A Christian teacher who claimed that being gay is a sin and described transgender individuals as “just confused” has lost her High Court appeal.
Glawdys Leger, a Christian teacher at Bishop Justus Church of England School in Bromley, London, made the remarks during a religious studies class in February 2022.
She also stated that being LGBT+ was “not fine” and emphasized that God should take priority over LGBTQ ideology.
Ms Leger’s comments were reported by a year seven student who informed her mother about what had been said. The student recorded the remarks after her mother advised her to note any transphobic comments.
The student’s mother later filed a complaint with the school, describing Ms Leger’s remarks as “very distressing” for her child, who was “exploring who she is – as many children are at this age.”
As a result, Ms Leger was suspended in March 2022 and subsequently dismissed two months later. In December 2023, her actions were ruled as unprofessional conduct, resulting in a teaching ban.
Ms Leger challenged this decision in the High Court, arguing that her comments had been taken out of context and claiming that the school failed to provide a broad and balanced curriculum.
She also asserted that the Teaching Regulation Agency’s decision violated her right to privacy and would hinder her ability to secure future employment.
However, Mrs Justice Lang dismissed her claim, stating that Ms Leger’s criticisms “do not disclose any error of law, as opposed to mere disagreement.”
The judge confirmed that the published findings would be inaccessible to employers after two years and upheld the decision as a justifiable and proportionate sanction for her conduct.
In her written ruling, Mrs Justice Lang acknowledged that while Ms Leger’s remarks were not intended to cause distress, her refusal to present a balanced view undermined the school’s goal of providing a supportive environment for students exploring their sexual identity.
