Company number: 12497951
6 Sutton Park Road, Sutton, SM1 2GD

Staff and Student Relationship Policy

Policy Statement

The School is committed to maintaining professional and supportive relationships between staff and students, ensuring a learning environment based on trust, respect, and integrity. Our 'Staff and Student Relationship Policy' serves as a guideline for appropriate conduct, reflecting the School's recognition of the potential impact of these relationships on the educational experience and welfare of our students. The policy applies to all staff and students, underlining the School's dedication to providing a positive and conducive environment for teaching, learning, and personal development.

Principles

Professionalism: Upholding the highest standards of professional conduct in interactions between staff and students.
Boundaries: Establishing clear boundaries to maintain the integrity of staff and student relationships.
Trust: Building and maintaining trust as a crucial aspect of educational relationships.
Equality: Promoting equal treatment of all students by staff members.
Support: Providing a supportive environment that nurtures students' academic and personal growth.
Accountability: Holding parties accountable for their behaviour and adherence to this policy.
Safety: Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of students in their interactions with staff.
Impartiality: Ensuring decisions regarding student progress and assessment are made impartially.

Regulatory Context

This Policy has been developed in line with the applicable laws, regulations, regulatory advice, and sector best practices, including the following:

Authority	Name	Url
Office for Students (OfS)	Regulatory framework for higher education in England This framework outlines OfS' primary aim to ensure positive outcomes for students, including access, success, and progress in higher education. It covers quality academic experience, progress into employment, and value for money.
UK Government	Equality Act 2010 Equalities law to prohibit harassment and victimisation, and eliminate discrimination, including in the area of further and higher education, particularly with regards to specified personal characteristics.
Universities UK	Guidance - Handling criminal misconduct allegations Guidance on handling alleged student misconduct which may also be a criminal offence.
Universities UK	Guidance on online harassment A comprehensive guidance on tackling online harassment and promoting online welfare in the higher education sector.

Authority

Name

Url

Office for Students (OfS)

Regulatory framework for higher education in England
This framework outlines OfS' primary aim to ensure positive outcomes for students, including access, success, and progress in higher education. It covers quality academic experience, progress into employment, and value for money.

UK Government

Equality Act 2010
Equalities law to prohibit harassment and victimisation, and eliminate discrimination, including in the area of further and higher education, particularly with regards to specified personal characteristics.

Universities UK

Guidance - Handling criminal misconduct allegations
Guidance on handling alleged student misconduct which may also be a criminal offence.

Universities UK

Guidance on online harassment
A comprehensive guidance on tackling online harassment and promoting online welfare in the higher education sector.

Prohibition of Sexual Relationships with Students

Title
Rule Prohibition of Sexual Relationships Between Staff and Students Staff are prohibited from engaging in sexual relationships with any student at the School. This rule is in place to maintain professional boundaries and prevent any potential conflicts of interest or perceptions of favouritism. It ensures a respectful and impartial learning environment for all students.

Title

Rule
Prohibition of Sexual Relationships Between Staff and Students

Staff are prohibited from engaging in sexual relationships with any student at the School.

This rule is in place to maintain professional boundaries and prevent any potential conflicts of interest or perceptions of favouritism. It ensures a respectful and impartial learning environment for all students.

Restrictions on Non-Sexual Intimate Relationships with Students

Title
Rule Prohibition on Intimate Relationships Between Staff and Students Staff are prohibited from having any intimate relationships with students at the School. This rule maintains professional boundaries and prevents conflicts of interest, ensuring a fair and respectful academic environment for all students.

Title

Rule
Prohibition on Intimate Relationships Between Staff and Students

Staff are prohibited from having any intimate relationships with students at the School.

This rule maintains professional boundaries and prevents conflicts of interest, ensuring a fair and respectful academic environment for all students.

Management of Personal Relationships Creating Conflicts of Interest or Perceived Favouritism

Title
Rule Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest Relationships that could create a perceived conflict of interest or favouritism, including: Family relationships Business relationships Personal friendships that breach professional boundaries ...must be disclosed per this policy. This requirement also applies to other potential conflicts. The School is committed to ensuring all students are treated fairly and equally. This rule helps maintain impartiality and fairness, preventing any potential bias or preferential treatment that could affect the academic environment and ensure equal treatment for all students.

Title

Rule
Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest

Relationships that could create a perceived conflict of interest or favouritism, including:

Family relationships
Business relationships
Personal friendships that breach professional boundaries

...must be disclosed per this policy. This requirement also applies to other potential conflicts. The School is committed to ensuring all students are treated fairly and equally.

This rule helps maintain impartiality and fairness, preventing any potential bias or preferential treatment that could affect the academic environment and ensure equal treatment for all students.

Mandatory Staff Obligation to Disclose Relationships and Associated Disciplinary Measures

Title
Rule Obligation to Report Potential Conflicts Staff must report any relationships covered by this code, including those established before joining the School or through no fault of their own. The line manager will take appropriate steps to address the situation and may seek further advice from other School departments. Failure to report such relationships may lead to disciplinary action. This rule ensures transparency and fairness, allowing the School to manage potential conflicts of interest effectively and maintain a professional environment.

Title

Rule
Obligation to Report Potential Conflicts

Staff must report any relationships covered by this code, including those established before joining the School or through no fault of their own. The line manager will take appropriate steps to address the situation and may seek further advice from other School departments. Failure to report such relationships may lead to disciplinary action.

This rule ensures transparency and fairness, allowing the School to manage potential conflicts of interest effectively and maintain a professional environment.

Student Support and Reporting Mechanisms under this Policy

Title
Advice Reporting and Seeking Support Students may report issues or seek support from their Personal Academic Tutor or the Student Success Team at any time. Not reporting does not lead to disciplinary action. This rule ensures that students have access to support and reporting channels without fear of penalty for choosing not to report, fostering a supportive and non-punitive environment.

Title

Advice
Reporting and Seeking Support

Students may report issues or seek support from their Personal Academic Tutor or the Student Success Team at any time. Not reporting does not lead to disciplinary action.

This rule ensures that students have access to support and reporting channels without fear of penalty for choosing not to report, fostering a supportive and non-punitive environment.

Metrics and KPIs

The following metrics will be measured and regularly reviewed as key performance indicators for the School to ensure the effectiveness of this policy and associated operations.

Title
Breach Tracking Achieve a 0% breach rate, with any breaches identified, investigated, and addressed within 7 days, and results reported. Maintains trust in the process.
Reporting Compliance Rate Ensure that at least 95% of reported issues and disclosed relationships are documented and addressed within 10 days of reporting. Measures the effectiveness of reporting and adherence to disclosure requirements, indicating the policy's implementation success.
Staff Obligation to Disclose Relationships and Associated Disciplinary Measures Achieve 100% staff compliance in disclosing relationships and ensure that all staff complete training on disciplinary measures within 60 days of policy implementation. Ensures that all relevant relationships are disclosed and managed appropriately, reinforcing adherence to the policy.

Title

Breach Tracking
Achieve a 0% breach rate, with any breaches identified, investigated, and addressed within 7 days, and results reported.
Maintains trust in the process.

Reporting Compliance Rate
Ensure that at least 95% of reported issues and disclosed relationships are documented and addressed within 10 days of reporting.
Measures the effectiveness of reporting and adherence to disclosure requirements, indicating the policy's implementation success.

Staff Obligation to Disclose Relationships and Associated Disciplinary Measures
Achieve 100% staff compliance in disclosing relationships and ensure that all staff complete training on disciplinary measures within 60 days of policy implementation.
Ensures that all relevant relationships are disclosed and managed appropriately, reinforcing adherence to the policy.