A teenager banned from school for 30 days after organising a demonstration against the war in Iraq today won a partial victory in the High Court.

Mr Justice Collins said arrangements should be made so that 15-year-old Elena Grice, from Rayne, could return on a restricted basis to complete her studies and take seven GCSEs.

The board of governors at the Helena Romanes School in Dunmow decided on Monday to uphold the headteacher's decision to exclude her.

The judge warned Elena, who was not in court, that she was on "a knife edge" and any further bad behaviour, including a refusal to wear full school uniform, could result in full exclusion.

"She is a very silly girl, but even silly girls are entitled to a proper opportunity to achieve what they can best achieve."

The judge said one of the conditions for her being allowed to fully complete her studies would be an apology for allegedly "greatly upsetting" one teacher by calling her a "Fascist cow".

The judge said he was not lifting the exclusion order but only modifying it.

Published Friday, May 2, 2003

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