A Christian teacher who was suspended from school after referring to a transgender boy as a girl has been barred from ever teaching again.
The Teaching Regulation Authority (TRA) found Joshua Sutcliffe, 33, guilty of failing to treat a student with ‘dignity and respect’ by’misgendering’ them.
The former maths teacher at The Cherwell School, an Oxford public secondary, acknowledged to neglecting to use the students’ chosen pronouns when congratulating a group of kids during a maths class, according to The Telegraph.
Mr. Sutcliffe was suspended and eventually left the school in 2017 after he applauded a group of students by stating, ‘Well done females,’ later claiming that this was not intentional and that he apologized immediately. He eventually filed a lawsuit against the school, alleging constructive dismissal and discrimination.
The TRA decided that he addressed the transgender student with female pronouns in additional instances during his stay at the school between 2015 and 2018 – something he rejects.
According to the publication, Mr. Sutclliffe is ‘devastated’ by the decision to bar him from teaching and intends to appeal.
While he was expelled for misgendering the student, they also discovered that when questioned by a student, he stated sentiments against gay marriage.
He was also found to have failed to ‘consider the potential impact’ of a declaration that being gay was wrong on his students, particularly those who are LGBT.
The Maths instructor began working at St Aloysius’ College in Islington, north London, in September 2018. A complaint filed against the teacher for showing children a video with ‘inappropriate comments’ was upheld.
Complaints about comments he made about masculinity, such as saying there is a ‘growing problem in today’s society that males are not manly enough,’ were upheld as well.
Mr Sutcliffe, who was initially suspended after appearing on ITV’s This Morning to discuss the problem in 2017, told The Telegraph that he is ‘devastated’ by his suspension and plans to fight it with the help of the Christian Legal Centre.
‘I believe affirming children who are gender confused in the school is psychologically detrimental for them,’ he said. I refuse to violate my conscience and damage a child, and I refuse to apologize for it.’
However, according to the TRA judgement, ‘the panel was satisfied that Mr. Sutcliffe’s conduct fell far short of the standard of behavior required of a teacher.’
After being found guilty of inappropriate professional behaviour, Alan Meyrick, the TRA’s decision maker, decided to bar him from teaching on behalf of Gillian Keegan, the Education Secretary.
‘In my opinion, a ban order is required to protect public confidence in the profession,’ Mr Meyrick added.
The significant decision comes as schools await the first formal Government guidance on how to deal to transgender students. It is expected to state that teachers have the right to reject to use alternative pronouns requested by kids.
Mr. Sutcliffe was chastised for his appearance on TV since it was determined that he did not protect the students’ wellbeing when he used a feminine pronoun to describe them on the show.
