Harassment and Sexual Misconduct

At Bradford College, we are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where all students can thrive. Student safety is a priority, and we are continually working to uphold the highest standards in preventing and responding to harassment, bullying, and sexual misconduct.

Condition E6: Student harassment and sexual misconduct

This webpage is the College’s Single Comprehensive Source of Information (SCSI), as required by the Office for Students (Condition E6). It summarises our approach to student harassment and sexual misconduct, including:

Definitions of harassment and sexual misconduct

Our policies and reporting procedures

Guidance on intimate personal relationships between staff and students

Our responsibilities under freedom of speech legislation

Sources of support, training, and investigation procedures

The College encourages use of the Safeguarding and Wellbeing Team as the first point of contact. It provides clear reporting options, access to trained advisors, and enables us to monitor and respond to disclosures effectively.

Definitions

“Harassment” is unwanted conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic which has the purpose or effect of violating an individual’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment as defined by the Equality Act 2010. This includes harassment by association or perception. Examples include offensive jokes, slurs, unwanted physical contact, or excluding someone based on a protected characteristic.

“Sexual misconduct” means any unwanted or attempted unwanted conduct of a sexual nature and includes, but is not limited to:

Sexual harassment

Sexual assault

Rape

Creating a Respectful, Trusting Culture Free From Harassment and Sexual Misconduct

Reporting incidents of Harassment or Sexual Misconduct

All students and staff can use the College’s Safeguarding Reporting System to report harassment or sexual misconduct. The Safeguarding and Wellbeing Team can be contacted by emailing: [email protected] , by phoning 01274 088999 or in person by visiting any of the Safeguarding offices on College sites.

Investigations if required will be carried out under the Student Disciplinary or Staff Disciplinary policies. and thereafter by entering into a process of formal risk assessment to reduce the risk of future harm. This will consider the potential risks to the individual, their peers and the organisation. The College will take affirmative action to mitigate risks where Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct may be involved. This process is separate from disciplinary action.

N.B. for students under the age of 18 we have a legal obligation and a duty of care to report allegations of sexual offences against minors to the Police and to Parents or Careers of the student. All such incidents will be flagged with the College Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Bradford College Policies and Procedures

The relevant College policies are:

Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedures

Relationships with Students Policy

Safeguarding Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy and Procedures

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy and Procedures

Guidance on intimate personal relationships between staff and students

It is important that staff and students understand the professional level of conduct expected of our staff.

The starting of a romantic or sexual relationship with any student of the college is strictly forbidden. This includes adult students and learners of any age, both full‐time and part‐time.

There may be exceptions where the relationship is already established before employment or before the learner starts to study. These relationships should be declared as a close personal relationship.

All employees and volunteers within the College fall within the scope of the Relationships with Students policy.