Croydon Catholic school closed as teachers strike over cancelled LGBTQ book talk
Simon James Green has called for people to stand up for LGBT education after his talk at John Fisher school was cancelled in March.
Words: Alastair James; pictures: Daniel Kebede
A Catholic school in Croydon has been forced to close for the day while teachers protest the cancellation of an LGBT book talk and the sacking of the school governors over the matter.
In March, author Simon James Green was meant to attend John Fisher school in Purley, Croydon to discuss his book, Noah Can’t Even, which features a gay character.
However, the archdiocese of Southwark recommended that the talk be cancelled. When the school’s governors refused two resigned and the rest were sacked.
“Defend LGBT education”
Around 40 people gathered outside the school on Thursday (28 April) morning holding banners reading: “Reinstate our governors”.
The national president of the NEU, Daniel Kebede, wrote on Twitter earlier that they had been left with “no option” but to strike.
He also called for the governors to be reinstated and for Simon James Green to be invited back as well as for people to “Defend LGBT education.”
We really wanted to avoid this at John Fisher School but the Diocese have left no option.
Reinstate the governors at John Fisher School.
Reinvite @simonjamesgreen.
Defend LGBT education.Our members are strong.#JohnFisherSchool pic.twitter.com/XF2VeFOCub
— Daniel Kebede (@DanielKebedeNEU) April 28, 2022
Simon James Green also tweeted calling for people to support those “standing up for LGBT students everywhere who need to see the reality of their lives in books.”
Today @NEUnion members from John Fisher school are striking over my banned school visit and their sacked governors. They’re standing up for LGBT students everywhere who need to see the reality of their lives in books. Please show them how much support they have. pic.twitter.com/vUXBlwhx8t
— Simon James Green (@simonjamesgreen) April 28, 2022
On Wednesday Ofsted, the school’s watchdog said the decision to cancel the book talk in March had left many parents, teachers, and students “angry, confused and frustrated.”
It said, “immediate steps” to resolve the situation.
Ofsted carried out a snap inspection of the school following the talk’s cancellation and in their report to headteacher, Philip McCullagh, described the school as a “caring community, where all pupils are welcomed”.
In a statement on 3 March from Dr. Simon Hughes, the Diocesan Schools Commissioner who recommended the talk be cancelled, said the talk had fallen “outside the scope of what is permissible in a Catholic school.”
“In such circumstances, we have no alternative but to affirm our unequivocal and well-known theological and moral precepts and to act in accordance with them,” it added.
In a statement on Thursday (28 April) as reported by the Sutton and Croydon Guardian the archdiocese said: “Respect for the God-given dignity of each human life sits at the heart of Catholic education and respect is a two-way street.
“Literature that insults the faith, which in the case of Mr Green’s book was a highly sexualised re-writing of the Lord’s Prayer, understandably causes offence to many Christians, and as such has no place in a Catholic school.
“It is important that the school can now move on from this, and the Diocesan Education Commission will continue to work with the local authority, governing body, unions, and senior leaders at The John Fisher, in the best interest of parents, pupils and all members of staff.”
Attitude has approached the Archdiocese of Southwark for comment.