A prestigious high school in Eastern Cape is embroiled in a legal battle for refusing to enrol a pupil, The Daily Dispatch reported yesterday.

A prestigious high school in Eastern Cape is embroiled in a legal battle for refusing to enrol a pupil, The Daily Dispatch reported yesterday.

The classroom drama pits the 14-year-old girl, whose name is being withheld, her parents and the Education Department against Queenstown Girls' High School.

The school asked the Bhisho high court to stop the department from forcing it to enrol the girl.

Last year the school rejected the grade 8 pupil's application because she "had a dubious class record" and was "not of worthy character".

In court papers principal Richard Edkins said his decision stemmed from his independent knowledge of her "poor disciplinary record".

He said he was told about the girl's behaviour by Balmoral Primary School's headmaster.

Edkins said he had the full support of his school governing body. Negotiations eventually ended with the department ordering the school to enrol the girl.

It was then that the school asked the court to set aside the department's order or have it judicially reviewed. But acting judge Mazembe Ndzondo dismissed the application with costs.

He said Edkins had acted "precipitately and improperly".

The department's chief director, Sithembele Zibi, said: "This child has no record of disciplinary action against her as a result of misconduct." - Sapa