A Christian school worker who was sacked as a result of expressing concern about sex education and trans ideology, will have her appeal heard in a tribunal. 

Kristie Higgs, 45, was dismissed for gross misconduct from her role as a pastoral assistant at a Church of England primary school in 2019 for expressing her concern on a private Facebook page.

She shared two Facebook posts, challenging transgender ideology and sex education, the first was a petition challenging the government's Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum, whilst the second shared an article expressing concern about the use of pro-trans books in American schools.

Higgs was then dismissed after receiving an anonymous complaint, over concerns that it could be brought into disrepute in the community by the language used in the social media posts. 

She challenged her sacking, claiming discrimination and harassment on the grounds of her Christian beliefs, but in October 2020 the Bristol Employment Tribunal ruled in favour of the school. 

In its decision, the Tribunal concluded that Higgs had not been sacked because of the Christian beliefs she expressed on social media but because of "a genuine belief on the part of the school that she had committed gross misconduct."

Higgs said: "My bigger worry was that they were introducing the confusing idea of changing gender to children at such a young age, in a Church of England primary school.

"I was punished for sharing concerns about Relationships and Sex Education.

"I hold these views because of my Christian beliefs, beliefs and views which are shared by hundreds of thousands of parents across the UK."

Supported by the Christian Legal Centre, Higgs will have her case heard at the Employment Appeal Tribunal in London on 1st and 2nd March.

Lawyers for Higgs will argue that the Employment Tribunal erred in law with its original judgment and demonstrated a manifestly incorrect understanding of freedom of speech.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said the previous judgment "should concern all of us who care about the freedom to be a Christian believer in the UK".

"Even though her post was private to her family and friends she is being held responsible for what others might do with it."