The short version
- Rev Bernard Randall and Trent College have finalized a confidential settlement, concluding a protracted employment tribunal case that began with his 2019 dismissal.
- The dispute centered on a sermon in which Randall told students they were not obligated to accept LGBT activist ideas, leading to complaints and his eventual redundancy after refusing reduced hours.
- An independent investigation cleared Randall of safeguarding concerns, allowing him to resume officiating duties within the Church of England after a seven-year hiatus from ministry.
A legal dispute spanning seven years between Trent College and its former chaplain, Rev Bernard Randall, has concluded with a confidential settlement. The agreement brings closure to a complex employment case that involved multiple tribunal hearings, appeals, and significant costs for the Derbyshire boarding school. The resolution marks the end of a contentious period during which Randall was barred from his role and faced restrictions on his ministry within the Church of England.
The conflict originated in June 2019, when Randall delivered a sermon to students aged eleven to seventeen. He stated that pupils did not need to accept the ideas promoted by LGBT activists. The remarks were made in response to a question from a sixth-form student about why the Christian school required acceptance of LGBT concepts. Randall’s comments drew criticism from some staff, parents, and students, with reports indicating that the sermon caused significant distress among certain members of the school community.
Randall had expressed strong opposition to an inclusivity program implemented by the school, which was developed in partnership with the charity Educate and Celebrate. He characterized elements of the curriculum as ideologically loaded, describing terms such as 'cisgender' and 'sex assigned at birth' as misleading. Randall argued that the program went beyond neutral inclusivity into what he viewed as identity politics incompatible with Christian values. His objections led to his removal from the chaplaincy role and a referral to the government’s Prevent counter-terrorism initiative.
Following his initial dismissal, Randall appealed the decision, which was overturned by an internal review. However, the school subsequently moved to reduce the chaplaincy position to seven hours per term. Randall refused the reduced hours, leading to his redundancy. An employment tribunal in February 2023 ruled that the redundancy process was genuine and reasonable. The judge also determined that the referral to Prevent was justified from a safeguarding perspective. At that time, Trent College was ordered to pay approximately £20,000 in legal costs.
The case gained further complexity when Judge James Tayler of the Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled in March 2025 that the original judgment was unsafe. This decision necessitated a rehearing and contributed to the eventual out-of-court settlement. Throughout the proceedings, Randall maintained that he was punished for upholding Christian teaching in a religious setting. He emphasized his intent to encourage debate and neighborly love regardless of belief systems.
Parallel to the employment dispute, Randall faced scrutiny regarding his fitness to minister. The headteacher at the time referred him to both the Teaching Regulation Authority and the Disclosure and Barring Service. Both bodies concluded that there was no case to answer against Randall. An independent investigator later determined that harm could not be established from the delivery of the sermons. The investigation found the allegations unsubstantiated and noted no ongoing safeguarding concerns.
As a result of these findings, Randall has been cleared to preach again in Church of England churches. He had completed all mandatory safeguarding training required for permission to officiate. Randall described the seven-year period as a time when his faith and loyalty were severely tested. He expressed difficulty in forgiving those involved but stated he did not feel angry. He thanked his legal team and supporters who stood by him during the ordeal.
Trent College has declined to provide further comment on the matter. The case highlights the ongoing tensions between religious institutions, educational inclusivity policies, and employment law. It underscores the challenges schools face when balancing safeguarding responsibilities with the rights of staff members holding specific religious convictions. The settlement concludes a chapter that involved significant legal resources and personal impact for all parties involved.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC News↗Chaplain settles LGBT sermon unfair dismissal case
