AoC responds to OfS sexual misconduct survey 2025

Responding to today's OfS sexual misconduct survey 2025, AoC chief executive David Hughes said: "Today's report sheds more light on the scale of sexual harassment/sexual violence in our society, by looking at the experience of students in higher education settings. Its findings are very concerning and colleges will be carefully considering what further action they need to take as a result.

"Colleges already take their safeguarding responsibility incredibly seriously and work hard to ensure their students are supported and safe whilst in college through a broad range of policies, actions and activities. These policies apply to college higher education students in the same way they do to all other college students, including large numbers of apprentices and younger learners.

"Colleges also do a lot of work around creating safe, inclusive cultures in colleges, including workshops and webinars around the mental health impact of these crimes, as well as on misogyny and violence against women and girls. There is always more to do and this report highlights the need for us all to do more."