A PRIMARY-SCHOOL teacher at a Church of England school who lost her job after refusing to address a female-born child by a boy’s name has been refused permission for a judicial review of her case.

The Year 4 teacher, who is a Christian, took legal action against the school’s governors and the local authority, arguing that “trans-affirming policies” put children at risk.

Last year, the teacher was told by the head teacher that the eight-year-old child, known as Child X, was to be called by a male name and referred to by male pronouns. The teacher disagreed with the decision, which she called “harmful”. She was suspended and later dismissed on the grounds of gross misconduct.

The school’s policy is reported to have been backed by advice from the local council, the charity Stonewall, and the diocese. The teacher, along with other staff, had attended a “trans-awareness” training.

Materials provided by the local council, including some provided by Stonewall, told staff that 80 per cent of transgender children realise that they are transgender before they leave primary school, and that the average age of “self-realisation” takes place at five.

The teacher’s lawyer told the court that the materials were not assessed for impartiality, and that his client was acting in the “best interests” of Child X.

The lawyer representing the local authority argued that the claimant was “driven ideologically and not by the best interest of the child”. She told the court that the teacher was sacked after “obsessively” accessing Child X’s personal information, and fears that she would “out” the pupil.

The teacher’s case was supported by the Christian Legal Centre, the legal branch of the campaigning group Christian Concern. She intends to continue to press her case. She is appealing against the school’s decision, and, if this is rejected, she will enter proceedings for an employment tribunal.