she came home.”

Keeley’s mother dyed her hair after paying £10 for her to have a trim at the weekend. The colour of the £5 do-it-yourself kit was advertised as ‘violet’ but Miss Wilton said she believed there was nothing shocking about it.

She said: “It’s not like it stands out. It’s not bright. It’s a really dark purple. A lot of people have said it looks black. She was going to go for a red colour but I said that was over the top. Either way I don’t know what difference it makes to their learning.”

She said she had not heard anything from school staff since Keeley returned home and was trying to speak to someone in authority at the school this morning.

She said: “I only dyed it on Saturday and I’ve got to leave it for six weeks. What is she going to do if she can’t go to school? She should be knuckling down for her GCSEs.”

The appearance of pupils is grabbing attention at Buttershaw at the start of term. Skirts have been banned and girls must wear trousers instead.

Head teacher Richard Hughes said: “We have established very high standards of uniform at Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College. This year, we have asked girls to wear trousers. This is already proving very successful with 99 per cent of girls looking smart in trousers this morning.

“If students wear incorrect uniform, we make arrangements with parents for the students either to go home to change into the right uniform or, alternatively, to work in our ‘Green Room’ until the issue is resolved.

“We extend our high standards in uniform to general appearance and take time to reinforce this with our students. We welcome discussions with parents about this if the need arises.”