The teenager said wearing her jilbab was as important as praying

The 15-year-old, who had not been to school for more than a year, said wearing the ankle-length jilbab was as important to her as praying.

Her Luton school has banned the outfit, as it contravenes uniform rules.

Her lawyers say the LEA has failed to provide her with an education - a claim which is denied.

The case is moving to the High Court in London on Friday, where lawyers will seek a judicial review, alleging Denbigh High School has unlawfully excluded her.

I planned to become a doctor because I like science a lot, but now I just think there's no future in me Denbigh High School pupil

A legal team from the Children's Legal Centre at the University of Essex, which is behind the case, also claims the ban breaches the European Convention on Human Rights.

The teenager told BBC Look East she just wanted to get on with her education.

"I sometimes just sit down and think 'what am I going to do in the future?'," she said.

"Am I going to live on benefits or something? Am I going to get a life?

"I'm not going to be able to go into further education as I had planned to.

'Not excluded'

"I planned to become a doctor because I like science a lot, but now I just think there's no future in me."

The school has denied discrimination and Luton Borough Council, the education authority, said it would fight the claims.

Stuart Moore, assistant head teacher at Denbigh School, said the girl had not been excluded, but had taken the decision to be absent.

He said: "We would love for the girl to come back to school, and it's very sad that she's taken the decision to absent herself from the school.

Second incident

"There are issues about this style of dress - there's concern about its length and health and safety issues.

"We also have issues of where to draw a line in terms of uniform.

"We have met with the pupil several times, with her family and the Education Welfare Service has been in touch with the family to try and resolve the issue."

It is the second time a Bedfordshire school has been criticised for its uniform policy.

Icknield High School was in the spotlight for its ban on headgear - including the Muslim headscarves, hijabs.