School free speech warning

The evangelical chaplain at the centre of a landmark employment tribunal has told en that if he loses it will be ‘open season’ for schools to cancel orthodox Christian beliefs.

The Revd Dr Bernard Randall was chaplain at Trent College near Nottingham when he gave a sermon in 2019 defending pupils’ rights to question the school’s introduction of LGBT policies. It also expressed the Church of England’s official, orthodox teaching on sexuality to students. The school subsequently reported him to the government ‘terrorist’ watchdog Prevent – which refused to investigate.

Dr Randall subsequently lost his job and took his claim to the employment tribunal. The hearing concluded recently after a lengthy delay and the outcome is expected in the new year.