A Christian parent has been reinstated as an elected school governor by the High Court, after being sacked and ostracized for complaining about the primary school’s RSE lesson plans and policy. Under the lesson plans, children would be encouraged to discuss issues around gender ideology.
Both the governing body - and local authority appeal panel which upheld its decision - accepted that the removal of the parent as governor in 2021 was unlawful. The effect of the court order is that the governor’s reinstatement is retrospective from the date of her removal. Her name has been withheld for legal reasons.
The governing body had breached its obligation to consider the relevant statutory guidance; this states that the power to remove a governor ‘should not be used simply to remove dissenting or challenging voices’.
The case was supported by The Christian Institute (CI), which said the school’s RSE policy remained in place while the governor waits for a response to her related complaint to the DoE.
Ciarán Kelly at the CI commented: ‘Had this decision stood, it would have sent a terrible message to school governors. Parents too would be justifiably fearful that those tasked with ensuring their children’s education is lawful and appropriate may be more interested in not ‘rocking the boat’ than doing what is right.’
‘We hope [the parent’s] success will reassure parents, inspire more Christians to take up the rewarding role of being a school governor, and encourage existing governors seeking to do what is best for their schools – especially when it comes to upholding the reality of biological sex.
‘Likewise, we trust it will discourage any schools inclined to silence such views.’
