A new report from the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) think tank offers a nuanced picture of campus free speech: privately educated students are significantly more likely to fear being 'cancelled' than state school alumni, even though they are more confident in their oratorical skills. The survey of around 10,000 students found that 38% of privately educated respondents who felt uncomfortable expressing views cited cancellation fears, versus 24% from state schols. Meanwhile, only 36% of private school alumni lacked confidence in public speaking, compared with 55% of state-educated students.

The 38% vs 24% Gap: Inside HEPI's Survey of 10,000 Students

According to the report, approximately one in ten students said they did not feel comfortable expressing their views if others might disagree. Of that group, a quarter cited worry about being cancelled. But when broken down by school type, the disparity emerged starkly: private school alumni accounted for 38% of that reason, while only 24% of state school alumni said the same. The report, conducted between January and April 2025 and weighted for representativeness, is the first to suggest that perceptions of free speech may differ by social background.

Oracy Confidence vs. Cancellation Anxiety: A Contradiction Explained?

The report notes that many private schools place heavy emphasis on inter-school debating competitions, which may explain why privately educated students feel more confident in public speaking—only 36% cited a lack of confidence compared to 55% of state-educated students. Yet that confidence does not extend to feeling safe from cancellation. One co-author, Charlotte Armstrong , suggested a possible explanation: private school students may have had less opportunity to interact with a broad part of society and make mistakes without severe consequences. As Armstrong told HEPI, 'One possibility we have discussed is that students who have been to a private school may have just had less opportunity to interact with a broader part of society, make those mistakes and see that the consequences are not as scary as they think they are.'

Declining Study Hours: From 16 to 11 Per Week — And AI's Potential Role

The same survey tracked a steady decline in independent study time, from 16 hours per week in 2021 to just 11 hours in 2025. The report's authors suggested one explanation could be that students are using artificial intelligence to speed up assignments, such as structuring arguments or fact-checking. This trend, combined with the free speech findings, paints a picture of a student body that is simultaneously more digitally assisted and more socially anxious.

What Remains Unclear: Is It Lack of Exposure or Different Social Circles?

The report , as HEPI itself acknowledges, does not definitively answer why private school students fear cancellation more. Armstrong's hypothesis—that less exposure to diverse social settings breeds higher anxiety—is one possibility. Another is that private school environments may foster stronger peer pressure or reputational stakes. The survey does not control for factors like political ideology or course type, leaving open whether the gap is driven by background or by the campus culture of the institutions these students attend . The report also notes that many private schools lack the diversity of state schools, which could affect students' comfort with disagreement.