Building a Safe and Inclusive Community: Prevention of Harassment & Sexual Misconduct

Whether you are working on set, attending lectures, or collaborating on digital platforms, our goal is to foster a safe, welcoming, and creative environment where everyone can thrive free from harassment, bullying, and sexual misconduct.

Our Prevention of Harassment & Sexual Misconduct Policy provides full details on CFS' commitments under the Office for Students (OfS) Condition E6, the Worker Protection Act 2023, and our institutional values. Here is a quick breakdown of what our policy means for you.

What You Need to Know

• Zero Tolerance: Unacceptable behaviours are strictly prohibited across all spaces, including on and off campus, via virtual learning environments (VLE), and over social media or messaging platforms.
• Strict Ban on Intimate Relationships: To protect all community members and prevent any potential abuse of power, CFS strictly prohibits all intimate personal relationships between permanent staff members and students.
• No Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs): We prohibit NDAs or confidentiality clauses that attempt to stop students or staff from reporting or discussing harassment or sexual misconduct allegations.
• Mandatory Training & Prevention: Interactive, evidence-based training on active bystander intervention, consent, and reporting procedures is mandatory for all students during induction and re-registration.
• Freedom of Speech: While CFS actively upholds freedom of speech and academic discussion, harassment and sexual misconduct are not protected forms of speech.

Key Definitions

• Harassment: Unwanted physical, verbal, or online behaviour that violates your dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment.
• Sexual Misconduct: Any unwanted sexual conduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, exposing oneself, or sharing intimate images without consent.
• Consent: Consent must be free, enthusiastic, and ongoing. It can never be assumed, cannot be given if someone is intoxicated or coerced, and can be withdrawn at any time. Silence or passivity is not consent.

Our Trauma-Informed Approach

We handle all disclosures and investigations with a person-centred, trauma-informed approach. This means prioritizing your physical and emotional safety, offering clear transparency, providing choices, and ensuring you are supported at every step without fear of re-traumatisation or victimisation.

How to Report an Incident

If you experience or witness any form of misconduct, we strongly encourage you to report it through our accessible options:

• Submit an Anonymous Online Report here.

• Submit a report with Contact Details here.

• Reach out directly to the Student Services Team, via email or in person, for advice and pastoral support.
• You retain the right to report any criminal matter to the police alongside or independently of internal CFS procedures.