National Secular Society move could hit Bible colleges

Nicola Laver  |  UK & Ireland
Date posted:  24 Apr 2026
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National Secular Society move could hit Bible colleges

Michelle Nunn

The National Secular Society (NSS) is preparing to seek a judicial review of the student regulator’s “systemic failure” to uphold freedom of speech – with the aim of “protecting” public money from being given to theological colleges.

If successful, Bible and theological colleges could be left unable to access public funding.

The NSS says the Office for Students (OfS) is in breach of laws on academic freedom and freedom of speech, on the basis that theological colleges are not eligible for public funding or government student loans because of their theological doctrine.

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