AN ASPIRING young actress has been told she must either give up her passion of studying A-level drama, or swap schools.

Ellen Miller, 17, goes to Wensleydale School in Leyburn, where she is halfway through A-levels in art and law.

For the past year, she has been travelling to Richmond School to study for an A-level in drama – a subject not offered by her own school.

But following changes to the Richmond School timetable, Ellen, who hopes to pursue an acting career, has been told she cannot continue with the arrangement but must either move to Richmond permanently or drop the subject.

Ellen, who lives in Leyburn, said: “I’m really upset. When I started the course, I was told that I would have to complete the full two years, which is what I wanted – and I have loved every minute.

“But now they’ve told me I can’t carry on with it, I feel really let down.”

Last month, Ellen appeared in a school production of Franz Kafka’s The Trial at the Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond.

If she drops drama in favour of media studies, as she plans to do, she will leave school with an AS-level in drama – half an A-level.

If she swapped schools, she would have to drop her A-level in law, which is not offered at Richmond.

Ellen’s father, Vernon, said: “Ellen is so upset.

“She has worked so hard over the past year and it seems totally unfair, especially after she was told at the beginning that she must complete the two-year course.”

Phil Benaiges, headteacher at Wensleydale School, said: “We are very disappointed, though understand, that due to internal timetable constraints and other issues, Richmond School is effectively unable to continue with the collaboration.

“We have been able to offer alternative courses here at Wensleydale for those unfortunate students which we believe will enable them still to pursue their career aspirations.”

A Richmond School spokesman said: “While both schools remain committed to collaboration in the future, we are disappointed that these unfortunate circumstances have affected the student from Wensleydale School.

“Although she will not be able to continue into the second year of theatre studies, there are alternative arrangements and several other Alevel choices, both at Richmond and Wensleydale, which should not affect her future career or university application.”