Part 2: Functions of the Office for Students Section 5: General functions
This section amends the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 to provide that, in performing its functions, the OfS must have regard to the need to promote the importance of freedom of speech within the law in higher education, and the need to protect the academic freedom of academic staff at English higher education providers and their constituent institutions.
	This section inserts section 69A, which provides that the OfS must promote the importance of freedom of speech within the law and academic freedom in higher education. This section also sets out provisions similar to sections 35 and 37 concerning advice by the OfS on good practice in relation to how to support freedom of speech and academic freedom, and the power of the Secretary of State to require the OfS to report on freedom of speech and academic freedom matters.