Harassment & Sexual Misconduct:
Prevention, Reporting and Support

What is Harassment?

Harassment includes unwanted conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic which has the purpose or effect of violating someone’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.

Harassment may also include conduct that constitutes harassment under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

What is Sexual Misconduct?

Sexual misconduct means unwanted or attempted unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. It includes, but is not limited to:

• Sexual harassment;
• Unwanted sexual comments, jokes or propositions;
• Repeated sexual or romantic approaches after refusal;
• Unwanted touching or kissing;
• Sexual assault or rape;
• Stalking or cyberstalking;
• Sexualised messages or images;
• Sharing intimate images without consent, including synthetic or manipulated intimate images;
• Spiking, grooming, coercive or controlling behaviour;
• Using academic, employment, financial or other power to obtain sexual or romantic engagement.

Understanding Consent

Consent means agreeing by choice while having both the freedom and capacity to make that choice. Consent must be present for each sexual act and can be withdrawn at any time.

Consent should not be assumed from silence, lack of resistance, previous intimacy, clothing or an existing relationship. A person may not have the freedom or capacity to consent because of circumstances including intoxication, unconsciousness, fear, coercion, age, disability or abuse of power.

Where This Applies

You can report conduct that happened:

• On VSBT premises;
• During teaching, assessment, tutorials, placements, field trips, social events or travel;
• Through email, messaging, social media, the virtual learning environment or other digital platforms;
• Off campus where there is a material connection with VSBT or a risk to students;
• Within partnership, subcontracted or work-placement activity.

Current, recent and historic incidents can be reported.

Support Without Making a Formal Complaint

Reporting something to us does not automatically mean that you must make a formal complaint. You can talk to us about what happened, understand your options, and request support before deciding whether you want further action.

In some circumstances VSBT may need to act even without a formal complaint, particularly where there is a serious safeguarding concern or wider risk. Where possible, we will explain this and keep the affected person informed.

Anonymous Reporting

You may make an anonymous report. Anonymous information will be reviewed for safeguarding, risk, pattern identification, and preventive action.

If you do not provide your identity or contact information, VSBT may not be able to contact you, provide individual support, fully investigate the incident, or tell you the outcome. An anonymous report will not by itself normally justify disciplinary action without reliable supporting evidence.

Staff-Student Relationships & Abuse of Power

Except for an excluded pre-existing relationship defined in the approved policy, a relevant staff member must not enter into or continue an intimate personal relationship with a student for whom they have direct academic or other direct professional responsibility. A breach will be addressed through the staff disciplinary procedure and may constitute gross misconduct, including dismissal.

Students will not be disciplined merely for participating in such a relationship. Students may report harassment, coercion, retaliation or sexual misconduct within any relationship and will be protected from retaliation.

Confidentiality and Your Information

We collect information sensitively, use it fairly, store it securely, and share it only with people who need it for support, safeguarding, risk management, investigation, decision-making, legal obligations or regulatory assurance.

We cannot promise absolute confidentiality. Information may need to be shared without consent where necessary to protect a child or adult at risk, prevent serious harm, respond to a threat to life, comply with law or court order, preserve a fair process, or address a serious wider risk. Wherever possible, we will explain this before information is shared.

See our Privacy Notice and Data Protection Policy.

No NDAs to Silence Students

VSBT will not use or rely on a contractual term, settlement provision, non-disclosure agreement or other restriction that prevents or restricts a student from disclosing information about an allegation of harassment or sexual misconduct affecting one or more students. Legitimate confidentiality protections must not be used to silence a student.

Protection from Retaliation

VSBT does not tolerate retaliation, victimisation, intimidation, witness interference or academic disadvantage because someone made a report, supported another person, rejected conduct, participated in a process, sought support or exercised a legal right. A good-faith report will not result in disciplinary action merely because the allegation is not upheld or because there is insufficient evidence.

Freedom of Speech & Academic Freedom

VSBT applies these arrangements consistently with freedom of speech within the law and academic freedom. Lawful disagreement, criticism, academic challenge and exposure to controversial course material will not be treated as harassment merely because views are unpopular or cause offence. These protections do not extend to sexual misconduct, threats, unlawful harassment, coercion, targeted intimidation or other unlawful conduct.