A Muslim teenager has been prevented from starting her A-Levels at a London school because she wears a full-face veil, it has been reported.

The 16-year-old girl has been a student at the Camden School for Girls for five years but has never worn the traditional Islamic niqab to school before.

When she returned to start sixth form, she was apparently told the niqab goes against appearance policy, despite the school not having a uniform policy.

She has now been told her place at sixth form can only be taken on the condition she does not wear the veil, the Evening Standard reports.

The incident has seen more than 600 people sign an online petition in support of the girl. The petition, established by an unidentified person, reads: “What someone chooses to wear does not affect anyone else.

“What we feel most strongly about is that there has been no discussion, no real attempt to find a middle ground, especially with the strong voices of students on this.”

It claims the teenager was allowed to wear the niqab while sitting her GCSE examinations.

Her 18-year-old sister, who has asked to remain anonymous, said the incident had been “very upsetting” for the family, and said her sibling “just wants to wear the niqab for her own reasons and attend a school”.

In a statement, the school said: “We have an appearance policy and students at the school may wear what they wish subject to any requirement in the interests of teaching and learning, health and safety.