Christian teacher who told pupils 'LGBTQ+ is not fine' was not acting against British values
A Christian teacher who told pupils that “LGBTQ+ is not fine” did not act against fundamental British values, a regulator has found.
Glawdys Leger, 43, was sacked from Bishop Justus CofE School in Bromley, south London, after she expressed her beliefs on LGBT issues during a religious education lesson.
The school received a complaint from a parent after Ms Leger told pupils that “LGBTQ+ is not fine” and “LGBTQ+ is a sin”.
Ms Leger also said that people will always be seen by God as having their birth gender.
Investigation into conduct
The Aquinas Church of England Education Trust, which runs the school, referred Ms Leger to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), the state regulator for teachers which has the power to ban them from the profession.
In its referral to the agency, the trust said it was “not certain whether she would continue to share those views with young people”.
The TRA considered whether her conduct was contrary to “fundamental British values in that it lacked tolerance to those with different beliefs”.
The regulator ruled that her behaviour was not contrary to British values because it found her evidence of being “tolerant of people from all backgrounds” was “genuine and sincere”, it is understood.
Ms Leger argued that she has “great compassion for LGBT people”. However, she said that she could not “in good conscience teach or say things I believe are contrary to my faith”.
Comments not contrary to British values
The regulator also considered the Department for Education’s advice on the Equality Act 2010 for schools, which states that the legislation defines religion as being any religion, and belief as being any religious or philosophical belief.
It is understood that the TRA said that no evidence had been provided to show that LGBTQ+ “was a philosophical belief”.
It therefore found that Ms Leger did not act against fundamental British values.
However, it is understood to have ruled that she was guilty of “serious misconduct” over her comments.
Her behaviour “fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession” and standards were breached including having “proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices of the school in which they teach”, the TRA found.
Ms Leger said the regulator ruled that her “choice not to present a balanced view undermined the school community’s aspiration to provide a supportive environment for children who may be exploring sexual identity”.
However, the TRA decided against banning her from the profession.
‘Extremely alarming’
Commenting on the ruling, Ms Leger said: “I am relieved to not be banned from teaching in the UK.
“However, I find it extremely alarming that I have been found guilty of discussing and debating Christian teaching in a Christian school in an RE lesson.
“I raised what I did because children were being taught one extreme LGBTQI+ narrative at the school with no debate. Yet for raising, expressing and teaching Christian beliefs on these issues, I have been accused of not presenting a balanced view.”
She said: “Any Christian or religious school must be upfront and honest with parents who believe they are sending their children to a Christian school, if it no longer adheres to Christian teaching or beliefs, or even its own teaching on human sexuality.”
The Aquinas trust has previously said: “The school teaches in line with statutory requirements to promote British values and follows relevant guidance outlined by the Department for Education.” It has been contacted for further comment.
