Policy paper
The future of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023
Sets out the government鈥檚 decisions on the act to ensure that freedom of speech and academic freedom are robustly protected and it will be genuinely workable.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
The government plans to strengthen protections for academic freedom and freedom of speech at registered English higher education (HE) providers in a balanced and workable way. This includes by:
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strengthening legal duties on HE providers to:
- take steps to secure free speech within the law
- put in place a code of conduct on free speech
- promote free speech and academic freedom
- requiring the Office for Students (OfS) to promote freedom of speech and academic freedom
- banning non-disclosure agreements for staff, students and external speakers at HE providers in certain circumstances
- repealing direct duties in relation to freedom of speech on students鈥� unions
- repealing the statutory tort, which would give parties a right to bring a claim against an HE provider
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giving the OfS more flexible powers to:
- introduce new registration conditions on free speech and academic freedom
- consider complaints from staff, speakers and non-student members on free speech
The is available to read in full.
Updates to this page
Published 26 June 2025