Preventing Sexual Harassment & Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB) in Schools
Overview
A Core Safeguarding Essentials Training Programme for Schools and Leaders
Sexual harassment and harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) are growing safeguarding concerns across primary, secondary and further education settings.
Schools need staff who can recognise concerns early, respond appropriately to disclosures, understand professional boundaries, and help create a culture in which pupils feel safe, respected and confident to speak up.
Notting Hill College’s Preventing Sexual Harassment & Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB) in Schools programme has been designed to provide school leaders, safeguarding professionals, teachers and support staff with the knowledge, confidence and practical tools needed to respond effectively.
The programme combines safeguarding principles, practical scenarios, reporting procedures, professional boundaries, peer-on-peer concerns, digital risks, investigation processes and whole-school prevention.
Course Information
Topics
The programme is delivered across 10 core modules:
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Module 1 — Safeguarding Foundations
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Develop a clear understanding of safeguarding responsibilities, professional duties, key terminology and the importance of creating a safe organisational culture.
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Module 2 — Sexual Harassment: Definitions and Forms
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Explore what constitutes sexual harassment, the different ways it may present in educational settings, and why apparently low-level behaviours must not be dismissed or normalised.
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Module 3 — Understanding Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB)
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Examine harmful sexual behaviour, age-appropriate and concerning behaviours, contextual factors, indicators of risk and appropriate responses.
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Module 4 — Staff-Pupil Power Dynamics and Boundaries
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Understand professional boundaries, positions of trust, power imbalances and the importance of maintaining appropriate relationships between staff and pupils.
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Module 5 — Peer-to-Peer Sexual Harassment
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Explore sexual harassment and harmful behaviour between pupils, including inappropriate comments, unwanted contact, coercion, bullying and harmful group behaviours.
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Module 6 — Online and Digital Sexual Harassment
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Consider the safeguarding challenges associated with online environments, including sexualised messaging, image sharing, online harassment, coercion and digital peer pressure.
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Module 7 — Safe and Confidential Reporting Systems
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Learn how schools can establish clear, accessible and trusted mechanisms for reporting concerns while maintaining appropriate confidentiality and safeguarding responsibilities.
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Module 8 — Responding to Disclosures and Safety Planning
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Develop confidence in responding appropriately when a pupil makes a disclosure, including listening, recording, reporting, immediate risk assessment and safety planning.
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Module 9 — Investigations and Multi-Agency Collaboration
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Explore the roles and responsibilities involved in responding to concerns, including internal procedures, referrals, external agencies and multi-agency working.
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Module 10 — Trauma Support and Whole-School Prevention
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Consider how schools can support pupils following harmful experiences while also developing preventative approaches through education, policy, culture, staff training and leadership.
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Learning Outcomes
By the end of the programme, participants will be better equipped to:
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recognise different forms of sexual harassment and harmful sexual behaviour;
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identify possible indicators of concern;
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understand safeguarding responsibilities and professional boundaries;
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respond appropriately to disclosures;
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apply effective reporting and recording procedures;
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understand when concerns may require escalation or referral;
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support pupils following safeguarding incidents;
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contribute to effective safety planning;
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understand the importance of multi-agency collaboration;
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challenge the normalisation of inappropriate behaviour;
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contribute to a safer and more respectful whole-school culture.
Mode of Study
Virtual Campus
Participants can complete the programme through Notting Hill College’s Virtual Campus, providing structured professional development with online access to training materials and learning activities.
Certification
Participants who successfully complete the programme will receive a Notting Hill College CPD Certificate.
A Practical Safeguarding Programme
This is not simply an awareness course.
Throughout the programme, participants are encouraged to apply safeguarding principles to realistic educational situations through practical examples, reflection activities and scenarios.
The focus is on helping staff answer important questions such as:
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What should I recognise?
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What should I record?
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Who should I report to?
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What should I say to a pupil making a disclosure?
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When does behaviour become a safeguarding concern?
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How can schools prevent inappropriate behaviour from becoming normalised?
Why This Training Matters
Sexual harassment and harmful sexual behaviour can have a significant impact on pupils’ safety, wellbeing, attendance, confidence and educational experience.
Effective safeguarding therefore requires more than responding after an incident has occurred.
Schools need a preventative culture in which:
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expectations are clear;
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staff understand their responsibilities;
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pupils know how to seek help;
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concerns are taken seriously;
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reporting systems are trusted;
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professional boundaries are understood;
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leaders actively promote respectful behaviour.
This programme supports schools in strengthening that culture.
Eligibility
Who is this programme for?
This programme is suitable for professionals working across education and safeguarding, including:
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Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) and Deputy DSLs
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Senior Leadership Teams
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Safeguarding and pastoral staff
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Teachers and classroom practitioners
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Behaviour and inclusion teams
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School counsellors and wellbeing leads
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Governors and trustees
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Staff working with children and young people in education settings
Suitable for Individual Staff and Schools
The programme can support:
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individual professional development;
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safeguarding team training;
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DSL and DDSL development;
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whole-school CPD;
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leadership development;
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induction and refresher training;
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school safeguarding improvement plans.
Schools wishing to train multiple members of staff may contact Notting Hill College to discuss group enrolment.
Why Choose
Notting Hill College
We are an accredited British institution that aims to provide a quality learning experience and opportunities to grow.
Receive a diploma from an accredited British institution meaning your achievements will be recognised globally.
Choose a mode of study that best suits your needs and learning style.
Choose your own flexible learning schedule.
Keep up to date with the latest trends in educational psychology.
Save money with affordable payment plans.
Learn from expert teachers.
Access hours of additional resources to facilitate your learning process.
Access recordings of your live virtual sessions so you never miss a lesson.
Have a continuous authentication of your certificates with the Lifetime Verification Service.
Enjoy excellent support and communication services.
Join a network of thousands of global Notting Hill College graduates who have qualified from one of our courses.