School leaders who banned a 13-year-old girl from wearing a cap after her hair fell out were forced to back down after pupils walked out in protest.

Ella Goodwin was told she was not allowed to wear a cap and hoodie to cover her head because it broke uniform policy.

She was diagnosed with Chronic Recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) two-and-a-half years ago after her long brown locks started falling out in clumps.

Ella bravely had her head shaved for the Princess Trust charity and asked if she could wear a black cap to Heritage High School in Clowne, Derbys.

But teachers refused, saying it was not part of the uniform, despite Ella even stitching the school badge onto the side of the cap to make it look smarter.

But classmates at the school, which has 885 pupils aged 11-16 and was told it “Requires improvement” by Ofsted, staged a walkout on Monday (17/5) in protest.

Footage shows dozens of pupils chanting “Justice for Ella” while waving banners and wearing caps and hoodies in support of the youngster.

On Monday night the school finally performed a U-turn and agreed to let Ella wear her cap in class.

Ella, who takes a cocktail of medication to combat chronic pain caused by the disease, said: “I just think rules should be bent for someone going through something like this.

"But it was an amazing feeling just to know how many people supported me.

"I'm not ashamed but wearing a cap and hoodie just gives me confidence and comfort.

"I would not have gone back to school without it.”