The case of a 14-year-old Sikh girl excluded from school for wearing a religious bangle will be heard in the High Court.

Sarika Singh, a pupil at Aberdare Girls' School, South Wales, has not attended school since being told she cannot wear her bracelet, known as a kara.

Human rights group Liberty claims the school has breached race relations and human rights laws, and has now won the right to put the matter before the High Court. The case is not expected to be heard for several months.

Ann Fairclough, Liberty's legal officer who is representing the Singhs, said: "Nothing less than our traditions of religious freedom and racial tolerance are on trial in this case.

"Individuals from any religion who wish to modestly express their faith should not be denied a proper education as Ms Singh has."

Liberty claims the school is also breaching a 25-year-old Law Lords' decision allowing Sikhs to wear items such as turbans to school.

An interim hearing will be held in the next two weeks to decide whether Sarika, the only Sikh at her school, can return to classroom while the case is continuing. She had been taught in isolation at the school for two months, and has been excluded since the beginning of November.

The school has banned students from wearing any jewellery other than plain ear studs and wrist watches. [Link]