On 1 August 2025, the OfS condition of registration covering harassment and sexual misconduct will come into force. Condition E6 will cover “subject matter relating to incidents of harassment and/or sexual misconduct which affect one or more students” and “applies in relation to students on higher education courses provided in any manner or form by, or on behalf of, a provider”.

GuildHE is aware that implementation of E6 is a key priority for higher education institutions and that navigating the regulatory requirements within current capacity and to ensure consistency across the sector is challenging. GuildHE is therefore committed to offering a programme of support for its members in implementing the condition. 

This programme includes:

Student Support Network: Insight gathering and peer support 

The condition of registration for harassment and sexual misconduct is a standing agenda item for GuildHE’s student support network, which meets three times a year. A significant discussion took place in the October meeting to understand members’ key challenges and progress on E6 so that GuildHE could raise this with OfS and to inform our support of members moving forward. Network meetings also offer valuable opportunities for peer support and sharing of practice between members. Such discussions and insight gathering will continue in future meetings. The next meeting will take place on 13 March. 

Bespoke OfS webinar on implementing E6, 31 January

On 31 January, GuildHE hosted a webinar for our members in which OfS delivered a bespoke session on the requirements and implementation of the condition, tailored to the key issues and was attended by 69 people. The session covered topics including the single source of information, report handling processes, training, partnerships and TNE, staff-student relationships and the Sexual Misconduct Survey (SMS) 2025

Follow-up session: Navigating the critical aspects of a university’s legal and regulatory obligations in respect of student and staff harassment and sexual misconduct - Mills and Reeve

This session focused on the critical aspects of a university’s legal and regulatory obligations in respect of student and staff harassment and sexual misconduct, including in respect of new OfS Condition E6. Mills and Reeve law firm’s education sector specialists facilitated discussion of key requirements and expectations and the challenges raised for universities in both the student and staff arenas. We also considered what the Office of the Independent Adjudicator has most recently said it is seeing in this area. Discussion was on a Chatham House basis and provided colleagues with an opportunity to share concerns and examples of best practice. 

Date: Tuesday, 19 March
Time: 12:00 – 1:00pm
Location: online 

GuildHE guidance: key steps and questions 

GuildHE will produce a short guidance document which summarises the key steps and considerations institutions should take in implementing the condition, signposts key resources, and outlines FAQs

Community of practice sessions 

Members have indicated that they are finding it challenging to navigate the issue of consistency across the sector regarding the condition. To support this, GuildHE will convene a series of community of practice sessions on key elements of the condition, such as training and the single source of information. The sessions will include case studies from member institutions detailing their approach, as well as dedicated discussion and peer support time to enable an understanding across our membership of how institutions are addressing the requirement.

Session one: reporting mechanisms and procedures
Date: 24 April
Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm 
Location: online

Members register here

Session two: staff-student relationships
Date: 15 May
Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm
Location: online 

Members register here

Session three 
Date: tbc
Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm
Location: online 

Details of registration will be provided shortly.