Safeguarding & Reporting
About this page
Leeds Conservatoire is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment, this includes ensuring that we have policies and procedures in place to handle reports of unacceptable conduct.
All students receive training to ensure they understand behaviour that may constitute harassment and sexual misconduct. The Health and Wellbeing Team can assist students affected by any incident to access appropriate support.
Incident Reporting
We encourage our students, staff, and visitors to report bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct, hate crime, assault or discrimination by using the reporting tool below.
There are two ways you can tell us what happened
Sexual Misconduct and Harassment
This section contains information about sexual harassment and sexual misconduct, which may be distressing for some individuals.
Sexual Misconduct & Harassment
We are committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all members of our community and we take allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment very seriously.
Any reports of sexual misconduct or harassment will be investigated promptly and thoroughly in accordance with our disciplinary policy. Our goal is to provide a fair and transparent process for all parties involved.
Definitions
What is Harassment?
A course of conduct that amounts to harassment of another and which the harasser knows or ought to know amounts to harassment (Protection from Harassment Act, 1997).
Unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic that has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment (Equality Act, 2010).
What is Sexual Misconduct?
- Sexual Assault (e.g. groping or kissing without consent).
- Sharing or distributing intimate images without consent (revenge porn under the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015).
- Coercing or pressuring someone into sexual activity (including through manipulation or intimidation).
- Filming or photographing someone in a sexual way without consent (voyeurism, upskirting – criminal offences).
- Engaging in sexual activity with someone unable to give consent (due to intoxication, coercion, or other factors).
- Making sexual threats or blackmailing someone into sexual activity.
- Sexual exploitation or abuse of power (e.g. staff engaging in relationships with students where a power imbalance exists).
- Grooming or engaging in predatory sexual behaviour.
- Sexual harassment (more on this definition on the next slide).
- Rape: Under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, rape occurs when a person (A) intentionally penetrates the vagina, anus or mouth of another person (B) with their penis, without B’s consent, and without any reasonable belief that B consents.
What is Sexual Harassment?
Any unwanted sexual behaviour that makes someone feel upset, scared, offended or humiliated, or is meant to make them feel that way (Equality Act 2010). Some examples of sexual harassment are:
- Sexual comments or noises – for example, catcalling or wolf-whistling.
- Sexual innuendos or suggestive comments.
- Unwanted physical contact of a sexual nature.
- Displaying images of a sexual nature.
- Intrusive questions about a person’s private or sex life.
- Sexual gestures.
- Unwanted sexual advances or flirting.
- Stalking.
- Standing close to someone.
- Sexual posts or contact on social media.
- Leering, staring or suggestive looks.
- Sexual requests or asking for sexual favours.
- Indecent exposure.
- Spreading sexual rumours.
- Someone discussing their own sex life.
- Sexual jokes.
- Sending unwanted messages with sexual content.
- Upskirting.
- Commenting on someone’s body, appearance or what they’re wearing.
Consent
It is essential that consent is:
- Freely given: without pressure, manipulation, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Reversible: anyone can change their mind at any time – even if they have consented before.
- Informed: all parties are fully aware of what they are consenting to.
- Enthusiastic: everyone should want to engage in the activity.
- Specific: consent for one activity does not imply consent for others.
Safeguarding and Prevent
Designated Safeguarding Team
Report safeguarding concerns to safeguarding@lcm.ac.uk
- Andrew Ottey – Luminate Education Group designated safeguarding lead
- Kirstin Thompson – Deputy designated safeguarding lead (Leeds Conservatoire)
- Daniela Bontiz – Designated safeguarding officer (Leeds Conservatoire)
- Graham Achilli-O’Brien – Designated safeguarding officer (Leeds Conservatoire)
- Stephen Frost – Designated safeguarding officer (Leeds Conservatoire)
- Karina Gourlay – Designated safeguarding lead (Leeds Junior Conservatoire)
- Daniel Brunskill – Designated safeguarding officer (Leeds Junior Conservatoire)
Useful external contacts
- The Samaritans: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (free 24-hour helpline)
- SARSVL (Support after Rape and Sexual Violence Leeds): free phone 0808 802 3344
- Nightline: 0113 380 1381 (listening service for students 8:00pm – 8:00am)
- Leeds Housing Options: 0113 378 8366 (emergency out-of-hours)
- Adult Social Care Leeds: 0113 222 4401 (0113 378 0644 out-of-hours)
- Children’s Duty Team Leeds: 0113 376 0336 (0113 535 0600 emergencies)
- Police non-emergency: 101
In the event of an emergency, including serious risk to life, always call 999.
Prevent
Prevent is about safeguarding and supporting those vulnerable to radicalisation. Prevent is 1 of the 4 elements of CONTEST, the Government’s counter-terrorism strategy. It aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism (Let’s Talk About It).
What is radicalisation?
Radicalisation is the action or process of causing someone to adopt radical positions on political or social issues. Left unchecked, radicalisation can lead to people being drawn into terrorism or other dangerous situations.
What is extremism?
Extremism is the holding of extreme political or religious views. There are many different types of extremism and all can be dangerous when acted upon.
You should report a Prevent concern if you have reason to believe that someone is susceptible to radicalisation or is being radicalised or encouraged to support terrorism.
Prevent covers all forms of terrorism and extremism, including right wing terrorism, violent Islamist extremism, and emerging risks.
Please report any Prevent issues to safeguarding@lcm.ac.uk.
Prevent Leeds is the local service for non-emergency refarrals or suspicions of radicalisation.
Hate Crimes
Hate Crime
Leeds is generally a very safe and welcoming city and is home to a diverse range of people who have differing views. In rare cases, students might encounter hostility or prejudice because of their disability, race, religion or belief, gender identity or sexual orientation. The police, the local council and the conservatoire take reports of this very seriously.
Definitions
What is a Hate Crime?
A hate crime is any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person’s disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. Examples include:
- Physical attacks, such as physical assault, damage to property, offensive graffiti and arson;
- Threat of attack, such as offensive letters, abusive or obscene telephone calls, groups hanging around to intimidate, and unfounded malicious complaints;
What is a Hate Incident?
A hate incident is any incident (which may or may not constitute a criminal offence), which is perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by prejudice or hate towards a person’s disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.
Examples include: Verbal abuse, insults or harassment, such as taunting, offensive leaflets and posters, abusive gestures, dumping of rubbish outside homes or through letterboxes, and bullying at school or in the workplace.
Report a Hate Crime or Hate Incident
As a victim or witness to a hate crime or incident, you can report your experiences in a variety of ways. If you’re reporting a crime that’s in progress or if someone is in immediate danger, please call 999. If the crime isn’t an emergency, call 101 or contact your local police station.
If you do not wish to contact the police directly, you can report hate crimes and incidents to Stop Hate UK, which is a charity that provides independent and confidential support to people affected by hate crime. Call their 24 hour helpline on 0800 1381625, or you can report online.
Stop Hate UK
Free dedicated 24-hour anti-Hate Crime helpline service.
How we investigate incidents and communicate decisions
We are committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all members of our community and we take reports of any sort of unacceptable behaviour very seriously.
Reports will be investigated promptly and thoroughly in accordance with our disciplinary policy and procedures. Our goal is to provide a fair and transparent process for all parties involved.
We have put together some frequently asked questions that we hope will explain what to expect:
All parties – the reporting student, the reported student and any witnesses – can have someone sit in the interviews with them for support, but they can’t speak on your behalf. The accompanying person can be, for example, another student, a friend, a parent or other relative. They can also accompany you if you attend a disciplinary hearing, but again they can’t speak on your behalf.
See the student charter for more information.
Leeds Conservatoire (and other higher education institutions) refer to external, expert, guidance and requirements when putting together conduct and disciplinary policies and procedures:
- Pinsent Masons / Universities UK:
- Guidance For Higher Education Institutions – How To Handle Alleged Student Misconduct Which May Also Constitute A Criminal Offence.
- This is quite a long document (23 pages) but very clearly explains how higher education institutions should handle disciplinary cases which could also be a criminal offence.
- The Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) (independent student complaints scheme for England and Wales):
- Office for Students (OfS):
Staff and Student Training
Creating a Safe and Respectful Community
At Leeds Conservatoire, we are committed to fostering a culture of safety, respect, and inclusion for all students and staff. Through dedicated training and support, we ensure our community is equipped to recognise, respond to, and prevent harassment, bullying, and sexual misconduct.
Student Training
All students receive training designed to:
- Understand what constitutes harassment and sexual misconduct
- Recognise the importance of consent
- Learn how to support peers and report concerns
This training is delivered through interactive content, real-world scenarios, and key guidance from the Office for Students (OfS). It empowers students to contribute to a respectful and inclusive environment both on and off campus.
Staff Training
We ensure all staff have the knowledge and confidence to:
- Identify behaviour that may constitute bullying, harassment, or sexual misconduct
- Report concerns appropriately
- Refer individuals for support when needed
Staff training takes place at the start of each academic year. In addition, our Student Support team receives specialist training to sensitively handle disclosures and provide informed support to students affected, directly or indirectly, by harassment or sexual misconduct.