A school assistant will today challenge in court her sacking after she criticised plans to teach pupils about LGBT+ relationships.
Kristie Higgs, 47, was dismissed for gross misconduct by Farmors School in Fairford, Gloucestershire, in 2019 after sharing Facebook posts condemning the proposals.
Londons Court of Appeal is due to begin considering her legal challenge this morning, with Mrs Higgs saying she was fired because of her Christian beliefs.
Mrs Higgs, from Fairford, shared and commented on posts which raised concerns about relationship education at her sons Church of England primary school.
Pupils were to learn about the No Outsiders In Our School programme, a series of books teaching the Equality Act in primary schools.
Kristie Higgs, 47, who was dismissed for gross misconduct by Farmors School in Fairford, Gloucestershire, in 2019, is at Londons Court of Appeal today with supporters
She says she was unfairly dismissed after sharing Facebook posts criticising moves to teach pupils about LGBT+ relationships
Mrs Higgs, from Fairford, shared and commented on posts which raised concerns about relationship education at her sons Church of England primary school (pictured)
Mrs Higgs, who was posting on Facebook under her maiden name, shared two posts in October 2018 to about 100 friends, one of which referred to brainwashing our children.
An anonymous complaint was made to the school and Mrs Higgs was suspended and, after a disciplinary hearing, dismissed for gross misconduct.
Mrs Higgs, supported by the Christian Legal Centre, took the school to an employment tribunal, arguing she had been unlawfully discriminated against because of her Christian beliefs.
The school denied dismissing the mother-of-two because of her religious beliefs and said she was sacked because of the language used in the posts.
In its ruling in 2020, the tribunal concluded her religion was a protected characteristic as defined by the Equality Act, but the school dismissed her lawfully.
Mrs Higgs appealed against that judgment to the Employment Appeal Tribunal in London, which ruled in her favour but remitted the case to an employment tribunal for a fresh determination.
Her lawyers are now challenging the decision to order a new tribunal hearing.
Before the appeal, Mrs Higgs said: I wouldnt want any parent to go through what I have over the past five years. Nobody should be sacked for raising the concerns that I did in the way that I did.
Mrs Higgs, who was posting on Facebook under her maiden name, shared two posts in October 2018 to about 100 friends, one of which referred to brainwashing our children
Her supporters gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice this morning
Mrs Higgs lawyers are now challenging a decision to order a new tribunal hearing
My posts were a warning and so much of what has happened in the debate over the past five years has vindicated me.
I pray now that the Court of Appeal will make the right judgment and will make a ruling that protects Christian employees and parents freedom to express their beliefs without fear of being silenced.
The appeal before Lord Justice Underhill, Lord Justice Bean and Lady Justice Falk is to begin at 10.30am at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, with the hearing expected to conclude tomorrow.