Chaplain ‘should not be banned from classes’ over gender row

A GOVERNMENT agency has ruled that it would “not be appropriate” to ban a school chaplain from working with children after he gave a sermon which challenged gender ideology.

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has said it will take “no action” against the Rev Dr Bernard Randall after he delivered a sermon on LGBT rights at Trent College in Derbyshire.

The sermon discussed identity politics and told pupils that they did not have to agree with LGBT teaching.

The chaplain told pupils that they were entitled to “look at some of the claims made about gender identity, and think that it is incoherent to say that, for example, gender is quite independent of any biological factor”. He added: “You should no more be told you have to accept LGBT ideology than you should be told you must be in favour of Brexit, or must be Muslim.”

After the sermon in 2019, Dr Randall was sacked by Trent College, which charges fees of up to £40,000 a year. He was later referred to Prevent, the counter-terrorism programme, the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) and the DBS.

Dr Randall was told by the DBS on Wednesday that it planned to take no action against him and he can continue his work with children and adults.

The TRA decided not to take any action last year, it is understood. And Prevent found there was no counter-terrorism risk or risk of radicalisation in Dr Randall’s message.

Dr Randall is appealing after he lost an employment tribunal claim for unfair dismissal. An appeal hearing is expected to take place this year.

The chaplain, supported by the Christian Legal Centre, has alleged harassment and victimisation over the decision to refer him to the TRA and DBS. The school is defending the claims.

Trent College has previously responded to the row with Dr Randall by stating that it is “an inclusive community where we are proud of our commitment to support the wellbeing of everyone.

“We want every single pupil to be safe and feel understood here.”

‘It is incoherent to say that, for example, gender is quite independent of any biological factor’