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OIA publishes consultation on guidance for handling reports of harassment and sexual misconduct

We have today (Thursday 27 November) published for consultation a new draft section of the Good Practice Framework: Handling reports of harassment and sexual misconduct.

This section of the Good Practice Framework gives good practice guidance for providers in designing and operating procedures to respond to reports about harassment of any kind, and sexual misconduct. It covers: 

  1. Good practice when receiving, investigating and responding to reports about harassment and/or sexual misconduct. 
  2. Disciplinary procedures for dealing with students accused of harassment and/or sexual misconduct. 

The draft guidance is drawn from the OIA’s broad experience of handing complaints. It has been put together in consultation with the Good Practice Framework Steering Group. We’ve also consulted widely with frontline practitioners, Sexual Violence Liaison Officers, experts in investigations, complaints handlers and student advocates.  

We invite comments on the draft guidance from sector bodies, higher education providers, student representative bodies, students and anyone else with an interest.  

The closing date for responses to the consultation is Friday 6 February 2026. 

ENDS 

Notes to Editors 

For further information please contact mediarelations@oiahe.org.uk. 

  1. The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) is the independent student complaints ombuds for higher education in England and Wales. It is the designated operator of the student complaints’ scheme under the Higher Education Act 2004. 
  2. Our Scheme is free to students and has been designed to be accessible to all students, without the need for legal representation. 
  3. We have a wide remit to review student complaints about higher education providers in England and Wales. 
  4. The Rules of our Scheme set out how our Scheme works, who can complain, what we can and can’t look at, how we review complaints, and what higher education providers are expected to do in relation to our Scheme. 
  5. The consultation on the draft Good Practice Framework: Handling reports of harassment and sexual misconduct is available on our website. It will remain open until Friday 6 February 2026.