A TERMINALLY ill girl who also suffers from alopecia was reportedly forced by a teacher to remove a wig she wore to school.

Ashanti Elliot Smith, 11, wanted hair like other girls but says she was told she had to take it off because it was pink and it might encourage other girls to dye their hair.

Ashanti suffers from Hutchinson Gildford Progeria, a rare ageing disease that means she is not expected to live past the age of 15.

Her mother, Phoebe Smith, 29, from Burgess Hill, said: “She was devastated when they told her to take it off. Her little heart was broken. It’s disgusting. It is bright but she should have the right to wear whatever colour hair she wants.”

Ms Smith said the family could not afford human hair wigs and were donated the bright pink one by friends of the family.

Ms Smith said: “She was so proud of her hair but this has put her on a downer.

“It’s a pink wig, come on, other children would have understood. I have only got a few years left with her so we want her to live it to the full.”

The incident is reported to have happened last Thursday at Oakmeeds Community College in Burgess Hill.

Ashanti started at Oakmeeds in September. Her mother said she did not go into school the following day because she felt so down.

Ms Smith added: “There is no rule about terminally ill children not being able to wear wigs.

“She looks a lot different to other children. We get a lot of bad comments about Ashanti and this knocked her right back.”

A student, Kate Boyd, commenting on Facebook, said: “She suffers with alopecia and I think she should be allowed to wear a wig to school if it makes her confident and... makes her feel like anyone else at school.”

The Argus reported on July 2 that Ashanti was to fulfil a dream of swimming with dolphins despite the money donated being stolen by her father. Later in the month, the family flew out to Florida to see her dream come true.

West Sussex County Council, the authority which oversees Oakmeeds, said the school appeared to be treating it as an internal matter.

Colin Taylor, the headteacher of Oakmeeds, said it was the first time she had appeared in school wearing any form of head wear.

He said: “In the past other children have worn wigs following serious illness, but ones that were of a natural look – not large brightly coloured ones.

“Her learning mentor spoke to the head of year about it. It was agreed by the director of inclusion and head of year that Ashanti would wear the wig home but not in lessons because it was not cold in the school and she had never wanted to wear one before.

“We have worked closely with Ashanti’s mother to ensure her daughter is treated like all other pupils.

“At no time to our knowledge did she request special consideration about head wear but we would fully understand if Ashanti was to need a hat or indeed a wig when the weather gets cold – even indoors.”

“Ashanti is a pleasure to have in the school and we believe we have done everything we can to meet both her needs and her mother’s requirements.

“We are more than happy to discuss this with them when college resumes after the half term break.”

The school said it could not make contact with Ashanti's mother at the time.