• Equal Opportunities
• Personal Harassment - Code of Behaviour and Practice
• Disability Statement
• Safety, Health and Welfare

Equal Opportunities

The College is committed to a policy of providing equality of opportunity within our community. It is striving to be an organisation where the members of our community, whatever their background, beliefs or learning needs, can work and study together without fear of harassment or discrimination of any kind, and in the knowledge that support and assistance is always available.

Members of our community have opportunities through College committees and the Staff and Students' Associations to share in decision making. Just as you will be welcomed into our College, we would ask you to welcome others, and to help make their time here pleasant and productive.

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Personal Harassment - Code of Behaviour and Practice

People in the College community should be able to concentrate on their work as students or as members of staff. To help, each of us should try to value everyone's abilities and avoid making anyone feel uncomfortable, unhappy or ill.

Personal harassment is behaviour that makes other people feel bad about themselves, or makes them frightened or unhappy to be in College. Examples include:

• suggestive remarks
• offensive pin-ups or posters
• unwanted physical contact
• threats or any other aggressive behaviour.

The College will not tolerate harassment and sees it as a form of discrimination. This means that we all need to:

• use language carefully and not say things that are untrue, rude or hurtful about individuals or groups
• ensure that pictures and display material will not offend other members of our community
• report graffiti which could be seen to attack or insult other members of the community either as individuals or as a distinct group, so that it can be removed promptly
• treat others as fairly as possible.

If you feel you are a victim of harassment, you can either approach your Personal Tutor OR any of the College Harassment Mediators whose details appear on notices throughout the College OR you can contact Student Services at the Kings Road and Goschen centres. Confidentiality will be maintained at all times.

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Disability Statement

The Disability Statement is reviewed and published annually on 1 October. It is a declaration of the College's commitment to disabled students. The College seeks to provide an exciting curriculum for all our students. We have a College policy for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities which covers all aspects of provision, and each department has a named learning support member of staff. We provide impartial guidance to all potential students prior to application; this includes information on support for individual needs. All enrolled students with learning difficulties and disabilities have access to a central bank of resources. Where we are unable to supply specialist equipment, we will liaise with outside agencies to try to provide appropriate support. It is our policy to ensure that no student is disadvantaged through his/her disability during examinations and assessment within examination board regulations. There is good access to most buildings in the form of special parking spaces, ramps, automatic doors, lifts and circulation space. We are implementing a programme of major improvements for access for students, staff and visitors.

Copies of the Disability Statement are available on audio tape, Braille and large print, from Student Services. A statement summary is available from Customer Services.

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Safety, Health and Welfare

The College has adopted a workplace safety policy statement, copies of which are available on request from the office of the Deputy Principal
Finance & Resources (tel 01752 305300).

In the event of fire, sound the alarm. When a fire alarm sounds (continuous loud bell) you must:

• leave the building in accordance with the evacuation exit route
• make your way to the designated assembly point
• NOT use lifts
• NOT stop to collect personal belongings
• NOT re-enter the building until instructed by a member of staff.

In the event of a nuclear emergency, you will be informed by the Dockyard siren giving the emergency signal for one minute. This will be followed by the 'All Clear' (a steady note) for half a minute. Tests will be made every Monday at 11.30am. On hearing the emergency warning students must follow the instructions of the members of staff in their teaching areas. You must:

• NOT leave the building
• NOT use the telephones
• NOT open the fire doors
• wait for further instructions.

Students MUST comply with the safety regulations and instructions in workshops and laboratories. Protective clothing must be worn in those areas where safety and hygiene regulations are in force and disciplinary action will be taken if students infringe the statutory provisions.

It must be understood that most students released by their employers are 'at work' within the meaning of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and, therefore, Section 7 of the Act applies:- it shall be the responsibility of every employee while at work:

• to take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions at work, and

• as regards any duty or requirement imposed on his employer or any other persons by or under the statutory provisions, to co-operate with him so far as is necessary to enable that duty or requirement to be performed or complied with.

Students are reminded that any act of vandalism which intentionally damages or destroys anything provided in the interests of health, safety or welfare is an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act, and may attract a criminal penalty as well as being in scope to the Disciplinary Procedure.

First aid boxes are provided in all laboratories and workshops. All injuries, however slight, must be reported to the member of staff in charge of the group and an accident form must be completed. Students with a medical condition such as epilepsy, diabetes or a disability which might require emergency treatment need to notify the College on application.

As well as being unsightly, litter can pose a threat to the health, safety and welfare of the College community. Please ensure that all litter is placed in the bins provided.

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