Teacher banned after ‘misgendering’ pupil speaks out after losing court appeal: 'I'm a Christian - I was just following my beliefs'

Teacher banned after ‘misgendering’ pupil speaks out after losing court appeal: 'I'm a Christian - I was just following my beliefs'

Christian Sutcliffe speaks to Ben Leo

GB NEWS
Ben Chapman

By Ben Chapman


Published: 26/07/2024

- 22:53

Updated: 26/07/2024

- 23:14

The Christian teacher blasted the “pantomime court”

Maths teacher Joshua Sutcliffe has bemoaned the “egregious” decision to uphold his ban from the profession.

Speaking on GB News, the Christian teacher blasted the “pantomime court” and called for his former bosses to lose their jobs.


He was originally found guilty of misconduct while working as a maths teacher at The Cherwell School in Oxford in November 2017.

Speaking to Ben Leo, he said: “My Christian convictions led to me not to use pronouns, I thought a sensible approach would be not to use them.

Joshua Sutcliffe

Sutcliffe lamented the court treatment

GB NEWS

“But that wasn’t good enough. I think the judge has made an egregious decision and I thought it was a bit of a pantomime court.

“I was told to celebrate the childrens' transition but I am not a believer in leading children down a path of mutilation and taking strong drugs.

“I stand by my convictions. I think this is an important case for our nation. This is a universal belief.”

Sutcliffe went on to argue that his old bosses at the school should be banned from the profession for encouraging him and his teaching colleagues to embrace pupils’ pronouns.

“If anything, it’s them [bosses] who should be banned”, he said.

“This is a dangerous path for children. We have to understand what this is, it is really harmful for young children to go down this path.

Ben Leo and Joshua Sutcliffe

Joshua Sutcliffe joined Ben Leo on GB News

GB News

“It’s a much bigger issue than me sat here.”

In court, Sutcliffe’s lawyers argued the Teaching Regulation Agency’s (TRA) order was an “unjustified interference” with his rights of freedom of speech and religion.

But Justice Peperall said there was “no merit” in the argument that his human rights had been interfered with.

He said Sutcliffe did not accept "that his right to manifest and express his religious convictions might have to be balanced against his professional duties to treat children with dignity and respect and to safeguard their wellbeing".

After the ruling, Sutcliffe warned every teacher they are “at risk” if they decide to share their beliefs and views in the classroom.

He said he had been a “marked man” since he “dared to express [his] Christian beliefs in a school”.

He added: "The TRA wanted me to capitulate and say that I was wrong. I have been severely punished for refusing to do so. Despite this setback, I will continue to fight for justice and to get my career back."

You may like