School worker protests dismissal based on Christian beliefs
Kristie Higgs was suspended after sharing posts criticising same-sex relationships
A school worker is appealing against a decision to dismiss her from her job on the basis of her Christian beliefs.
Kristie Higgs was dismissed for gross misconduct by Farmor's School in Fairford, Gloucestershire, in 2019.
She was suspended from the school after sharing posts to her Facebook account criticising the teaching of LGBTQ+ relationships in primary schools.
The 47-year-old had shared posts sharing her concerns about the way relationships were taught in the school, which was being attended by her son.
As part of the curriculum, pupils at the school took part in the No Outsiders in Our School programme, which teaches the Equality Act to primary school children.
In one of the two posts she shared to her Facebook account in October 2018, she accused the school of "brainwashing our children".
Following her post, the school received an anonymous complaint and Mrs Higgs was soon suspended and later dismissed for gross misconduct.
Now, the school worker took her case to an employment tribunal, arguing that she was the victim of unlawful discrimination based on her religious beliefs.
The ruling, which came in 2020, said that while her religion was a "protected characteristic" under the Equality Act, she had been lawfully dismissed.
Mrs Higgs has since launched an appeal against the ruling, and is due to attend the High Court's Court of Appeal on Wednesday (October 2nd).
Speaking ahead of the hearing, Mrs Higgs told the Press Association news agency: "I wouldn't 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. 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."