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UK Law Reference
All sections of Higher Education and Research Act 2017
2017 c. 29, s.69A

Section 69A — General functions relating to freedom of speech and academic freedom

This version in force from 2025-08-01

Snapshot: 2026-08-24

Reproduced from legislation.gov.uk (Crown Copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0). Amendments made after 2026-08-24 may not be reflected — always check the official text .

(1) [F1 The OfS must promote the importance of—]

(a) [F1 freedom of speech within the law, and]

(b) [F1 academic freedom for academic staff of registered higher education providers and their constituent institutions,]

[F1 in the provision of higher education by registered higher education providers and their constituent institutions.]

(2) [F1 The OfS may—]

(a) [F1 identify good practice relating to how to support freedom of speech and academic freedom, and]

(b) [F1 give advice about such practice to registered higher education providers and their constituent institutions.]

(3) [F1 The Secretary of State may, by direction, require the OfS to report to the Secretary of State—]

(a) [F1 in its annual report under paragraph 13 of Schedule 1, or]

(b) [F1 in a special report,]

[F1 on such matters relating to freedom of speech and academic freedom as may be specified in the direction.]

(4) [F1 Where the Secretary of State is provided with a special report, the Secretary of State must lay it before Parliament.]

(5) [F1 See paragraph 13 of Schedule 1 for the laying of the OfS’s annual reports.]

Amendment notes

  1. F1 S. 69A and cross-heading inserted (1.8.2025) by Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 (c. 16), ss. 5(2), 13(3); S.I. 2025/528, reg. 2(d)