Student Harassment, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct

Harassment is unwanted conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic that has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that person. The unwanted conduct can be physical, verbal or non-verbal. The Act also applies a test of reasonableness, i.e., whether the person receiving the behaviour is reasonable to view it as they do.

According to ACAS guidance, bullying is intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive behaviour, through means which have the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, or humiliating environment. Bullying usually involves a repeated course of conduct.

Sexual misconduct is a form of harassment and is unacceptable behaviour of a sexual nature. It can include sexual harassment (as defined below); sexual violence; intimate partner violence; sexual assault; grooming; coercion or bullying with sexual elements; sexual invitations and demands; sexual comments; sexual non-verbal communication; creation of atmospheres of discomfort; and promised resources or advancement in exchange for sexual access.

Sexual harassment occurs when someone is subjected to unwanted conduct of a sexual nature which has the purpose or effect of either violating that person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them.  A person can be sexually harassed by someone of the same or different sex.  Sexual harassment can include, for example:

1. Unwanted physical conduct of a sexual nature, including touching, pinching, pushing and grabbing, invading personal space, groping, tugging or lifting someone’s clothing, and more serious forms of sexual assault.
2. Continued suggestions for sexual activity after it has been made clear that such suggestions are unwelcome.
3. Sending or displaying material that is pornographic or that some people may reasonably find offensive (including emails, text messages, social media content, video clips and images sent by mobile phone or posted on the internet).
4. Unwelcome sexual advances or suggestive behaviour (which the harasser may perceive as harmless); sexual jokes; remarks or comments about someone’s body or appearance; sexual derogatory comments about women or men; innuendos; wolf whistling; or stalking.

This list of examples is not exhaustive.

Harassment, bullying and sexual misconduct can be reported through our online form.  You can use the form whether you’ve experienced an incident directly, on behalf of someone else or if you’ve witnessed an incident.  Anonymous disclosures can also be received and help inform our wider understanding of the prevalence of incidents.  You can ask to speak to a trained member of staff to get information on reporting options and support available so that you can make an informed decision on what happens next.

The Prevention of Harassment, Bullying and Sexual Misconduct Policy defines what harassment and sexual misconduct are and sets out The Courtauld’s approach to preventing and addressing harassment, bullying and sexual misconduct.

Following receipt of a reported allegation a formal investigation will take place aligned with the appropriate procedure.  Consideration will be given to any action required to protect you and anyone involved, pending the outcome of the investigation and taking account of the reasonable needs of the business and the rights of all relevant parties.  Serious consideration will also be given to requests for changes to study arrangements during the investigation.

Please see the Student Policies webpage for full details of other relevant policies including:

• Student Code of Conduct
• Student Complaints Policy and Procedure
• Code of Practice on Free Speech
• Personal Relationships Policy
• Safeguarding Policy

In handling disclosures of harassment, bullying or sexual misconduct, The Courtauld will seek to protect the privacy and dignity of those involved, as well as meeting the expectations of data protection legislation.

Information related to disclosures will only be disclosed to individuals or organisations directly involved in the case management, other than where there is a further legal basis to share such information.

All involved parties must maintain confidentiality.  Any unauthorised disclosure of information will be considered a violation of the Prevention of Harassment, Bullying and Sexual Misconduct Policy and may result in disciplinary action.

In accordance with the Prevention of Harassment, Bullying and Sexual Misconduct Policy, and in accordance with its duties and obligations under data protection legislation, The Courtauld will provide the student that has raised an  allegation with an outcome of the investigation and/or an explanation of any actions that The Courtauld has taken, or not taken.  This includes where the outcome is changed for any reason.  However, it may only be possible for The Courtauld to provide limited information depending on the circumstances.

A protocol has been agreed between Student and Academic Services (SAS) and People Services to ensure effective co-ordination over allegations by students against staff which are considered under the Prevention of Harassment, Bullying and Sexual Misconduct Policy.  People Services will ensure that the information provided to SAS for sharing with the student is of the equivalent level of detail that would be provided to a staff member if they raised a grievance or allegation under the relevant staff procedure.

We’re committed to ensuring that students understand what harassment and sexual misconduct is, how to report it, the support available to them, what consent is and how to intervene effectively.

From September 2025, all UG, PGT and PGR students we be required to attend during induction a workshop provided by the Wellbeing Service on Harassment, Bullying and Sexual Misconduct.  All students are also required to complete a mandatory online course on  developed by an expert external provider Epigeum.   Both the workshop and the online course look at harassment, bullying, sexual misconduct, sexual consent, rape culture and how to become an active bystander.

During the academic year, the Wellbeing Service and the Students’ Union run workshops and other activities to continue to promote and raise awareness.

Staff are required to complete the mandatory online course developed by the external provider Epigeum.

Staff involved in specialist roles (such as the Wellbeing Services, Advice Desk staff, Tutors and staff carrying out investigations) have received specialist training appropriate and relevant to their roles.

Our Personal Relationships Policy strongly discourages personal relationships between staff and students.  We are committed to protecting students from any actual or potential conflict of interest and/or abuse of power that may arise from intimate personal relationships with staff. Relationships must be declared so any conflicts of interest can be managed.