Harassment & Sexual Misconduct

Harassment is unwanted behaviour related to a relevant protected characteristic (such as sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, or gender reassignment) which has the purpose or effect of either: 

• violating another person’s dignity, or 
• creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for another person. 

Harassment can be a single incident or persistent behaviour, and it can happen in person, online, or through third parties. It may be verbal, non-verbal, physical, or written. 

Sexual misconduct means any unwanted or attempted unwanted conduct of a sexual nature and includes but is not limited to: 

• sexual harassment (e.g. sexual comments, jokes or gestures) 
• sexual assault (e.g. touching, groping or grabbing parts of the body) 
• rape 
• sharing private sexual materials of another person without consent

‘abuse of power’ means a situation where a relevant staff member exploits a position of power in relation to a student so as to apply pressure in a way which: 

• may result in the student doing something, or refraining from doing something, that they may not have otherwise done; and 
• that action or inaction could reasonably result in something that falls within the scope of an intimate personal relationship.

Consent is the agreement by choice to participate in an act (including but not limited to, a sexual act) where the individual has both the freedom and capacity to make that decision.

The following list of examples is also included with the Harassment & Sexual Misconduct Policy: 

• Engaging in, or attempting to engage in sexual contact without consent; 
• Sharing private sexual materials of another person without consent, including online/via social media; 
• Kissing without consent; 
• Wilfully touching inappropriately through clothes without consent; 
• Inappropriately showing sexual organs to another person; 
• Making unwanted remarks or noises (e.g. wolf-whistling) of a sexual nature; 
• Inappropriate remarks about a person’s appearance or dress; 
• Controlling and coercive behaviours (e.g. behaviours that cause someone serious alarm, distress and/or pressure, which then has a substantial adverse effect on their usual day-to-day activities; ‘emotionally blackmailing’ an individual to stay in an intimate/friendship relationship; controlling clothing, food, friendship or other personal choices of another individual);  
• Coercive demands for favours (including sexual favours); 
• Gaslighting (i.e. manipulating someone by psychological means, or seeking to sow seeds of doubt in a targeted individual or in members of a targeted group, making them question their own memory, perception, and/or sanity, using persistent denial, misdirection, contradiction, and lying); 
• Grooming behaviours (for example, but not limited to: isolating someone so they are dependent academically and emotionally; buying someone presents or repeatedly insisting on paying for them to create a power imbalance; exploitation of a position of authority or of a power imbalance by an individual for their own advantage by coercing, manipulating or deceiving another person); 
• Either directly or indirectly targeting an individual or a group of people because of their ethnic origin, colour, race, nationality, religion, sex, gender, disability, or other presentation or perceived presentation in a way that is intended or – regardless of intent – likely to intimidate, offend or harm; 
• Repeatedly engaging in unwanted interaction, including online/via social media (to note, multiple or repeated incidents may be deemed by the School to be more serious than a single act); 
• Publishing any statement or other material without consent, whether online or in hard copy: 
  • Purporting to originate from another person; 
  • Relating or purporting to relate to another person; 
• Stalking another person, for example, following a person, watching or spying on them or forcing contact with the victim through any means, including social media; 
• Monitoring another person’s use of the internet, email or any other form of electronic communication; 
• Interfering with the property of another person, including restricting their access to their own property. 

Please remember these are just examples and if something you have experienced does not fall within this list we encourage you to report it to us. 

Book a wellbeing appointment via Moodle where you can discuss the following: 

• Any concerns you have about anything at all
• Accessing counselling
• Adjustments to your timetable due to personal circumstances
• Financial support if you are struggling financially

You can also directly contact our Head of Student Support

NSCD can provide support in accessing the following external services: 

• Book to see your GP
  Find your nearest GP using the NHS tool:  https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/how-to-register-with-a-gp-surgery/  

• Contact the Police
  Report non-emergency crime online. If a crime is in progress dial 999.
  West Yorkshire Police have an online form to report a crime: https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/report-it  

• External Resources

People often use the terms policy, procedure, and guidance as if they mean the same thing, but they actually serve different purposes. Here’s what each one means: 

• Policy: Explains the reason behind a decision or action – the why. Policies must be followed unless it says otherwise. 

• Procedure: Describes the steps to follow – the how to do something. 

• Guidelines: Similar to policies, they explain the why, but they are more flexible. It’s strongly recommended to follow them, but it’s not always required. 
• Guidance: Offers help to understand and apply policies or procedures, or gives general advice on a topic. You don’t have to follow it – it’s there to support you. 

The following core policies are in place to protect students and staff at NSCD and are available on the NSCD Policy page: 

• Harassment & Sexual Misconduct Policy:
  The Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy sets out the expectations for behaviour for all members of NSCD and the mechanisms in place for reporting, supporting and investigating instances of harassment or sexual misconduct.
• Learning Culture & Codes of Practice:
  The NSCD Learning Culture & Codes of Practice sets out NSCD’s values and the expectations on students, aiming to maximise learning and contribute to the culture of inclusion and acceptance.
• Staff & Student Personal Relationships Policy: The Staff and Student Personal Relationships Policy establishes clear expectations, responsibilities, and safeguards on staff and student relationship. This includes a system of mandatory declaration of any close or intimate relationship to ensure transparency, manage conflict of interest, and protect all parties.
• Safe Contact Guidelines:
  The Safe Contact Guidelines set out clear expectations around physical contact between staff and students, and between students themselves, to ensure everyone feels safe and respected.
• Safeguarding:
  The Safeguarding Policy and its procedures set out the way NSCD protects children,  young people and adults at risk.
• Academic Freedom & Freedom of Speech:
  The Academic Freedom & Freedom of Speech Code of Practice sets out the way NSCD protects staff and students’ right to freedom of speech within the law, whilst protecting their wellbeing.

The following policies are used to investigate reports of harassment and sexual misconduct: 

Harassment & Sexual Misconduct
This policy: 

• defines what harassment and sexual misconduct are 
• sets out expectations for behaviour 
• provides examples of breaches of the policy 
• details the stages of investigating a report to determine whether the policy has been breached 

Where a breach of the policy has occurred, the following policies determine the next steps and outcomes depending on whether it is a student or member of staff.  

Student: Non-Academic Misconduct Policy
Where a student is found to have breached another school policy regarding non-academic matters they will investigated following the Non-Academic Misconduct Policy.  

Staff: Disciplinary Procedures
Where a staff member has been found to have breached a school policy they will investigated following the Staff Disciplinary processes.  

Support available
All students will be offered support in-house and directed to online resources available in the External Resources section of this page. 

Timescales 
In response to a disclosure or report, we aim to get back to a student within 24 hours.  

Timescales for investigation are detailed within the relevant policies. 

NSCD has designed a 3 tiered approach to student training on Harassment & Sexual Misconduct for all students: 

Understanding Harassment and Sexual Misconduct

What it is, how to recognise it, and what to do if you experience or witness it. This will be delivered to all new students, in person during induction week and returning students at the start of the academic year.  

Online Module

Within the first half term all students will be required to complete a short online module to demonstrate their understanding of harassment, sexual misconduct, how to report a concern and access support. 

Active Bystander Training

Tailored sessions across cohorts to explore and support students on how to be an active bystander and support peers.  

All staff play a critical role in maintaining a safe and respectful environment. We provide comprehensive and ongoing training to ensure everyone understands their responsibilities in safeguarding and preventing and responding to harassment and sexual misconduct.

NSCD has designed a 3 tiered approach to staff training on Harassment & Sexual Misconduct: 

Policies & Procedures

All staff receive training on key NSCD policies and procedures in place to protect our staff and students at the start of each academic year. 

Online training

All staff complete Bullying and Harassment module delivered by TES.

Specialist External training

NSCD investigating team receive specialist training from an external provider to support the handling of harassment & sexual misconduct cases.

Condition E6 requires all registered higher education providers to: 

“Take all reasonable steps to prevent harassment and sexual misconduct, and to respond effectively and in a timely manner to incidents and allegations.” 

Under this condition, NSCD must ensure: 

• Our approach is embedded across the institution, not isolated or reactive 
• There is clear communication about reporting options and support available 
• We have appropriate systems to handle reports and manage risk 
• All staff and students are trained in how to prevent and respond to incidents 
• Senior leadership and governance are actively involved in oversight and accountability 

 Read more about Condition E6 on the OfS website 

NSCD must uphold freedom of speech principles, as set out by the OfS, ensuring that efforts to address harassment and sexual misconduct do not compromise lawful freedom of expression.

In addition to the OfS’s expectations, the university must also meet its duties under the following legislation:

1. Equality Act 2010

• Prohibits harassment related to protected characteristics (e.g. sex, race, disability, gender reassignment, religion or belief)
• Requires universities to prevent and address discriminatory behaviour
• Supports the creation of an inclusive environment through the Public Sector Equality Duty

2. Sexual Offences Act 2003

• Defines sexual offences such as sexual assault, rape, and sexual activity without consent
• Provides the legal framework for reporting incidents to the police
• Establishes the principle that consent must be freely and clearly given

3. Safeguarding Legislation

• Under Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children, universities have a duty to protect students under 18 and vulnerable adults
• Requires staff to report safeguarding concerns and follow appropriate referral procedures

4. Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

• Requires institutions to provide a safe environment for students and staff
• Includes protection from risks associated with bullying, harassment, and violence

5. Human Rights Act 1998

• Protects the rights to dignity, privacy, and protection from degrading treatment
• Informs how we balance support, confidentiality, and freedom of expression

At the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, we are committed to transparency, fairness, and the right of every individual to speak out. 

We affirm that: 

NSCD will never use a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), confidentiality clause, or any similar provision to prevent any member of our community from reporting experiences of harassment or sexual misconduct. 

This applies to all formal or informal processes, including complaint resolutions, settlement agreements, and disciplinary outcomes. 

We believe that: 

• Survivors must be free to share their experiences if they wish 
• Speaking out should never be silenced by institutional pressure 
• Accountability and trust require openness and support — not secrecy 

This commitment forms part of our compliance with the Office for Students (OfS) Condition of Registration E6, and reflects our values as a specialist institution rooted in expression, integrity, and care. 

If you have concerns about confidentiality clauses or feel pressured to stay silent, you are encouraged to speak to our Safeguarding Lead or Student Support Team, who will offer advice and advocate for your rights. 

• Emergency (Police, Ambulance, Fire): Call 999 
• Non-emergency police support: Call 101 
• NHS 24-hour helpline: Call 111 

• Rape Crisis England & Wales (anyone aged 16+ in England and Wales who has been affected by rape, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment or any other form of sexual violence – at any point in their life)
  https://rapecrisis.org.uk/Helpline: 0808 802 9999

  Leeds Branch: https://supportafterrapeleeds.org.uk/ 
  Freephone: 0808 802 3344
  Text: 078 600 22 880
  Email: support@sarsvl.org.uk  

• SurvivorsUK (support for male and non-binary survivors of sexual violence)
  https://www.survivorsuk.org/
  Text Chat: Text 020 3322 1860 

• Galop (support for LGBT+ people who have experienced abuse and violence)
  https://www.galop.org.uk/
  Helpline: 0800 999 5428 

• The Survivors Trust (survivors of rape or sexual abuse and violence)
  https://thesurvivorstrust.org/
  Helpline: 08088 010 818
  Text: 07860 022 956 

• Safeline (specialist sexual abuse support charity)
  https://safeline.org.uk/
  Helpline: 0808 800 5005
  National Male Survivor Helpline: 0808 800 5005 

• Mindwell (Directory of for local and national resources on a range of topics including rape or sexual assault)
  https://www.mindwell-leeds.org.uk/services-directory/?service_type=rape-or-sexual-assault  

• Samaritans (mental health support)
  https://www.samaritans.org/
  Freephone: 116 123
  Welsh language service: 0808 164 0123
  Extensive list of other resources from the Samaritans website: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/if-youre-having-difficult-time/other-sources-help/  

• Mind (mental health support including those between 11-18 years of age)
  www.mind.org.uk
  https://www.mind.org.uk/for-young-people/
  Infoline: 0300 123 3393 

• SHOUT (free anytime mental health support by text)
  Text SHOUT to 85258
  https://giveusashout.org/  

• Student Minds (Mental Health support for students)
  https://www.studentminds.org.uk/  

• Rights of Women (provides frontline legal advice to women experiencing all forms of violence against women and girls in England and Wales. https://www.rightsofwomen.org.uk/
  Sexual Harassment at Work Helpline: 020 7490 0152 

• Victim Support (advice for after a crime, includes d/Deaf and BSL app options)
  https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/
  24/7 Supportline: 08 08 16 89 111 

• Women’s Aid (charity for domestic abuse against women and children)
  https://www.womensaid.org.uk/  

You can contact any member of staff you feel comfortable talking to. Specialist staff include:

• Designated Safeguarding Lead

• Student Support

• Report a Concern

• Book a Wellbeing appointment

The Data Controller is NSCD. Personal data about you is defined as any information relating to you that can be directly or indirectly identified. Your data will be processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation and other relevant legislation. You have the right to see information about you kept on your student record. If you wish to see your record, you should discuss this with a member of the Quality Office . More information available in Privacy Notices. 

Storage of Information
You have the right to expect that all information Student Wellbeing holds about you will be treated in a sensitive and respectful manner. Records will be held securely within Student Wellbeing and the Quality Office. General information will be held as defined in the Record of Processing Activity. 

Student Data
As part of our regulatory obligations under the OfS Condition of Registration E6 (Management and Governance), we may be required to provide relevant data to the OfS and other bodies such as the OIAHE to ensure compliance with their expectations regarding the welfare and safeguarding of students.  

We have committed to reporting the number of student cases including harassment and sexual misconduct annually on this page of the website. The detail of cases will not be published. 

Sharing of Information
Information regarding a student disclosure will only be provided to those who ‘need to know’ and we make the commitment this will first be discussed and agreed with student.  

Exceptional Circumstances
Where the safety of an individual student or another person is considered to be at risk or NSCD has received a Concern for Welfare, Student Wellbeing may take steps to minimise this risk. This may involve disclosing information to a third party.  

We have made a commitment to publish our data on all student cases each academic year this includes the following: 

• Harassment & Sexual Misconduct
• Protecting Our Students reported cases 
• Student Complaints (informal & formal) 
• Non-Academic Misconduct 
• Academic Misconduct 

The document below shows a comparison, with narrative on data for the last 2 academic year (updated July 2025). 

Student cases 2024.25

The Office of the Independent Adjudicator publish annual statements for each University which show the handling complaints and appeals for the preceding calendar year. This can be accessed here: https://statements.oiahe.org.uk