A Christian influencer and education specialist fired from her role at a Catholic school for expressing support for biblical marriage is appealing a tribunal decision that upheld her dismissal.

Gozen Soydag, 37, from Enfield, lost her job as pastoral manager at St Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls in North London after posting about traditional marriage on her Instagram account, @wifeinthewaiting, which promotes family values. The posts, described as “incompatible with the school’s ethos,” were removed following a parent’s complaint, but the school proceeded with her dismissal.

Soydag, who had over 30,000 followers across her social media platforms, claimed wrongful dismissal, harassment, discrimination, and breaches of her human rights. However, the Employment Tribunal dismissed her case, ruling that the school acted within its rights.

Assistant Headteacher Jo Saunders told the tribunal that while the school “did not curtail” Soydag’s free speech, it required her to take down the posts. Employment Judge Sarah Matthews stated that Soydag’s content “only celebrated the nuclear family,” which could cause students from diverse family backgrounds to feel “devalued.”

Responding to the ruling Soyab said she was devasted yet determined to fight for her beliefs. “This was a Catholic school, and they knew I was a passionate woman of faith. The school’s building is in the shape of the Cross. Every classroom had a Cross and Bible verses on the walls. This was a place where I believed they accepted Jesus,” she said, adding that she stood by her views on “God’s blueprint for marriage and family.”

Soydag is receiving support from Christian Concern (CC) in her appeal. CC Chief Executive Andrea Williams criticised the ruling, stating, “This is yet another example of schools with a supposedly strong Christian ethos succumbing to secular pressures and viewing Christian beliefs as offensive.”

St Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls has been contacted for comment.