A BOY of 13 was given a yellow card when he arrived at school with a St George’s Cross in his hair.

Gavin Winchester is refusing to go to classes at Swan Valley Community School, Swanscombe, near Dartford, in what he calls a “protest for good hair”.

When he was asked to wash out the St George’s Cross – which has been sprayed on to the side of his head in homage to the World Cup – nearly two weeks ago, Gavin refused.

His penalty was to be sent to the referral class.

Gavin, who is an ardent football fan and wants to become a PE teacher, said: “This is a fight for the right to have a good haircut.” He claimed: “Some of the teachers have said that it looks good.”

Gavin’s mother Andrea, 36, said: “All the kids are having it done. He has a normal haircut with a little England flag.”

Ms Winchester, of Whitfield Crescent, Dartford, added: “It’s only for four weeks of the year. It’s not harming his education by having the England flag haircut.”

Staff at the school say they are worried about Gavin’s education.

Head teacher Nigel Jones says Gavin has not been banned from lessons because of the haircut.

He said: “I have and will continue to work with the family to improve Gavin’s attendance rate and have a place for him at the school.

“The matter is now in the hands of the education welfare officers, but I would encourage his mum to re-think her decision to keep him out of school.”