The family of a teenager with learning difficulties who had been told she couldn’t stay on to study A-levels say she is thrilled after Hitchin Girls’ School reconsidered its decision.

Eliza Thorpe, from Whinbush Road in Hitchin, retook her GCSE exams this summer at the school in Highbury Road, achieving a B in additional science and Cs in applied science, maths and art.

The Comet reported earlier this month how the 17-year-old wanted to study three A-level subjects – biology, chemistry and psychology – at the school’s sixth form but had been told she could not as she needed to get a C instead of a D at English and a total of five GCSEs at A*-C.

Following a meeting between Eliza’s mum Louise and headteacher Frances Manning, the teenager, who has a neurological condition, high functioning autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and an eating disorder, started back at the school on Monday.

Ms Thorpe said: “Eliza is able to take A-level biology, chemistry and psychology so she is thrilled.

“She was really looking forward to going back and spent the whole weekend reading her books on the subjects. She is obviously absolutely delighted.

“I am really pleased that the school has made a reasonable adjustment for Eliza and she now has the opportunity to pursue her chosen A-levels.”

Mrs Manning said: “It is not our usual practice to respond to the media regarding individual students but felt that it would be useful in this case.

“Our entry requirements are in place to ensure that students are placed on courses where they can expect to be successful and this is based on their overall GCSE outcomes.

“The reporting of modular grades and not overall GCSE grades in the earlier report was unhelpful in this situation.

“Eliza has now returned to Hitchin Girls’ School and embarked on her chosen courses.”