Balancing Protected Beliefs in Education
Employment Tribunal claims linked to religion or philosophical belief are rising across the education sector – particularly disputes involving gender-critical views, LGBT+ issues, political opinions, and social media activity.
Recent case law – most notably Higgs v Farmor’s School (2025) – confirms how challenging it is for education employers to uphold equality and inclusion while respecting legally protected beliefs. Getting it wrong can lead to time-consuming grievances, costly discrimination claims, and serious reputational consequences.
This free 60-minute live webinar will help you to understand your obligations and respond confidently when staff express beliefs that cause concern.
27 November, 9.30 - 10.30 am
Why attend?
Education leaders are increasingly facing conflicts between staff belief expression and workplace conduct standards. With senior leaders under growing scrutiny, every decision must be proportionate, fair, and properly evidenced.
Join Head of Team and Education Specialist Jane Hallas for a focused, practical session designed specifically for headteachers, HR directors, school leaders, business managers, and governors. We’ll break down what employers must do to protect staff rights while maintaining a safe, professional working environment.
What we'll cover:
- Protected beliefs vs behaviour
Discover what qualifies as a protected belief under the Equality Act 2010, and how to distinguish lawful belief from conduct that crosses the line. - Real-life examples
Explore Higgs v Farmor’s School and similar cases to uncover what happened and the practical lessons for employers. - Handling disputes and complaints
Learn how to investigate concerns sensitively, assess proportionality, and communicate defensible outcomes that minimise risk. - How WorkNest can help
Understand how WorkNest can help you to navigate belief-related staff issues confidently through expert guidance and practical support.
Did you know?
The average award for religion or belief discrimination in the UK in 2023/24 was £10,750 – and with no statutory cap, the potential cost for schools could be much higher.
What you'll gain
Clear guidance and real-world insight to handle protected-belief disputes with confidence.
Have a question for our host?
Submit any questions or concerns when registering – we’ll address as many as possible during the webinar or in a follow-up FAQ.
Can't make it live?
Register anyway – we’ll send the recording and helpful resources straight to your inbox after the session.
Register for free session
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Webinar review
“Having attended a few WorkNest webinars, I am always impressed with the no-nonsense, well-balanced guidance they provide. Their advice gives me confidence to deal with situations that may arise in an appropriate way and the fact that they follow up with answers to all the questions posed during the webinar is an added bonus.”
Mary Greig, Scaled Solutions
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