Christian not sacked by UK school for LGBTQ+ 'beliefs', tribunal hears
A secondary school headteacher has denied that a member of staff was suspended because she was a Christian who raised concerns about teaching young children about LGBTQ+ relationships, an tribunal has heard.
Kristie Higgs, 44, was dismissed for gross misconduct by Farmor’s school in Fairford, Gloucestershire, last year after sharing and commenting on social media posts about relationship education.
The posts raised concerns about plans to teach the No Outsiders programme at her son’s Church of England school.
A tribunal in Bristol has heard that Higgs, a pastoral assistant at Farmor’s, was suspended by headteacher Matthew Evans and, following a disciplinary process, was sacked.
The Christian Legal Centre is supporting Higgs, who argues her sacking breached her freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
Evans told the employment tribunal his priority after receiving the complaint was to uphold “confidence” in the school.
He said: “It was not because of the beliefs. These posts have been shared and apparently endorsed and my concern was that might lead to a loss of confidence in the school.”
Earlier, Higgs said: “They had already made up their mind when Mr Evans started his investigation. People have a different belief system than I do. It doesn’t make me wrong.”
Barrister Debbie Grennan, representing the school, asked Higgs whether a man who underwent gender reassignment surgery and had obtained a gender recognition certificate was a woman.
“They are still male,” Higgs replied. “In this land I accept they have got their certificate. That’s who they say they are but God is who made them.
“God’s law says they cannot change their gender, the law says they can. This does not mean you have to accept it. It doesn’t mean I hate them, or they are not my friends.”
The tribunal continues.
