A PREGNANT teenager kept at home after her mother claimed teachers' attempts to protect her left her "feeling like a leper" will never return to school.

As the Lancashire Telegraph exclusively reported, pregnant Nina Dixon, 16, a final year pupil at Darwen Vale High School, has been kept at home since the middle of October by her mother Caroline in protest at what she called "over the top" health and safety rules at Darwen Vale High School.

Now, Caroline, 52, of Duckworth Hall in Oswaldtwistle, has said her daughter will never set foot in Darwen Vale again and instead finish her studies at Blackburn College.

She said: "I have met with the governors who have told me to my concerns down in writing.

"But the damage has been done and my daughter was made to feel like a leper is so unhappy at her treatment it would be impossible for her to go back now even if all the conditions were lifted.

"She is instead going to do a two-day practical hairdressing course at Blackburn College and hopefully do her GCSEs there the year after."

Darwen Vale bosses had carried out a health and safety "risk assessment" and imposed a series of conditions on Nina's time at school.

Conditions included Nina having to remain in the classroom while pupils change lessons, going to a specified room at break time and lunchtime and being accompanied by staff when going to and from lessons.

The school's headteacher Lynn Dunning defended the rules stressing that the well-being of all pupils was their prime responsibility.

Her mum said she initially agreed that her daughter would abide by the rules but then it became clear that they were a "breach of her human rights."

A Blackburn College spokeswoman said: "We can confirm the student has been in touch and talks have begun over the possibility of studying here.

"At this stage nothing has been finalised."