Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Support

According to the OfS Condition E6: Harassment and Sexual Misconduct sexual misconduct is defined as an unwanted conduct of a sexual nature and includes, but is not limited to:

• Sexual harassment
• Sexual assault; and 
• Rape

Under the Equality Act 2010, any form of sexual harassment is unlawful. It defines an individual who engages in an inappropriate conduct of sexual nature with another individual.   The College maintains such an act violates the dignity of the affected individual.

Sexual harassment can be defined from a wide range of behaviours, including but not limited to: 

• Making inappropriate comments or jokes with sexual innuendos
• Displaying graphic pictures, posters or photos of a sexual nature
• Staring or leering at another person inappropriately 
• Making propositions and sexual advances
• Making promises in return for sexual favours
• Making sexual gestures
• Asking intrusive questions about a person’s private or sex life 
• Discussing your own sex life
• Making inappropriate sexual posts or contact on social media
• Spreading sexual rumours about a person 
• Sending sexually explicit emails or text messages
• Unwelcome touching, hugging, massaging or kissing
• Criminal  behaviour,  including  sexual  assault,  stalking, grooming, indecent exposure and sending offensive communications
• Predatory and harassing behaviour.

London Churchill College (LCC) has consistently maintained a robust and comprehensive approach to the prevention and management of harassment and sexual misconduct. Our institutional culture prioritises respect, dignity, and the safeguarding of all members of our community. For several years, we have operated with clearly defined policies, accessible procedures, and well-established support services, ensuring that concerns in this area are managed effectively, sensitively, and in a timely manner.

In light of recent regulatory expectations issued by the OfS, which call upon all higher education providers in England to review and enhance their approaches to preventing and addressing harassment and sexual misconduct, the College has taken proactive steps to further strengthen its practices. These enhancements reflect our firm commitment to ensuring a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for all students and staff.

The enhancements introduced have been developed collaboratively, drawing on expertise from professionals with specialist knowledge in safeguarding, student welfare, and legal compliance. Importantly, they have also been shaped by the voices of our students. Through a consultative process, LCC students have played a key role in informing the design, content, and implementation of these measures, ensuring that they are both relevant and responsive to the lived experiences of the student body.

The key enhancements to our approach include:

• Mandatory Training for All Students and Staff – In line with OfS expectations, LCC has introduced mandatory training for all students and staff, focused on understanding, preventing, and appropriately responding to harassment and sexual misconduct. This training provides clear guidance on the definitions, boundaries, and impacts of such behaviours, and reinforces the shared responsibilities of all community members in contributing to a culture of respect and safety. The training is supported by a suite of online resources, which offer practical information and signposting to relevant support services. All students will receive direct instructions on how to access and complete the training. Please note that participation in this training is a compulsory requirement for all members of the College community.

• Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Support Guide – To ensure transparency and accessibility of information, the College has developed a dedicated Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Support Guide. This comprehensive resource outlines the College’s approach to preventing and responding to concerns in this area. The guide provides detailed information on institutional policies and procedures, support services available to both students and staff, and clear reporting routes for anyone wishing to raise a concern or seek advice. It has been designed to be easily accessible and user-friendly, reflecting our commitment to openness, responsiveness, and student wellbeing. The guide is available through multiple digital platforms, including the LCC Hub, the “About LCC” section of the College website, the Policies and Procedures webpage, and the Student Support webpages. 

These enhancements form part of a wider, ongoing commitment by LCC to foster an environment in which all individuals feel safe, respected, and able to thrive both academically and personally. The College remains vigilant in reviewing its practices and welcomes ongoing feedback from the student community to ensure that our approach remains effective, inclusive, and aligned with sector best practice.

Student-Staff Relationships – The College expects that relations between staff and students should be professional at all times.  Given the inherent risk of an abuse of power, LCC strongly discourages staff from entering into sexual, romantic and personal relationships with students. In situations where staff have direct authority over a student such as for instance that student is registered on the programme on which they teach or have similar authority over the student, sexual, romantic and personal relationships are not permitted. Staff are expected to immediately inform HR and their line manager if they elect to enter into any kind of relationship with a student.  Failure to do so will result in an investigation into the member of staff under the Staff Disciplinary Procedure.  

Confidentiality – The College will seek to maintain confidentiality as far as is possible in any processes related to concerns about harassment or sexual misconduct, recognising that complainants and other parties in these proceedings need assurance that confidentiality will be respected and they be protected and feel safe.  All personal data is handled by the LCC in accordance with data protection legislation.  Information with relating to any concern of harassment and sexual misconduct will be provided only to relevant individuals and on a strict need-to-know basis.

Non-Disclosure Agreements – LCC does not use non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in relation to cases concerning harassment and/or sexual misconduct. The College believes in an open and honest dialogue about concerns of harassment and/or sexual misconduct, which members of the College community can raise, have addressed and learned from to enhance future case-handling without fear of silencing or any reprisals.

LCC is firmly committed to upholding the principles of academic freedom and freedom of speech. These rights are fundamental to the mission of higher education and the pursuit of knowledge, and have long been embedded in the College’s culture, policies, and academic practices.

In light of recent regulatory expectations from the OfS, all higher education providers are required to ensure that their institutional approaches are fully aligned with national legislation and guidance relating to freedom of speech and academic freedom. In response, LCC has recently reviewed and strengthened its policies in this area to ensure clarity, legal compliance, and alignment with sector best practice.

It is essential that all students understand and uphold the following principles:

• Legal Duty to Uphold Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom – The College has a statutory duty to promote and protect academic freedom and freedom of speech, as long as these are exercised within the bounds of the law. This includes ensuring that all members of the College community – staff, students, and visiting speakers – are able to express lawful views and ideas without fear of censorship or disciplinary action.
• Respect for Diverse and Challenging Perspectives – LCC affirms the right of individuals to articulate opinions and engage in debate, even where those opinions may be controversial, unpopular, or challenge prevailing perspectives. The College expects all members of its community to respect this right, recognising that freedom of speech is essential to academic inquiry and democratic society.
• Raising Concerns Regarding Potential Harassment – If a student or member of staff believes that speech or expression – even when presented under the guise of academic freedom or freedom of speech – may constitute harassment, they are encouraged to raise their concerns through the procedures set out in the College’s Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech Policy. This ensures that all concerns are considered fairly, transparently, and in line with College governance.
• Link to Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Procedures – In cases where an assessment under the Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech Policy determines that certain expressions constitute harassment, the matter will be managed under the College’s Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy. This ensures appropriate support, resolution processes, and where necessary, proportionate disciplinary action.
• Defining the Boundary Between Free Expression and Harassment – Concerns may arise where expressions of opinion appear to promote or incite hatred or violence against individuals or groups, particularly where such individuals share a protected characteristic as defined under the Equality Act 2010. While this is a common threshold, it is not exhaustive. Therefore, if you are unsure whether a particular expression crosses a boundary, we strongly encourage you to seek guidance using the support channels outlined in this guide.

Through these principles, LCC seeks to maintain an environment in which intellectual challenge, respectful disagreement, and lawful expression can flourish – without compromising the safety, dignity, or wellbeing of its community members.

At LCC, our efforts to prevent and address harassment and sexual misconduct extend well beyond regulatory compliance. This work forms an integral part of our enduring commitment to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive academic environment – one in which all students and staff feel valued, supported, and able to thrive.

Our approach is rooted in the College’s core values of dignity, equity, accountability, and mutual respect. These principles guide our policies, shape our culture, and influence the behaviours we expect across the entire LCC community.

The recent enhancements to our training, policy framework, and support resources have been implemented not simply to meet external expectations, but to strengthen our collective ability to respond effectively to concerns and prevent harm before it occurs. Creating a culture of safety and inclusion requires the active participation of every member of our community.

What does this mean for you as an LCC student?

To ensure you are fully informed and equipped to contribute to a positive and respectful learning environment, we ask all students to take the following essential steps:

• Complete the Mandatory Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Training
  All students are required to complete a short but comprehensive training module, available via the LCC Student Hub. This training covers key definitions, recognises inappropriate behaviours, explains the reporting process, and outlines how students can access support. Completion of this module is compulsory and contributes to a safer campus for everyone.
• Read and Understand the LCC Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy
  This policy sets out the College’s formal position on harassment and sexual misconduct, including how incidents are managed, the roles and responsibilities of staff and students, and the range of support available. It also outlines the procedures for reporting concerns and the principles of fair investigation and resolution.
• Familiarise Yourself with the LCC Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Support Guide
  The Support Guide provides practical, accessible information on where to go for help, how to raise concerns, and what support services are available both within and outside the College. Whether you are directly affected or supporting someone else, this guide is an important resource and is available across multiple LCC platforms.

How to report cases of Harassment and Sexual Misconduct:

The College has an Incident Report Form for staff, students, and visitors who experience abuse, harassment, sexual misconduct or any other form of abuse or harassment whilst at the College. This form provides a platform for any member of the College to report any concerns they may have with a member of the Support Team, and allows them to report these concerns anonymously if they wish to. Additionally, the College’s Sexual Harassment Policy and Protocol provides further information regarding reporting cases of harassment and sexual misconduct. We encourage any member of the College community to use the Incident Report Form to allow us to get them the right support, and resolve the situation in the most appropriate way.

Harassment or Sexual Misconduct Reporting Form