Leaders from two Sydney Anglican schools have backed away from a call to preserve exemptions in discrimination law that allow them to expel LGBT students and sack teachers, saying the call endorsed “highly discriminatory” measures.

Last week, it was revealed 34 Anglican schools in Sydney had written a letterto the federal education minister, asking to preserve a clause in the Sex Discrimination Act that allowed religious schools to discriminate on the basis of sexuality and gender.

The letter provoked widespread condemnation from former and current students of many of the schools.

Megan Krimmer, the headmistress of Abbotsleigh, wrote on Tuesday that it was “unfortunate” that the move for religious freedom had been tied to the discriminatory exemptions.

“Reflecting deeply on the feedback and issues raised, the incongruity between saying Abbotsleigh does not discriminate, and supporting highly discriminatory legislation, albeit temporarily, has become clear.

“Unfortunately, because the maintenance of discriminatory exemptions was tied to advocacy of religious freedom, and the assurances that Anglican schools do not discriminate was less than adequate, the message of religious freedom was understandably buried.”

However, none of the school leaders went as far as to revoke their support for the letter, despite an open letter calling on them to do so, signed by over 2000 former Anglican school students from the 34 schools.

Both school heads said they wanted the exemption under the Sex Discrimination Act removed in future.

But students of the Anglican schools said this response was inadequate.

“I’m glad Mrs Krimmer can see why people are angry but she hasn’t taken any meaningful steps to correct for her behaviour,” said Maddy, a queer student who attended Abbotsleigh.

“The religious freedoms that she supports would allow for potential discrimination in the future.”

In response to Berkley’s statement that “the media reporting of these matters and escalation on social media [had] misled students”, she said this was patronising.

“It doesn’t matter even if they never use it. It’s about the queer kids in the school knowing they could use it, and then never coming out and never feeling secure in their identities. That’s the ramification that I am worried about.” Read more via the Guardian