School backs down to Christian teacher in gay marriage row
A SCHOOL has apologised to a Christian teaching assistant who was disciplined for telling a 14 year old pupil she did not approve of gay relationships.
Brannel School have apologised to teaching assistant Victoria Allen
Victoria Allen, 51, threatened to take Brannel School in St Austell, Cornwall, to tribunal over the issue.
She claimed injury to feelings and was seeking compensation after being issued with a warning for her comments.
But both parties spent the day behind closed doors at Bodmin magistrates court thrashing out an agreement - and the dispute was settled.
The teaching assistant had told the pupil she did not agree with same sex relationships and she was unhappy that the rainbow emblem was used to represent gay pride.
In a joint statement headmaster Andy Edmonds "recognised Victoria Allen's right to share her Christian beliefs with students and has apologised for any upset that Victoria Allen may have felt during the disciplinary process".
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Mrs Allen said she was made to feel like a criminal for sharing her 'personal Biblical beliefs'
Outside the court, Mrs Allen said she was made to "feel like a criminal" for sharing her "personal Biblical beliefs".
If a child asks my personal opinion I feel I should give it
Mrs Allen said the student asked her a direct question about her personal religious beliefs.
She said:"If a child asks my personal opinion I feel I should give it."
In the statement Mrs Allen acknowledged that staff "should share balanced views".
The teaching assistant also said she was not happy with the use of the rainbow as a gay pride symbol
Mrs Allen said the student asked her a direct question about her personal beliefs
She said she believes the rainbow emblem often used to represent the gay community should indicate "God's promise not to flood the world again".
Libby Powell, of the Christian Legal Centre which supported her claim, said:"There has to be space for the other point of view, Vicky's point of view, to be there as well."