diff --git a/.upgradenotes/MDL-75610-2024111313224921.yml b/.upgradenotes/MDL-75610-2024111313224921.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..99ce5698948
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.upgradenotes/MDL-75610-2024111313224921.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+issueNumber: MDL-75610
+notes:
+  core:
+    - message: >
+        `\core\output\activity_header` now uses the `is_title_allowed()` method
+        when setting the title in the constructor.
+
+
+        This method has been improved to give priority to the 'notitle' option
+        in the theme config for the current page layout, over the top-level
+        option in the theme.
+
+
+        For example, the Boost theme sets
+        `$THEME->activityheaderconfig['notitle'] = true;` by default, but in its
+        `secure` pagelayout, it has `'notitle' = false`.
+
+        This prevents display of the title in all layouts except `secure`.
+      type: improved
diff --git a/lib/classes/output/activity_header.php b/lib/classes/output/activity_header.php
index 01bfd470931..a8dbb017d7c 100644
--- a/lib/classes/output/activity_header.php
+++ b/lib/classes/output/activity_header.php
@@ -56,11 +56,10 @@ class activity_header implements renderable, templatable {
     public function __construct(moodle_page $page, \stdClass $user) {
         $this->page = $page;
         $this->user = $user;
-        $pageoptions = $this->page->theme->activityheaderconfig ?? [];
         $layoutoptions = $this->page->layout_options['activityheader'] ?? [];
         // Do a basic setup for the header based on theme/page options.
         if ($page->activityrecord) {
-            if (empty($pageoptions['notitle']) && empty($layoutoptions['notitle'])) {
+            if ($this->is_title_allowed()) {
                 $this->title = format_string($page->activityrecord->name);
             }
 
@@ -79,10 +78,22 @@ class activity_header implements renderable, templatable {
     /**
      * Checks if the theme has specified titles to be displayed.
      *
+     * First checks if the current layout has the notitle option set. If it is, uses that option to decide whether the title is
+     * displayed. If not, then checks whether the theme has the notitle option set and uses that. If neither is set, the title
+     * is allowed by default.
+     *
      * @return bool
      */
     public function is_title_allowed(): bool {
-        return empty($this->page->theme->activityheaderconfig['notitle']);
+        $layoutoptions = $this->page->layout_options['activityheader'] ?? [];
+        $themeoptions = $this->page->theme->activityheaderconfig;
+        if (isset($layoutoptions['notitle'])) {
+            return !$layoutoptions['notitle'];
+        } else if (isset($themeoptions['notitle'])) {
+            return !$themeoptions['notitle'];
+        } else {
+            return true;
+        }
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/lib/pagelib.php b/lib/pagelib.php
index 5b32c4d13e7..2f584a98889 100644
--- a/lib/pagelib.php
+++ b/lib/pagelib.php
@@ -617,7 +617,7 @@ class moodle_page {
      */
     protected function magic_get_layout_options() {
         if (!is_array($this->_layout_options)) {
-            $this->_layout_options = $this->_theme->pagelayout_options($this->pagelayout);
+            $this->_layout_options = $this->theme->pagelayout_options($this->pagelayout);
         }
         return $this->_layout_options;
     }
diff --git a/lib/tests/output/activity_header_test.php b/lib/tests/output/activity_header_test.php
index 588dca4c2e0..d06ed5e14ed 100644
--- a/lib/tests/output/activity_header_test.php
+++ b/lib/tests/output/activity_header_test.php
@@ -156,4 +156,57 @@ class activity_header_test extends \advanced_testcase {
         $activityheaderstub->set_title($title);
         $this->assertEquals($expectedheadinglevel, $activityheaderstub->get_heading_level());
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Tests that is_title_allowed returns correctly based on the theme default and current layout options.
+     *
+     * The current layout has precedence, if the notitle option is set, otherwise the theme default is used if set.
+     *
+     * @param array $themeoptions The activityheader options array set in the theme.
+     * @param array $layoutoptions The activitityheader options array set in the layout.
+     * @param bool $allowed The expected return value of is_title_allowed.
+     * @covers ::is_title_allowed
+     * @dataProvider get_title_options
+     * @return void
+     */
+    public function test_is_title_allowed(array $themeoptions, array $layoutoptions, bool $allowed): void {
+        $themeconfig = $this->getMockBuilder(\theme_config::class)
+            ->disableOriginalConstructor()
+            ->getMock();
+        $themeconfig->activityheaderconfig = $themeoptions;
+        $page = $this->getMockBuilder(\moodle_page::class)
+            ->getMock();
+        // Mocking the magic_get_layout_options() and magic_get_theme() methods directly doesn't work,
+        // so mock the whole magic __get() method and just return the test values for those properties.
+        $page->expects($this->any())->method('__get')->willReturnCallback(fn($name) => match($name) {
+            'layout_options' => ['activityheader' => $layoutoptions],
+            'theme' => $themeconfig,
+            default => null
+        });
+        $user = new \stdClass();
+
+        $activityheader = new activity_header($page, $user);
+        $this->assertEquals($allowed, $activityheader->is_title_allowed());
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Return scenarios for test_is_title_allowed.
+     *
+     * Test each combination of the 'notitle' option being unset, true and false in each of the theme and layout options.
+     *
+     * @return array[]
+     */
+    public static function get_title_options(): array {
+        return [
+            'Undefined in theme, undefined in layout' => [[], [], true],
+            'Undefined in theme, disallowed in layout' => [[], ['notitle' => true], false],
+            'Undefined in theme, allowed in layout' => [[], ['notitle' => false], true],
+            'Disallowed in theme, undefined in layout' => [['notitle' => true], [], false],
+            'Disallowed in theme, disallowed in layout' => [['notitle' => true], ['notitle' => true], false],
+            'Disallowed in theme, allowed in layout' => [['notitle' => true], ['notitle' => false], true],
+            'Allowed in theme, undefined in layout' => [['notitle' => false], [], true],
+            'Allowed in theme, disallowed in layout' => [['notitle' => false], ['notitle' => true], false],
+            'Allowed in theme, allowed in layout' => [['notitle' => false], ['notitle' => false], true],
+        ];
+    }
 }
diff --git a/mod/quiz/accessrule/seb/tests/behat/secure_layout_activity_heading.feature b/mod/quiz/accessrule/seb/tests/behat/secure_layout_activity_heading.feature
index 9c1f1b57e7e..c4e881d1c18 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/accessrule/seb/tests/behat/secure_layout_activity_heading.feature
+++ b/mod/quiz/accessrule/seb/tests/behat/secure_layout_activity_heading.feature
@@ -35,4 +35,5 @@ Feature: View the activity header when Safe Exam Browser is required
   Scenario: Quiz description is displayed when Safe Exam Browser is required
     When I am on the "Test quiz name" "quiz activity" page logged in as student1
     Then I should see "Launch Safe Exam Browser"
+    And "Test quiz name" "heading" should exist
     And I should see "Test quiz description"
diff --git a/theme/boost/config.php b/theme/boost/config.php
index 3ee7f1d1f3d..4b1451d0c00 100644
--- a/theme/boost/config.php
+++ b/theme/boost/config.php
@@ -164,7 +164,12 @@ $THEME->layouts = [
     'secure' => array(
         'file' => 'secure.php',
         'regions' => array('side-pre'),
-        'defaultregion' => 'side-pre'
+        'defaultregion' => 'side-pre',
+        'options' => [
+            'activityheader' => [
+                'notitle' => false,
+            ],
+        ],
     )
 ];