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Freedom of Speech Training

16th October 2025
Virtual 14:00 - 15:30

Join us for Freedom of Speech training delivered by Smita Jamdar at Shakespeare Martineau with the aim for AULP members to help support institutions train staff and students.  The package covers:

  1. What is freedom of speech? (Audience: all staff and students – two separate sets of slides)
  • Understanding the legal framework in place including Higher Education Freedom of Speech Act, Higher Education and Research Act, Human Rights Act, Equality Act 2010.
  • Understanding theirs and others (members of staff, students and visiting speakers) rights and responsibilities within the legal framework.
  • Understanding the legal boundaries between harassment (including condition E6) and lawful but offensive or controversial speech.
  • The interplay with Prevent

Note: This would then be augmented locally with details as to the institution’s code of practice and local context to meet the expectations of the OfS.


  1. How to interpret the right to freedom of speech and balance it against other rights and duties

(Audience: staff who will need to review their policies or processes for compliance with the Act or who will need to make decisions about people which involve free speech considerations)

  • Understanding of the framework for assessment and how to apply it:
    • Is the speech within the law?
    • Are there any reasonably practicable steps to secure the speech?
    • Are any restrictions prescribed by law and proportionate under the European Convention on Human Rights?
  • Understanding how freedom of speech interacts with:
    • Equality Act 2010: Staff must understand that protecting people from harassment or discrimination must be balanced with not unlawfully restricting lawful speech.
    • Prevent Duty: Staff should be trained to distinguish between lawful controversial views and speech that genuinely promotes terrorism.
    • Safeguarding and Wellbeing: Training should help staff assess when speech might pose a genuine risk, and when it does not.
  • Understanding how to ensure neutrality of training and that policies do not promote particular ideological stance or penalise disagreement with it, including the importance of legal definitions and objective tests.
  • How to balance apparently competing rights when handling student or staff disciplinary matters.

Key questions decision makers should be asking themselves to support triaging and considerations related to free speech

Tagged :
Type : Training

Book Now
Date: 
16th October 2025

Location: 
Virtual 14:00 - 15:30

Price: 
Free


 

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