The Positive Behaviour, Anti-Bullying and Harassment Policy supports the Positive Behaviour, Anti-Bullying and Harassment Procedures for Staff and Students and can be used with other policies.
The aim of the policy itself is to encourage positive student behaviour in line with the college's core values; Student-Centred, trustworthy, responsible, respectful and working together. It also outlines the key principles of 'positive behaviour and gives examples of poor behaviour with a focus on trying to where possible resolve issues informally and restoratively rather than punishing students.
The Positive Behaviour, Anti-Bullying and Harassment Procedures for Staff and Student provide guidance on the process for dealing with accusations or behaviours that fall outwith the standards of behaviour expected from Edinburgh College students. There are different procedures used based on the behaviours and repeated instances of minor disruptive behaviour can be dealt with formally.
For significant or concerning behaviour (or repeated minor disruptive behaviour, there should be an investigation where you will be invited to a meeting to give your views on the issue and speak about anything that may be happening. You will then be notified of the outcome within 5 working days.
If you are withdrawn from your course, you can appeal your withdrawal by writing to your Head of Faculty. The decision from the appeal hearing is final but you will be given details on how to complain if you aren't satisfied with the decision.
Positive Behaviour, Anti-Bullying and Harassment Policy
Positive Behaviour, Anti-Bullying and Harassment; Guidance for Students
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Edinburgh college expects 100% attendance on your course and anything below can jeopardise your funding. Obviously, this doesn't mean that you're never allowed a day off for illness or other things outwith your control, if you should need to take time off, remember to fill in your Student Absence Monitoring Form (SAM Form).
The Student Attendance Procedures will be used whenever you have had a continuous absence of more than one week or you have a pattern of non-engagement or absence that causes concern, for example missing every Monday mornings classes or joining class calls but not taking part in any way.
The specific procedure used depends on whether there has been any communication for you, and if this is the first time you have been spoken to regarding your engagement or attendance.
It is important that you communicate with your LDT and lecturers about any absence. Repeated absences or non-engagement can result in being placed on a Learner Contract, referral to a Fitness to Study Panel or withdrawal from your course.
Everyone deserves to live a safe and happy life and "Safeguarding" is protecting individuals that cannot look after their own interests, from abuse and neglect. In the college, the Safeguarding policy and procedures cover children (anyone under the age of 18) and vulnerable adults.
It's important to note that just because an adult has a disability or mental health condition, it does not make them a vulnerable adult. A vulnerable adult is someone that is unable to look after or protect themselves from exploitation or harm, and may not be able to communicate about abuse.
If you think that someone is at risk of harm you should let a lecturer, Learning Development Tutor or another member of staff know right away.
The Student Mental Health and Wellbeing policy is there to support students with a physical or mental condition during their time at college.
The aim of this policy and guidance is to ensure that where issues arise due to someone's mental or physical health condition, the behaviour is managed rather than punished and sets out clear guidance on how to go about this.
Where issues cannot be resolved, a Support to Study Panel may be called together. Outcomes may be that further support is recommended, suspension or withdrawal from the course.
Student Mental Health and Wellbeing PolicyThe assessment and appeals process can be a bit complicated, as courses generally use a mixture of assessment types and there can be varying processes for different types of assessment and qualifications.
Courses will mostly consist of formative and summative assessments. Formative assessments usually consist of all the coursework you will do on a regular basis for a unit such as quizzes, presentations, tests and demonstrations, these are to assess how you are learning continuously through the unit. Each unit will end with a summative assessment which you will need to complete and pass to gain that unit and once all units are completed, your group award.
You will be given two attempts at an assessment. If you aren't able to attend or meet an assessment deadline you must notify your lecturer and provide evidence of why you cant attend. If you don't or don't have correct evidence such as doctors note, then that will be considered your first attempt.
Internal Assessment Guidance and Procedures for Students
Internal Verification Procedures
Anyone that uses a college service or is directly affected by a college service can submit a compliment or complaint. A representative can also complain on their behalf but the individual will need to fill out a Data Subject Authorisation form and submit it directly to the college's complaints coordinator.
It's important to highlight good services and practice within the college and you can submit a compliment to do this. Alternatively, if you have had a negative experience, you can submit a complaint.
The college operates a 2 stage complaints process and encourages frontline resolution wherever possible. If this can't be done and you do decide to submit a formal complaint, it will be processed at either stage 1 or stage 2 depending on the nature of the complaint. Once the complaints procedure is exhausted, you can then submit a complaint to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO).
For a full list of when this policy and procedure can be used, you should read the procedures which can be found in Compliments and Complaints Procedures
Everyone has a right live their life without experiencing abuse, harassment or gender-based violence. This policy lays out guidance and works alongside other policies such as the Positive Behaviour, Anti-Bullying and Harassment Procedures and Safeguarding Procedures.
Whilst the policy itself mainly talks about girls and women, it recognises that abuse also occurs in same-sex relationships and can be experienced by transgender people. It notes that while men are at less risk of gender-based violence, some men and many boys may experience abuse.
It also goes on to note that individuals can be at varying levels of risk due to other factors such as age, disability, poverty and insecure immigration status.
Someone experiencing abuse, may often be experiencing more than one type of abuse, such as;
- Domestic violence
- Rape and sexual assault
- Stalking and harassment
- Sexual exploitation
- Female genital mutilation
- Forced marriage
- ‘Honour’-based violence
Gender Based Violence Policy