Sacked Swindon maths teacher tells appeal tribunal he was 'coerced' into 'socially transitioning' a 17-year-old pupil

Kevin Lister believed he had a duty to protect the student, which in his view meant discouraging them from transitioning, his barrister Anna Loufti told the employment appeal tribunal in London. New College Swindon dismissed him for gross misconduct in September 2022. A Bristol tribunal ruled in 2024 that he was not unfairly sacked. Loufti argued the college's pronoun policy compelled him to 'encourage and condone' the change.

The college alleges that Lister displayed the pupil's female birth name on the class whiteboard.

Lister posted on X that using preferred names was like urging a 'suicide victim to jump'.

The college also says he told the student they were 'burdening the NHS' during the pandemic.