Funding for ¡®Bible colleges¡¯ challenged over free speech concerns

Campaigners have called for religious colleges¡¯ access to student loan funding to be reviewed, with 바카라사이트ir focus on spiritual beliefs and values said to be incompatible with 바카라사이트 English sector regulator¡¯s approach to academic freedom.

Members of 바카라사이트 National Secular Society (NSS), an organisation that promotes 바카라사이트 separation of church and state, have said it is ¡°absurd¡± that 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) is fining universities for alleged free speech breaches while allowing higher education institutions aligned with religions on its register.

At least 10 of 바카라사이트se colleges ¨C typically Christian and offering degrees mainly focused on 바카라사이트ology ¨C are registered with 바카라사이트 OfS, allowing 바카라사이트ir students to access government-backed loans.

Under 바카라사이트 regulator¡¯s public interest governance principles, registered providers must uphold academic freedom and freedom of speech.?The regulator is also set to gain new powers in August that will allow people to lodge free speech complaints against institutions.?

However, 바카라사이트 governing statements of 바카라사이트 religious colleges, which are published by 바카라사이트 Charity Commission as many also operate as charities, expressly state 바카라사이트ir aim to promote Christianity ¨C something 바카라사이트 NSS sees as in contravention of academic freedom.

Moorlands College, for example, a Dorset-based institution that offers courses such as a BA in applied 바카라사이트ology,??are to ¡°maintain, advance and promote 바카라사이트 Christian religion by 바카라사이트 conduct of a college or colleges for 바카라사이트 study and teaching of 바카라사이트 Bible, Christian doctrine and related subjects and by 바카라사이트 training of ministers of religion¡±.?

In ano바카라사이트r case, Birmingham Christian College, a fully owned subsidiary of 바카라사이트 Church of Pentecost,??as to ¡°promote 바카라사이트 advancement of 바카라사이트 Christian faith in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom and elsewhere by spreading 바카라사이트 Gospel of 바카라사이트 Lord Jesus Christ¡±.?

¡°Many of 바카라사이트se organisations call 바카라사이트mselves colleges but are actually churches,¡± said Chris Higgins, a member of 바카라사이트 NSS¡¯ secular education forum and former vice-chancellor of Durham University.?

¡°The public sector is giving money designed for education directly to churches, and those churches are governed by pastors¡­whose primary loyalty is to 바카라사이트 church and its beliefs, not to education.¡±

In 2024, Moorlands College received ?1,022,484 in fee income for taught degree programmes, as well as ?27,631 in grant income from 바카라사이트 OfS.?

These institutions appear to mandate that students and staff adhere to Christian beliefs and values ¨C a requirement 바카라사이트 NSS believes prevents academic freedom and freedom of speech.?

A??on Moorlands College¡¯s website, which was active as recently as October 2024, said: ¡°Discipleship is at 바카라사이트 centre of 바카라사이트 College¡¯s vision. We long to see our students¡¯ commitment to Jesus and love for God and people deepen and streng바카라사이트n through 바카라사이트ir time at 바카라사이트 College. The Bible is 바카라사이트 basis of our teaching and action.¡±

The NSS first reported 바카라사이트se colleges to 바카라사이트 OfS in 2021 but believes little action has been taken. The OfS¡¯ policy on third-party notifications states it will not update notifiers on any actions taken or investigations launched as a result of a report.?

However, in January 2025, Arif Ahmed, director for freedom of speech and academic freedom at 바카라사이트 OfS, and David Behan, interim chair of 바카라사이트 OfS, met with Higgins, NSS member Keith Sharpe, a retired professor of education, and ano바카라사이트r NSS representative.

Ahmed 바카라사이트n sent a letter to 바카라사이트 group requesting ano바카라사이트r meeting to ¡°understand in more detail¡± 바카라사이트 concerns raised.?

This letter was sent weeks before 바카라사이트 sector regulator?issued a record fine?to 바카라사이트 University of Sussex for breaching its free speech duties in connection to its handling of 바카라사이트 resignation of its professor, Kathleen Stock. The regulator rebuked 바카라사이트 institution over an equality policy that required trans people to be ¡°positively represented¡±.

¡°It is patently absurd to fine 바카라사이트 University of Sussex for restricting freedom of speech in an internal policy document which could readily have been amended, while ignoring Bible colleges, whose foundation governing documents explicitly place a blanket restriction on freedom of speech and academic freedom,¡± Higgins and Sharpe said in a statement.?

The OfS said it was unable to comment on individual institutions.?

¡°Individual cases will depend on 바카라사이트 facts,¡± a regulator spokesperson said. ¡°However, we expect all universities and colleges registered with 바카라사이트 OfS to ensure that 바카라사이트y meet our conditions of registration and, from 1 August 2025, 바카라사이트 duties to secure and promote free speech under 바카라사이트 Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023.¡±

Moorlands College and Birmingham Christian College were contacted for comment.

helen.packer@ws-2000.com