National Secular Society Launches Judicial Review Over Bible College Funding
The Office for Students, England's university regulator, is facing a high-stakes judicial review after the National Secular Society announced it would take legal action over the regulator's alleged failure to investigate potential breaches of academic freedom laws at theological colleges.
Regulator Faces Court Challenge Over £80 Million in Public Funding
The National Secular Society revealed it is preparing to pursue the Office for Students through the courts, arguing that twelve bible or theological colleges should be ineligible for public funding or government-backed student loans due to their commitment to theological doctrine. According to the society, these institutions have received more than £80 million through the government-backed Student Loans Company and an additional £1 million in direct funding from the Office for Students since 2018.
Stephen Evans, chief executive of the National Secular Society, expressed frustration at what he described as the regulator's persistent refusal to respond or take action despite multiple contacts and meetings since 2021. "It's a case of the regulator not doing its job properly," Evans stated. "These colleges don't appear consistent with the OfS requirements on academic freedom and freedom of expression, so they shouldn't have been registered in the first place."
Academic Freedom Concerns at Theological Institutions
The legal challenge centers on whether institutions that require adherence to specific religious doctrines can genuinely uphold academic freedom and freedom of speech as required by Office for Students regulations. Higher education providers in England must register with the Office for Students to access student loans and are legally required to protect both freedom of speech and academic freedom.
The National Secular Society has identified specific concerns at several institutions, including one college whose governing documents include a provision "to promote the fear of the Almighty God through education and information dissemination." Another college's code of conduct lists "sexual intercourse outside of marriage" as grounds for disciplinary action against students.
Professor Chris Higgins, former vice-chancellor of Durham University, supports the legal action, stating: "As far as we are concerned the OfS made a mistake in registering these independent bible colleges in the first place because their governing documents specifically restrict academic freedom and freedom of speech."
Broader Implications for Higher Education Regulation
This legal action comes at a critical moment for the Office for Students, which is currently awaiting a crucial high court judgment regarding its investigation into the University of Sussex. The regulator recently fined Sussex University a record £585,000 for alleged breaches of regulations, highlighting the increasing scrutiny facing higher education institutions.
The National Secular Society's pre-action letter specifically mentions three colleges: Moorlands College in Dorset; Regents Theological College, a training center of the Elim Pentecostal church in Malvern; and Christ the Redeemer College in Harrow. The Reverend Michelle Nunn, principal of Regents Theological College, defended her institution's practices, stating that it operates in accordance with UK equality and freedom of speech legislation while encouraging "robust intellectual inquiry and debate in our classes."
Moorlands College and Christ the Redeemer College declined to comment when contacted about the allegations. The Office for Students stated it was unable to comment due to the pending legal action, leaving the courts to determine whether theological institutions with doctrinal requirements should continue receiving substantial public funding while operating within England's higher education framework.
