Whistleblowing policy

Purpose

We want staff, tutors, instructors, contractors and volunteers to raise concerns about wrongdoing without fear. This policy explains how, and the protection the law gives. Personal grievances (for example about your own pay or treatment) are dealt with under the grievance procedure, unless they are also in the public interest.

What you can raise

For example: a criminal offence (including fraud or bribery); a failure to comply with a legal obligation; danger to health and safety; damage to the environment; a miscarriage of justice; funding fraud (for example fabricated evidence or false claims); a safeguarding failure; sexual harassment (a qualifying disclosure from 6 April 2026 under the Employment Rights Act 2025); a data protection breach; or deliberate concealment of any of these.

How to raise a concern

1. Raise it with your manager, or if you prefer, with the nominated officer: [to be confirmed: whistleblowing nominated officer].
2. If the concern involves the nominated officer or you are not satisfied, raise it with the director responsible: [to be confirmed: director responsible for policy sign-off].
3. You can raise a concern in writing or in person, and ask for it to be treated confidentially. Anonymous concerns are accepted but are harder to investigate.

We will acknowledge your concern, look into it, and tell you what we can about the outcome.

Protection

Under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 you are protected from dismissal or detriment for making a protected disclosure in good faith and in the reasonable belief that it is in the public interest. Anyone who victimises a whistleblower will face disciplinary action. Safeguarding concerns must also be reported to the DSL straight away (Safeguarding policy).

Raising concerns outside the company

You can also contact a "prescribed person" — a regulator listed on GOV.UK — for example the Health and Safety Executive (health and safety), the Information Commissioner's Office (data protection), HM Revenue and Customs (tax), or Ofsted (education providers it inspects). You can get free confidential advice from the charity Protect.

Records

We keep a confidential record of every concern and the action taken.

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