London ( CNN ) A British mother is standing by her decision to let her son , 11 , wear a `` Fifty Shades of Grey '' costume to his school 's World Book Day celebration . `` Fifty Shades of Grey '' tells the tale of a naive college graduate 's energetic trysts with a billionaire -- Christian Grey -- who has a penchant for bondage . The Manchester Evening News reported that Liam Scholes arrived at Sale High School in northwest England dressed as Grey , complete with cable ties and an eyemask on Thursday . The school contacted Liam 's mother and told her the costume was inappropriate . Nicola Scholes told the newspaper she and her son had thought the idea was funny . `` We were walking home from school and he had the idea of going as Christian Grey , '' she said . `` At first we laughed it off but then we discussed it with a few friends and saw the funny side and decided it was quite a good costume idea . '' The school called her to say the costume was not appropriate and that Liam would not take part in the book day event or appear in any photographs , Scholes told the paper . A teacher from the school had dressed as the fictional serial killer Dexter , Scholes said : `` I do n't see why sex is more offensive than murder . '' Scholes told BBC News that her son had not read the book or watched the movie spin-off but had been aware of the media around the tale . `` He understood what the cable ties were supposed to represent , as did other children of his age . '' Scholes told the BBC the costume was light-hearted : `` It was a laugh , it was tongue in cheek and there was no offense . '' On Friday Scholes tweeted an image of Liam with the caption : `` Liam 's offensive book day costume , it was that inappropriate that they told him to change his character and would n't include him on any photos . It also required a phone call home regarding the matter . `` Yet it was appropriate for a teacher to dress up as a serial killer and other students to come in with 'guns . ' I thought Christian Grey was the most talked about book character for the past few years . # nosenseofhumour . '' Sale High School issued a statement saying its actions reflected its `` high standards in terms of student behavior , welfare and safeguarding . '' `` The student was not excluded from taking part in any of the activities as has been wrongly reported , his costume was modified and he was then able to fully participate and enjoy the day with his peers , '' headteacher Lynn Nicholls said . `` The aim of our world book day events was to celebrate and encourage reading and we are disappointed that what was a fantastic day for our students , has been marred by this issue , '' the statement concluded .
A UK boy , 11 , dressed as ` The student was not excluded from taking part in any of the activities as has been wrongly reported character Christian Grey for World Book Day . Liam Scholes ' school said that the costume was inappropriate and insisted it be modified . Scholes ' mother told British media the costume was meant to be light-hearted .