Anita Meston, a former French and humanities teacher at Biddick Academy in the United Kingdom, says the school dismissed her after she described herself as pro-life in response to a student’s question during class. The account comes from an interview with Fox News Digital. The school’s governing trust did not comment on the specifics of her case.
Meston said the exchange took place during a history lesson about the bombing of Dresden. She said she had invited students to compare that event with the Israel-Gaza conflict, and that the discussion turned to her views on abortion. When a student asked whether she supported abortion, Meston said she answered that she was pro-life.
According to Meston, she explained that her Christian beliefs would keep her from participating in an abortion in a medical setting. She also said she knew women who regretted having abortions. The student replied that she knew women who did not regret them, Meston recounted. Meston said she accepted the student’s response and returned the class to the lesson.
Meston said the school’s headteacher later told her that the school could no longer employ her, citing her sharing personal opinions in class. She described being shocked and humiliated by the decision. Meston also recounted that a colleague told her some teachers held similar views but were afraid to express them. That account is Meston’s recollection; the source material contains no independent confirmation of the conversation or the school’s reasons beyond her description.
Jeremiah Igunnubole, Meston’s attorney, said he believes her dismissal was linked to her expression of Christian beliefs and breached protections under British law. He argued that she had answered a student’s question rather than attempting to impose her beliefs. Those are the attorney’s claims, not a tribunal finding.
The North East Learning Trust, which includes Biddick Academy, declined to comment on Meston’s individual case. A trust spokesperson said it has a staff code of conduct that is applied consistently to protect students’ safety and well-being. The statement did not address the circumstances Meston described or specify which conduct rule was at issue.
Igunnubole said the case is proceeding before the Newcastle Employment Tribunal. A preliminary hearing is scheduled to consider the basic arguments and set a timetable for later proceedings. The source report does not provide a hearing date, the full legal claims, or an outcome. Fox News Digital said it contacted the tribunal for comment.
