Key Policies and Procedures

Safeguarding

Finance

Equality and Diversity

GDPR

Strategy and Oversight

Freedom of Information

Health and Safety

Instrument and Articles

Exams, Complaints and Compliments

Exams, Complaints and Compliments

Admissions and Advice

Pensions

Corporation and Committees

Governance

Safeguarding

Coventry College takes all reasonable steps to promote and safeguard the welfare of all staff and learners engaged in any college activity. The college pays close attention to and works within the legislative safeguarding requirements documented in keeping Children Safe in Education and the statutory Prevent duty. As a result of this, learners at the college feel safe and know how to raise concerns with regards to themselves and others who may be at risk of harm.

The College is proactive in assessing safeguarding risks and takes appropriate action to prevent harm.

Coventry College is committed to ensuring that young people and vulnerable adults at the College are offered the information, advice and support that they need to stay safe and actively participate in college life.

If you have a safeguarding concern or would like to speak to a member of the safeguarding team please telephone 02476 791 115 and ask for a Safeguarding Officer.

Prevent

Section 21 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 places a duty on certain bodies such as Further Education colleges to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”.

The Government’s Prevent Strategy was published in 2011 and forms part of an overall Counter-Terrorism Strategy known as CONTEST. The Contest Strategy has four elements which are detailed below:

  • Pursue
  • Protect
  • Prepare
  • Prevent

Prevent is a key part of the Contest Strategy which aims to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Early intervention is at the heart of Prevent in diverting people away from being drawn into terrorist activity as Prevent happens before any criminal activity takes place. It is about recognising, supporting and protecting individuals who might be susceptible to radicalisation.

The 2011 Prevent Strategy objectives are as follows;

  • Respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat we face from those that promote it.
  • Prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure that they are given appropriate support.
  • Work with sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation that we need to address.

The United Kingdom currently faces a range of terrorist threats.  All terrorist groups who pose a threat to the UK seek to radicalise and recruit people to their cause.  A system of threat levels has been created which represents the likelihood of an attack in the near future.  The current Government threat level from international terrorism in the UK is ‘severe’ which means that a terrorist attack is a strong possibility.

To ensure that the College effectively manages risks, is able to deal appropriately with issues around radicalisation and extremism and meets its statutory duty Coventry College will:

  • Understand the nature of the threat from extremism and how this may impact directly or indirectly on the College and individuals working and studying here
  • Understand and manage potential risks within the College and from external influences including the display of extremist materials and the hiring of college premises
  • Respond rapidly and appropriately to events in local, national or international news that may impact on the college community.
  • Report any concerns around extremism or radicalisation via the College safeguarding reporting channels
  • Provide effective support services which provide clear information, advice and guidance on preventing students from being drawn into extremism and radicalisation
  • Ensure measures are in place to minimise the potential for acts of extremism within the College
  • Ensure plans are in place to respond appropriately to a threat or incident within the College
  • Adopt effective ICT security and responsible user policies and promote these to all staff and students

FOI Request

What is it?

At  Coventry College, we are committed to openness and accountability in all we do. The Freedom of Information Act requires us to make certain information available to the public. To do this, we have adopted the Information Commissioner’s model publication scheme for all public authorities. Because the model scheme applies to all public authorities it is high level so they have also published a ‘ Definition Document for the Model Publication Scheme’ for colleges of further education, which sets out what we are expected to publish.  Some of the information we hold is confidential as set out in the Data Protection Act so there are some exemptions.

The main groups of information under the Publication Scheme are:

  • what we are and what we do
  • what we spend and how we spend it
  • what our priorities are and how we are doing
  • how we make decisions
  • our policies and procedures
  • lists and registers
  • the services we offer

How do I get information covered by the Publication Scheme?

We make available items that belong to groups in the Publication Scheme. Any exceptions will most likely be for reasons related to the Data Protection Act or commercial sensitivity.

We will publish all documents covered by the scheme on our website. Where we don’t these can be requested in hard copy format.

Will it cost me anything?

All electronic documents on the website and also those we can provide by email at your request are free of charge. Where complex information that requires administrative time to collate and analyse is requested we would make a charge that reflects the costs associated with the task.

Who do I contact if I request under the Freedom of Information Act?

For general information or any publications not covered by the publication scheme contact us

For specific requests under the Freedom of Information Act please contact:

[email protected]

Data Protection

Personal data are under a general duty to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998.  Any members of staff or students who are processing personal data on behalf of the College must ensure they comply with the College’s Data Protection Policy.

External requests for information about individuals

We collect a wide range of personal data relating to staff and students for our own purposes and to meet external obligations to awarding organisations and funding bodies.  This data may sometimes be transferred to a third party such as the Skills Funding Agency for funding purposes or to an awarding body to register a student for a qualification.  We only transfer data, where it is permitted under the Act and individuals, have given their consent, or where the Act expressly allows transfers without such consent.

However, data can sometimes be disclosed without consent, where for example it is required for:

  • Protecting the vital interests of the individual (eg  release of data in a medical emergency)
  • The prevention or detection of crime.

Talking to parents

The College will discuss the welfare or progress of students under the age of 18 with parents / legal guardians.  When a student turns 18 we will only continue to discuss welfare and progress with parents where the student has given permission for us to do so.

Download General Data Protection Policy (PDF)

Report terrorist or extremist content online

It only takes a moment to make a report online. In an emergency, or if you need urgent police assistance, you should always dial 999. You can also report suspicious activity by contacting the police in confidence on 0800 789 321.

ACT Early | Prevent radicalisation

More important than any one sign is the feeling that something is not right. Friends and family are often the first to spot worrying changes taking place.

Work at Coventry College


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