Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech
The following Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech is subject to approval by Governing Body in October 2025. It complements the college’s Free speech statement and Meetings and Events Guidelines and Policies.
1. Introduction
1.1 This Code of Practice sets out Green Templeton College’s values and expectations relating to freedom of speech and academic freedom and how these values and expectations are applied to college activities.
1.2 Freedom of speech means the freedom, within the law, to receive and impart ideas, opinions or information by means of speech, writing or images (including in electronic form).
1.3 Academic freedom is a separate, but complementary right as further provided for in the Free speech statement. It applies, in relation to academic staff at the college and, means their freedom within the law to question and test received wisdom, and to put forward new ideas and controversial or unpopular opinions, including their opinions about the college, without institutional censorship and without placing themselves in jeopardy of losing their jobs or privileges.
1.4 References in this Code of Practice to ‘college premises’ means all land, buildings, or other premises owned, leased or occupied by the college or under the day-to-day control of the college.
1.5 The university has their own duty to secure freedom of speech and has their own Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech.
2. Legislative framework
2.1 The legal duty of UK universities to protect free speech and academic freedom is enshrined in the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 and is also protected under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights which has effect through the Human Rights Act 1998. Academic freedom is also protected under the Education Reform Act 1988.
2.2 Part A1 of the Act states that:
(1) The governing body of a registered higher education provider must take the steps that, having particular regard to the importance of freedom of speech, are reasonably practicable for it to take in order to achieve the objective in subsection (2).
(2) That objective is securing freedom of speech within the law for:
(a) staff of the provider,
(b) members of the provider,
(c) students of the provider, and
(d) visiting speakers.
(3) The objective in subsection (2) of the Act includes securing that—
(a) the use of any premises of the provider is not denied to any individual on the basis of their ideas or opinions or in respect of their ability to put forward new ideas and controversial or unpopular opinions so that they are not placed at risk of being adversely affected so that they lose their jobs or privileges within the College or their chances of promotion or securing different jobs is reduced.
2.3 Part A2 of the Act states further that the governing body must maintain a code of practice setting out certain matters related to freedom of speech, which are addressed in this document.
3. Values
3.1 Freedom of speech within the law and academic freedom are central tenets of college life and must be robustly protected.
3.2 In all its activities, the college seeks to:
(1) secure and promote civic and academic freedoms including freedom of speech;
(2) ensure a very high level of protection for the lawful expression of a viewpoint and for speech in an academic context; and
(3) foster a culture of openness and inclusion, in which members of our community engage with each other, and the public, in debate and discussion, and remain open to both intellectual challenge and change.
4. Conduct
4.1 Inevitably, this will mean that members of the college are confronted with views that some find shocking, disturbing or offensive. The college believes that a culture of free, open and robust discussion can be achieved only if all concerned engage critically but courteously with each other.
4.2 The college is committed to fostering an inclusive culture which promotes equality, values diversity and maintains a working, learning and social environment in which the rights and dignity of all members of the college community are respected. In accordance with the terms of its Policy and Procedure on Harassment, the college does not tolerate any form of harassment, bullying or victimisation and expects all members of the college community, its visitors and contractors to treat each other with respect, courtesy and consideration
4.3 Within the bounds prescribed by law, all voices or views which any member of our community considers relevant should be given the chance of a hearing. Wherever possible, they should also be exposed to evidence, questioning and argument. As an integral part of this commitment to freedom of expression, we will take steps to ensure that all such exchanges happen peacefully and respectfully. With appropriate regulation of the time, place and manner of events, members of our community should have no reasonable grounds to feel intimidated or censored.
4.4 Peaceful protest is a legitimate expression of freedom of speech. However, such protest must not shut down debate nor cause substantial disruption to college activities. The respect which the college expects all members of the college community to demonstrate towards each other is particularly important where it comprises respect for the right of others to speak freely and exercise their academic freedom. Staff, students and members of the college wishing to protest either on college Premises or on non-college premises in a manner which may disrupt college activities, must seek permission in advance by referring the matter under the Procedure for Meetings and Events set out in Annex A of this Code. Carrying out such protests without permission may lead to disciplinary action under the relevant procedures (as set out in paragraph 4.5). The college may also take action to remove any unauthorised encampment or occupation under its common law power of removal or by court proceedings. The Proctors have published Guidance on Demonstrations or Protests which is available as Annex B to this Code.
4.5 Complaints about the behaviour of individuals should be made under the appropriate procedure:
a) Complaints about staff members should be made under the college’s Harassment Policy as set out above;
b) Complaints about students should be made under the the college’s Harassment Policy;
c) Complaints about others should in the first instance be made to the Principal.
4.6 Complaints that arise in the university context (ie in the course of university activity or on university premises) should normally be made to the university.
4.7 All activity in relation to this paragraph 4 must be risk assessed and planned in accordance with the college’s Health and Safety Policy.
5. Procedures
5.1 The Act requires that this Code of Practice sets out procedures to be followed in connection with the organisation of meetings and other activities at Green Templeton College.
5.2 The college ensures that its teaching, research, curriculum, policies and procedures reflect its duties to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable and having particular regard to their importance, freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law.
5.3 This Code of Practice therefore applies to the college procedures to be followed by staff and students (including the Graduate Common Room and Societies) when organising any activities that relate to academic life, whether those activities take place on or off college premises, including activities relating to: admission, appointment, reappointment, employment and promotion of staff, disciplinary matters, equality, diversity and inclusion, fitness to practice, harassment and bullying, IT, social media, Prevent duty, principles of curricular design, research ethics, speaker events staff and student codes of conduct.
5.4 In making any decision under any of these procedures or otherwise, or adopting any policy that could directly or indirectly (and positively or negatively) affect freedom of speech, the college will take into account:
(a) the importance of academic freedom (as required eg by the Education Reform Act 1988 and the Act);
(b) the need to take reasonably practicable steps, having particular regard to the importance of freedom of speech, to ensure that freedom of speech within the law (including academic freedom) is secured (as required eg by the Act);
(c) the rights and freedoms enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights and incorporated into domestic law by the Human Rights Act 1998;
(d) the Public Sector Equality Duty which requires universities to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, promote equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between different groups; and
(e) the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 which requires universities to ‘have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism’ (section 26 (1)) and which also provides that ‘when carrying out the duty imposed by section 26 (1)’, universities ‘must have particular regard to the duty to ensure freedom of speech; and to the importance of academic freedom.’
5.5 A breach of this Code may lead to disciplinary action being taken under the appropriate college procedure (including staff disciplinary procedures for staff or the student non-academic disciplinary procedure for students).
5.6 Complaints that the college has breached its duties in relation to freedom of speech under the Act may be raised by any of the individuals listed in section 2.2(2) and 2.3 above. Complaints may also be brought by a person who was formerly within one of those categories, where their complaint relates to events which occurred while they had that status and which impacted them in that capacity. The appropriate procedure for raising such complaints is as follows:
(a) complaints by members of staff should be addressed under any applicable grievance procedure unless they are related to other complaints and/or form part of an existing complaint, and/or fall under the scope of another staff procedure, in which case they should be raised within the procedure associated with those other complaints (e.g. disciplinary);
(b) complaints by students should be raised within the procedure associated with those complaints (eg the Policy and Procedure on Harassment or Policy and Procedure on Student Concerns and Complaints);
(c) complaints by any other person falling within 2.2(2) and 2.3 above (e.g visiting speakers or job applicants) should be raised in the first instance to Domestic Bursar.
On receipt of any such complaint, the college will consider the most appropriate procedure to be followed, in consultation with relevant colleagues and the complainant and in some cases they may refer the matter to be considered under a different more appropriate procedure.
Complaints should be made within 3 months, extendable where not reasonably practicable to complain within that time period.
5.7 The Office for Students (OfS) operates a free speech complaints scheme. Under that scheme, the OfS can, at its discretion, review complaints about free speech from members, staff, applicants for academic posts and (actual or invited) visiting speakers. Information about the complaints that the OfS can review is due to be available on its website and will be linked here once it is.
6. College Meetings and Events
6.1 Through the implementation of this Code, the college will take reasonably practicable steps to ensure that freedom of speech within the law is secured within its community and that the use of its premises and services is not inappropriately denied to any of the persons listed in section 2.2(2) and 2.3 above on any ground connected with their beliefs or views or the policy or objectives of a body of which they are a member. The college acts in a risk-based and proportionate manner and will always aim to allow an event to go ahead, provided that it is within the law and does not shut down debate, pose unacceptable risks to individuals or cause substantial disruption to college activities and will work with the organisers towards this goal. Cancellation of events is undesirable and should be exceptional.
6.2 A Member, students (including Common Rooms and college Societies) or employee of the college who is organising a meeting or event (including those that take place online) or is responsible for administering external bookings of college premises (‘the Organiser’) is responsible for assessing those meetings and events in the context of this Code, the college’s booking procedures and other relevant college policies. The Organiser MUST follow the procedure outlined in Annex A to this Code in any of the following circumstances:
(a) the meeting or event may give rise to an environment in which people will experience, or could reasonably fear, discrimination, harassment, intimidation, verbal abuse or violence, particularly (but not exclusively) on account of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation;
(b) the event is a protest (including any demonstration, protest, rally or similar event) which is intended to take place on college premises and/or in a manner which may disrupt college activities, including by any person (meaning any natural person, corporate or unincorporated body) occupying or setting up camp on college premises;
(c) the event could involve the use of college premises for any purpose or in any manner that may cause damage to college premises; loss or damage to any person or put the college in breach of any law or obligation (contractual or otherwise) to any person;
(d) the event may shut down debate or prevent others from speaking freely or exercising their academic freedom;
and/or
(e) the meeting or event may pose a risk to the safety of any person.
If Organisers are in any doubt or have any questions or need for further information, they are encouraged to discuss the situation with the Green Templeton Domestic Bursar in the first instance, and then seek advice, as appropriate, from the Executive Management Group and the University Security Services. No meeting or event which a student (including the Graduate Common Room and college societies) or employee is proposing to be held on college premises may be refused, cancelled or altered as a result of the ideas or opinions (in the case of an individual, or a member of a body) or the policy or objectives (in the case of a body) of the individual or body seeking to hold the meeting or event save as a result of consideration by the Executive Management Group.
7. Monitoring and review
7.1 Green Templeton College will periodically review the contents and operation of this Code of Practice and report on its operation and recommend amendments to it for consideration by Governing Body as appropriate or necessary.
More information
First published on 30 July 2025
