Christian mum suing school as son 'forced into LGBT parade' blasts headteacher

02 February 2023 , 16:35

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Izzy Montague said she was told by the headteacher of Heavers Farm Primary School that her son could not opt out of the event

The devoutly Christian mum suing a London primary school over an LGBT parade has claimed in court that the headteacher is a 'bully' and the school is corrupt.

Izzy Montague, 38, first made the headlines three years ago after appearing on Good Morning Britain and claiming teaching children about the LGBT community in school is morally wrong and taxpayers' money shouldn't go towards pushing the "gay agenda".

Now, the mum is suing Heavers Farm Primary School in South Norwood, southeast London, after claiming her four-year-old son was forced to take part in a school LGBT parade.

In court she accused headteacher Susan Papas of being a bully, saying that the school is corrupt after she informed them she wanted her son out of the event in June 2018 - but was refused.

After an invitation was sent out to parents, the mum said she contacted the school asking for her son's attendance to be excused, saying the "issue was forcing children to parade for LGBT".

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And following the school's refusal, Ms Montague called for the resignation of Ms Papas.

The mum hit the headlines for her bizarre claims about the LGBT movement in 2019 (ITV)

The first-of-its-kind case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey - where it will last from Wednesday February 1 to February 10.

Continuing her evidence today, the devout mum told the court: "I believe anyone who decided that children should march for LGBT should not be a head of a primary school."

Cross-examining Mrs Montague, Ian Clarke, representing the school, asked the mum whether she called on the headteacher's resignation, even before the pair met.

Mr Clarke asked: "So, even before you meet with Ms Papas you are calling for her resignation.

"Given this was before you had any contact with the school in terms of the complaint no one from the leadership team had spoken to you about the contents of the parade?"

Mrs Montague replied: "I feel the issue wasn't about the curriculum, the issue was forcing children to parade for LGBT. None of which had changed after the complaint had been made.

"She supported the idea children should march for LGBT that was before the complaint, and was still supported by her after the complaint, nothing had changed."

The primary school's representative then said the mother "contacted the press before the complaint" and even used a false name in case of any "repercussions" from the school, adding: "But at this point you would have had no repercussions as you hadn't contacted the school?"

However, the 38-year-old argued: "The fact my child wasn't excused from the event had occurred, so that's why I had contacted the newspapers. In my eyes, my child had already been excluded."

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The barrister representing Heaver’s Farm Primary School asked the mum whether she thinks 'the school corrupt' (Google Maps)

The pair then discussed how if her four-year-old son came into school, "he would have had to march", with Mrs Montague replying the reason she used a fake name was because she "didn't want to be intimated or abused."

She added: "I would have been scared that if the school had found out I had made these comments in the newspaper they would have intimated me and victimised my child and create more abuse."

Calling on evidence provided, Mr Clarke said that an email was sent to the school on July 13, requesting Mrs Montague clarify the phrasing she used, and asked if she could have written it in a "more neutral fashion."

The mum said: "I think how I phrased it, yes, I understand how it could be viewed or seen as an uncomfortable read and not very pleasant to Susan Papas. But at the time and even now I was trying to be as truthful as possible about how I felt."

"And you accuse Ms Papas of being a bully and head of a corrupt organisation...Ms Papas hasn't bullied you at any point, has she?" asked Mr Clarke.

Mrs Montague said: "My view is forcing someone to follow something against their wishes, I think that is bullying."

The school's representative fired back: "Is the school corrupt?"

She replied: "It sold itself as welcoming to the community, but it certainly wasn't welcoming to my family and our Christian views, and I think that's a form of corruption."

The barrister touched on the mum's claims that Ms Papas' comments are "Christian-phobic", yet gave no concrete example of such comments.

Mrs Montague said: "Homophobia is a mental illness so saying anyone who has Christian values is basically saying they have a mental illness."

She added: "All I've stated is my child can't attend because they are Christian, this somehow defines they are not adhering to laws or being diverse, that in my view is Christian-phobic."

Heavers Farm Primary School's representative went on to ask what Mrs Montague thinks Pride is all about.

Ms Montague also called for the resignation of the school's headteacher (ITV)

Mrs Montague replied: "I believe it is about having gay liberation, being able to freely sleep and have sex with whoever you want without facing discrimination and the threat of violence or being put into prison.

"It breaks down the idea that sex should be contained in marriage and that sexual ideologies should be free."

And when asked what she disagrees with in that understanding of Pride, she said: "'I believe that a man and woman should have sexual relations in marriage so there is no freedom in that. We don't go around having sex whenever we want with whoever we want.

"I believe that as a Christian I should bring as many people as possible to Christ. So, it's not something I would be preaching to people that you should be free to have sex with whoever you want, whilst I wouldn't chastise it I certainly wouldn't celebrate it."

In ending the conversation, the barrister asked whether the only resolution the mum saw fit for her son was for him to be excused from any lessons that contradicted her faith.

"I did follow the Human Right Acts... so yes, I felt it was more than reasonable to say that if you were going to introduce topics that weren't in line with my faith, he be removed," the mother replied.

A spokesperson for Heavers Farm Primary School told The Mirror: “Following a series of matters taking place in 2018, we have engaged as required with the process of a civil claim and given the ongoing legal proceedings, it would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this stage.”

Mrs Montague, supported by the Christian Legal Centre, is suing the school on the grounds of direct and indirect discrimination, victimisation, and breach of statutory duty under the Education Act 1996 and the Human Rights Act 1998.

It is the first time that a UK court will scrutinise the legality of imposing LGBT ideology on primary schools.

The hearing continues.

Milica Cosic