Schoolgirl loses bid to wear veil

Girl wearing a full-face veil

A 12-year-old Muslim girl has failed to get her school's ban on wearing full-face veils in class thrown out.

Her family took the Buckinghamshire school to the High Court because they said the ban was against her human rights, but the judge did not agree.

The school said the girl couldn't wear the veil because it would make learning and talking to teachers difficult.

The girl can't be named because she is too young. Her family are thinking about appealing against the decision.

See how people show their beliefs

The girl's solicitor said the case was about the freedom to practice your religion as long as it did not interfere with other people.

In pictures See how people show their beliefs

"All she wants is to be able to practice her deeply-held beliefs whilst getting on with her daily life," the solicitor added.

The judge heard that the girl's three older sisters had been to the same school and were allowed to wear the full-face veil - called a niqab.

Learning at home

The girl started wearing the niqab in September last year. She was told it was not acceptable.

While the case has been going on, the girl has been learning at home.

She has been offered a place at another school which does allow the niqab, but says she wants to go back to her old school.