It’s Hair Today, Charity Tomorrow As Students Encourage Teacher’s Selfless Donation

Cleethorpes Academy Year 11 students Liam Rudd and Gracie Barnard (both 16) prepare to cut off Biology Teacher Mr Fred Cartwright’s ponytail as he begins his sponsored shave for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Students who challenged a Cleethorpes Academy teacher to shave his head for charity have raised more than £600 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The Year 11 Triple Science Class at the Academy stayed behind after school to encourage Biology Teacher Fred Cartwright (32), who has had long hair and a beard since the age of 18, to also donate his long ponytail to the Little Princess Trust to be made into wigs for children and young people. 

Gracie Barnard (16) heard about the challenge and organised sponsorship for the event among her fellow students after Mr Cartwright agreed to do it if they could raise at least £250.

“We smashed that and so Mr Cartwright was all in,” she said. “We agreed on Macmillan Cancer Support because many of us have lost loved ones to cancer. We raised £310 with sponsorship forms and then another £300-plus through a JustGiving page set up by Mr Cartwright.”

The students all gathered after school to watch their teacher shave his head and beard. “It was a done deal once the students raised so much money,” said Mr Cartwright. “They are a great group of students and the efforts they have put in to raise this money are amazing. There was no going back for me. It is a wonderful cause and I am really happy to do it.”

Mr Cartwright, who has taught at the Academy for six years, shaved his own head and beard, after Gracie and fellow student Liam Rudd (16) cut off his ponytail with scissors.

“I am so proud of him,” said Gracie. “His hair was so long and everyone knows him for it. I know it will grow back but it is still a really brave thing to do and we are all so impressed with his effort.”

Janice Hornby, Principal of Cleethorpes Academy, said: “I am very proud of the students for organising this event for such a worthy cause. Mr Cartwright has set a wonderful example to the students by demonstrating how such a selfless act can really benefit others.”

Here we go…

Biology Teacher Mr Fred Cartwright shaves his head and beard for charity encouraged by Year 11 Triple Science Class students at Cleethorpes Academy.

Teacher Mr Fred Cartwright will also donate his ponytail to the Little Princes Trust.

All done! Cleethorpes Academy Biology Teacher Fred Cartwright shows off his shaved head and face with proud students Gracie Barnard and Liam Rudd. (both 16) by his side.