The Office for Students (OfS) is facing a judicial review after the National Secular Society (NSS) challenged public funding for several Bible colleges.
The NSS argues that some theological institutions may not meet academic freedom requirements, claiming their commitment to Christian doctrine makes them ineligible for taxpayer-backed student loans. According to The Guardian, more than £80m has been issued via the Student Loans Company since 2018.
An opinion article published on the NSS website in 2024 said: “...since its establishment in 2017, the Office for Students has registered several churches, and theological colleges owned and operated by groups of churches, which blatantly restrict academic freedom and freedom of speech in their governing documents and in the delivery of education.”
Among the colleges named are Moorlands College, Regents Theological College and Christ the Redeemer College, but the NSS has reported nine more.
The NSS article by Keith Sharpe and Chris Higgins adds: “Despite several requests, the consistent response of the OfS has been to ‘neither confirm nor deny’ that it will investigate or take any action. The OfS has also failed to explain why these colleges are not required to comply with the same conditions of registration that all other HE providers must meet. This response is inconsistent with the OfS’s stated intent to be transparent.”
Regents Theological College has defended itself. Its principal, Rev Michelle Nunn, told The Guardian: “[The college] seeks to operate in accordance with UK equality and freedom of speech legislation and the Office for Students regulations. Students are admitted based on academic criteria and choose to study with us because our programmes align with their academic and vocational interests.
“We encourage robust intellectual inquiry and debate in our classes and welcome respectful engagement with differing perspectives.”
The OfS has said it will not comment on ongoing legal proceedings. Premier Christian News has contacted Moorlands College and Christ the Redeemer College for a response.
