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| 'Bangle' pupil is excluded again | 'Bangle' pupil is excluded again |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| A Sikh pupil who has refused to stop wearing a religious bangle or Kara to her south Wales school has been excluded for a third time. | A Sikh pupil who has refused to stop wearing a religious bangle or Kara to her south Wales school has been excluded for a third time. |
| Sarika Singh, 14, had returned to Aberdare Girls' School in the Cynon Valley after a temporary exclusion for a meeting to discuss the issue. | Sarika Singh, 14, had returned to Aberdare Girls' School in the Cynon Valley after a temporary exclusion for a meeting to discuss the issue. |
| The school said by wearing the Kara Sarika was breaking its code of conduct. | The school said by wearing the Kara Sarika was breaking its code of conduct. |
| Her family has said they will now seek a judicial review. | Her family has said they will now seek a judicial review. |
| On Tuesday morning, Sarika and her mother Sinita Singh and two officials from the Valleys Race Equality Council went to the school for a meeting about the school's refusal to allow the pupil to wear the Kara. | On Tuesday morning, Sarika and her mother Sinita Singh and two officials from the Valleys Race Equality Council went to the school for a meeting about the school's refusal to allow the pupil to wear the Kara. |
| Before the meeting, Mrs Singh said: "Sarika has very mixed emotions, she's quite upset and disappointed with what's happened. | Before the meeting, Mrs Singh said: "Sarika has very mixed emotions, she's quite upset and disappointed with what's happened. |
| "She's missing her friends and wants to get back to school and to her education." | "She's missing her friends and wants to get back to school and to her education." |
| "This has happened at such an important stage in her life - it's affected her and us as parents and caused stress to our family," Mrs Singh added. | "This has happened at such an important stage in her life - it's affected her and us as parents and caused stress to our family," Mrs Singh added. |
| Aberdare Girls' School only allows ear studs and a wrist-watch | |
| The family argue the Kara is an important reminder to devout Sikhs to do good and not bad with the hands and should not be treated as jewellery. | The family argue the Kara is an important reminder to devout Sikhs to do good and not bad with the hands and should not be treated as jewellery. |
| The Kara is worn by Sikhs at all times and is one of five articles of faith - the 5 Ks - that form external visible symbols as a clear and outward display of commitment and dedication. | The Kara is worn by Sikhs at all times and is one of five articles of faith - the 5 Ks - that form external visible symbols as a clear and outward display of commitment and dedication. |
| Mrs Singh said her daughter would not remove the bangle under any circumstances. | Mrs Singh said her daughter would not remove the bangle under any circumstances. |
| However, the school bans the wearing of all jewellery with the sole exception of plain metal ear studs and a wrist-watch. | However, the school bans the wearing of all jewellery with the sole exception of plain metal ear studs and a wrist-watch. |
| The exclusion was taken after the half-term holidays on 5 November when Sarika continued to ignore the ban following a failed appeal. | The exclusion was taken after the half-term holidays on 5 November when Sarika continued to ignore the ban following a failed appeal. |
| The teenager came into conflict with the code of conduct at the school six months ago after governors ruled she should not wear the bangle. | The teenager came into conflict with the code of conduct at the school six months ago after governors ruled she should not wear the bangle. |
| Sarika was taken out of her classes and taught separately for nine weeks from May, pending the outcome of an unsuccessful appeal. | Sarika was taken out of her classes and taught separately for nine weeks from May, pending the outcome of an unsuccessful appeal. |
| The 5 Ks of Sikhism Kesh (uncut hair)Kara (a steel bracelet)Kanga (a wooden comb)Kaccha - also spelt, Kachh, Kachera (cotton underwear)Kirpan (steel sword) | The 5 Ks of Sikhism Kesh (uncut hair)Kara (a steel bracelet)Kanga (a wooden comb)Kaccha - also spelt, Kachh, Kachera (cotton underwear)Kirpan (steel sword) |
| Governors rejected Sarika's request to wear the bangle after a "significant period of research", examining the uniform policy and human rights legislation in detail. | Governors rejected Sarika's request to wear the bangle after a "significant period of research", examining the uniform policy and human rights legislation in detail. |
| The school's head teacher Jane Rosser said the school's strict code of conduct had been in place for many years and had been established to ensure equality. | The school's head teacher Jane Rosser said the school's strict code of conduct had been in place for many years and had been established to ensure equality. |
| Also on Tuesday, South Wales Central AM Leanne Wood, will call for the assembly government to issue clear guidance for schools regarding religious symbols and jewellery. | Also on Tuesday, South Wales Central AM Leanne Wood, will call for the assembly government to issue clear guidance for schools regarding religious symbols and jewellery. |
| "I think everyone will recognise that schools sometimes face difficult decisions when balancing the need for a consistent uniform policy with religious beliefs, " Ms Woods said. | "I think everyone will recognise that schools sometimes face difficult decisions when balancing the need for a consistent uniform policy with religious beliefs, " Ms Woods said. |
| "But that situation is certainly not helped when schools are not given the guidance needed on which to base those judgments....It's time to issue clear guidance as soon as possible," she added. | "But that situation is certainly not helped when schools are not given the guidance needed on which to base those judgments....It's time to issue clear guidance as soon as possible," she added. |