Glawdys Leger, a 43-year-old foreign languages teacher at Bishop Justus CofE School in Bromley, Kent, was terminated from her position in May 2022 after she refused to teach what she

deemed as "extreme" LGBT lessons. Ms. Leger, who had been teaching at the school since 2017, stated that she would not teach LGBT content included in the Religious Education syllabus to year seven students.

Ms. Leger shared her belief with students that LGBT practices were considered sinful in her view and that humans are born as either male or female. Following this, she faced allegations of upsetting a student with her views and was subsequently reported to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA).

Ms. Leger, a teacher with 12 years of experience, now faces the possibility of being banned from the profession indefinitely following a "fitness to practice" hearing scheduled to begin in Coventry on Monday. This marks the first instance where a TRA case against a teacher at a Church of England school has progressed to a full hearing.

Ms. Leger's objections were primarily centered around the introduction of concepts related to gender identities, such as pansexuality, asexuality, intersexuality, and transgenderism. She also raised concerns about the promotion of Critical Race Theory and abortion within the curriculum. The RE teaching syllabus included the idea that individuals could be "born in the wrong body" and encouraged students to practice "allyship" for LGBTQ+ individuals.

Teachers were also required to screen a film titled 'Fit,' which addressed issues related to millennials with protected characteristics.

Expressing her thoughts ahead of the hearing, Ms. Leger emphasized the impact of the situation on her, describing it as heartbreaking. She stated that she was treated as though she were a criminal and a danger merely for expressing her Christian beliefs in response to student questions.

Ms. Leger expressed compassion for LGBTQ+ individuals, especially those experiencing gender confusion. However, she asserted that she could not, in good conscience, teach or endorse beliefs contrary to her faith, such as affirming same-sex relationships or supporting individuals in their gender identity struggles.

Ms. Leger also claimed that certain political and ethical beliefs, which contradicted religious practice, were being promoted at Bishop Justus CofE School without the knowledge of parents. She suggested that the Christian aspects of the school were superficial and that the school was endorsing beliefs incongruent with Christian values.

A spokesperson for the Aquinas Church of England Education Trust, which oversees the school, highlighted the importance of delivering a high-quality education and promoting mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs as part of a broad and balanced curriculum. The school adheres to statutory requirements to promote British values and follows relevant guidance from the Department for Education. Due to the ongoing investigation and sensitivities surrounding the matter, the spokesperson declined further comment. Photo by. Bishop Justus CofE Secondary school by David Anstiss, Wikimedia commons.