This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/south_east/7187933.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Senedd protest for 'bangle' girl Senedd protest for 'bangle' girl
(10 minutes later)
Protesters will voice their support for a teenager excluded from a Cynon Valley school for wearing a Sikh bangle. Protesters will voice their support for a teenager excluded from a school for wearing a Sikh bangle.
Sarika Singh, who is 14, has not attended Aberdare Girls' School since 5 November and a legal challenge has been filed in the High Court on her behalf. Sarika Singh, 14, has not attended Aberdare Girls' School, Cynon Valley, since 5 November and a legal challenge has been filed at the High Court.
At Tuesday's cross-party protest AM Leanne Wood will call for revised school uniform guidance to be issued as soon as possible. The cross-party protest will call for revised school uniform guidance to be issued as soon as possible.
The Welsh Assembly Government said fresh guidance will be issued shortly. The Welsh Assembly Government said fresh guidance will be issued shortly on a range of school uniform issues.
Aberdare Girls' School bans all jewellery saying the policy ensures equality.Aberdare Girls' School bans all jewellery saying the policy ensures equality.
Before the protest at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay at 1230 GMT, the Plaid Cymru AM said: "I think the school has made a mistake in Sarika's case, which has been partly caused by the absence of clear Welsh guidance on uniform policy.
"I don't want to blame the school. I want to find a solution that other pupils and families do not have to go through this distressful process in the future," said Ms Wood the AM for South Wales Central said.
Ms Woods is also expected to call for a review of the powers of school governors to reduce the need for recourse to the courts.
"In the past year I have dealt with a number of cases where constituents have had serious concerns about the decisions of school governors," she added.
"I think there needs to be a serious look into the issues."
Sarika has been receiving tuition at home since her exclusion in November and is eager to return to school.Sarika has been receiving tuition at home since her exclusion in November and is eager to return to school.
"The protest is for the Welsh assembly (government) guidelines, they've had four years now to look through them," Sarika said."The protest is for the Welsh assembly (government) guidelines, they've had four years now to look through them," Sarika said.
"They said they were going to issue them at the beginning of 2008, now 2008 is here we want to know where the guidelines are.""They said they were going to issue them at the beginning of 2008, now 2008 is here we want to know where the guidelines are."
Aberdare Girls' School only allows ear studs and a wrist-watch Sarika says the Kara is a symbol of her faith
Before the lunchtime protest at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, South Wales Central AM Leanne Wood said: "I think the school has made a mistake in Sarika's case, which has been partly caused by the absence of clear Welsh guidance on uniform policy.
"I don't want to blame the school. I want to find a solution that other pupils and families do not have to go through this distressful process in the future."
Ms Wood is also expected to call for a review of the powers of school governors.
"In the past year I have dealt with a number of cases where constituents have had serious concerns about the decisions of school governors," she added.
An application for judicial review of Sarika's exclusion is awaiting adjudication at the High Court.An application for judicial review of Sarika's exclusion is awaiting adjudication at the High Court.
'Obliged'
Campaign group, Liberty, made the challenge, saying the school had breached race relations and human rights laws.Campaign group, Liberty, made the challenge, saying the school had breached race relations and human rights laws.
It said it also breached a decision made by the Lords which allows Sikh children to wear items representing their faith, including turbans to school.It said it also breached a decision made by the Lords which allows Sikh children to wear items representing their faith, including turbans to school.
Sarika was excluded three times last term and was taught in isolation for two months before that.
School governors rejected her request to wear the bangle after a "significant period of research" examining the uniform policy and human rights legislation in detail.School governors rejected her request to wear the bangle after a "significant period of research" examining the uniform policy and human rights legislation in detail.
A Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said there was no legislation specifically covering the wearing of school uniform.A Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said there was no legislation specifically covering the wearing of school uniform.
"Whether or not a school uniform policy unlawfully breaches the Race Relations Act 1976 is a matter for the courts," he added"Whether or not a school uniform policy unlawfully breaches the Race Relations Act 1976 is a matter for the courts," he added
Sarika says the Kara is a symbol of her faith
"School uniform and appearance issues, including the wearing of jewellery, are local matters for individual schools to decide upon."School uniform and appearance issues, including the wearing of jewellery, are local matters for individual schools to decide upon.
"Governing bodies are obliged to take into account race and sex discrimination legislation when deciding on a school uniform policy," he said."Governing bodies are obliged to take into account race and sex discrimination legislation when deciding on a school uniform policy," he said.
They are also encouraged to regularly review policies to ensure they are suitable for the needs of all pupils taking cultural differences into account, he said.
The assembly government is shortly to issue guidance on a range of issues associated with school uniform policies including equality, health and safety and discrimination issues, the spokesperson added.