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A teacher was sacked for saying it was not appropriate for a transgender pupil to represent the school as head girl.
Susan Field, who taught French at Ash Manor School in Surrey, was found guilty by a teaching watchdog of making ‘inappropriate and transphobic remarks’.
The teacher, also known by her married name Susan Spare, was dismissed for gross misconduct after a pupil’s mum raised concerns over the conversation with her Year 11 tutor group of 21 students.
A disciplinary hearing by the Teaching Regulation Agency heard Ms Field had a ‘previously unblemished’ career for 35 years.
She was accused of referring to the student, known only as Pupil I, as ‘that’ and promising to make her bottom choice for election to the student body which helps lead the school.
The disciplinary hearing in Coventry was told that during the 10- to 15-minute conversation in May 2019, various class members described Pupil I as ‘it’, ‘that’ and ‘disgusting’.
The panel also heard other ‘hostile and derogatory language’ was used which Ms Field did not challenge.
Chris Rushton, who chaired the hearing, said: ‘There were numerous examples that a number of derogatory or hurtful remarks had been made by pupils against Pupil I based on Pupil I being transgender during the tutor group conversation.
‘The panel found it concerning that Ms Field had allowed such hostile and derogatory language to be used and had not challenged it during the discussion.
‘Ms Field admitted that at no stage during the discussion did she interject to admonish pupils for making derogatory comments.’
But the watchdog ruled she probably did not specifically refer to Pupil I as ‘that’, and on the ‘balance of probabilities’ she likely said pupils should not have to see ‘that’.
Ms Field instead admitted saying Year 7 should not be introduced to ‘that kind of thing’ or ‘that sort of thing’ in reference to possibility of Pupil I being elected head girl.
It was also claimed Ms Field said ‘it’s all rather stupid’ with reference to the LGBT+ community, but that allegation was found unproven.
She told her former bosses: ‘I did intend to use my teacher vote to rank Pupil I in last place, as I felt that Pupil I was the least representative student to be Head Student in a school of 900+ children.’
And during the investigation, she admitted telling her tutor group: ‘I said it’s not appropriate for a member of the LGBTQI to represent Ash Manor School.’
She also admitted she felt ‘children as young as 11 years old might be confused or uncomfortable with having Pupil I as a role model’.
The panel heard Ms Field had taught at Ash Manor from November 2012 and was one of the school’s highest paid teachers at the time of her dismissal in June 2019.
Pupil I is a transgender student who had publicly identified as female to the school and pupils since the start of a previous academic year.
Staff were briefed that she wished to identify as a girl, would have a girl’s name, and that female pronouns should be used when referring to her.
Ms Field was dismissed for gross misconduct after a disciplinary hearing into her comments, and lost a later appeal.
The panel concluded the comments were ‘a clear reference to Pupil I being transgender and were derogatory’.
Ms Field told the school’s internal inquiry: ‘I did express an opinion and deeply regret it. I realise now it was wrong.
‘It was not professional. I realise that now and regret the whole thing. At that point in time, my comment didn’t show respect.’
Asked if her comments might make a member of the LGBT+ community feel vulnerable, Ms Field replied: ‘Absolutely. I regret if any members of the LGBT+ community feel upset, outraged even.’
She told the panel she had interacted with a non-binary pupil and transgender pupil in her Year 7 classes at her new school.
Sparing her a teaching ban, Alan Meyrick, for the education secretary, said: ‘Ms Field had shown clear and genuine remorse for her actions in relation to the proven allegation both during the school’s investigation and at the hearing.
‘It was clear to the panel that Ms Field was greatly ashamed and upset that her actions had negatively affected some of the pupils.’
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