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Tutor Code of Conduct

This policy outlines NEC’s expectations of tutors in relation to proper behaviour:

1. Aims of the Code of Conduct

1.1 The National Extension College deals with a wide range of students. NEC has built up a reputation over 40 years for a quality service and for employing suitable tutors who can establish appropriate relationships with their students. Increasingly, NEC is dealing with a younger age range of student. For many years, NEC has also welcomed as students adults who could be considered for a number of reasons to be vulnerable. In this context, the behaviour of tutors needs to be under some scrutiny and this code sets out what NEC expects from those employed in this capacity.

2. Dealing with vulnerable students

2.1 Students who are children or vulnerable adults are covered by NEC’s Policy in relation to Children and Vulnerable Adults Protection. In the context of this policy a young person is defined as anyone aged under 18 and a vulnerable adult is defined as a person who:-

  • Receives personal care, or nursing, or support to live independently in their own home or in a care home
  • Receives any health or social services
  • Has a substantial learning or physical disability
  • Has a physical or mental illness, chronic or otherwise, including addiction to alcohol or drugs
  • Has a substantial reduction in physical or mental capacity due to advanced age or to illness

A Disclosure Document from the Criminal Records Bureau will be needed for all NEC tutors. Staff working with young people and vulnerable adults may be required to undergo awareness training with NEC. The following expectations in relation to tutor behaviour have particular relevance to children and vulnerable adults.

3. Tutor behaviour with students

3.1 Usually, NEC is in contact with students at a distance, using email, phone or post. However, NEC also offers blended learning, where face to face tutorials take place and it also organises student and tutor contact using the Internet. Students are entitled to appropriate behaviour from NEC tutors using any of these ways of communicating. Students should be protected from physical, sexual or emotional harm.

Tutors are asked to take care that their behaviour is appropriate. There will never be any need for a tutor to meet a student alone. If the student cannot meet in a public place then a home visit can be an accompanied one. Tutors will not meet with students alone in an office.

The following behaviour would be considered grounds for concern:

  • If the tutor asks over-personal questions, including about age and appearance
  • If the tutor seeks to visit a student alone
  • If the tutor sends material likely to be considered offensive or makes suggestive remarks
  • If the tutor suggests a personal relationship could develop
  • If the tutor suggests that they could give a student favourable treatment over and above the other students
  • Taking an aggressive or bullying tone with students
  • Physical contact particularly of a sexual nature
  • Asking the student for money or for favours of any kind
  • Disorderly conduct in front of students
  • Harassment or discrimination of any kind

Students may be in contact with other students and it is difficult for NEC to safeguard students from wrong behaviour on the part of other students. Tutors should be aware of this and be careful about introducing students to each other. Tutors should inform NEC of any behaviour they consider inappropriate from student to student.

4. Tutor behaviour in general

Tutors will be expected to keep to professional norms of behaviour.

The following would be considered unacceptable by NEC:

  • Misuse of the College’s email, Internet or other mailing facilities
  • Sub-standard work
  • Overtly favouring some students above others
  • Wilful or excessive wastage of College time or materials
  • Misrepresentation of fact or lying
  • Fraud, bribery or falsification of records
  • Fighting or physical assault
  • Gross immorality or indecent behaviour
  • Unauthorised release of College information or materials
  • Plagiarising the work of students
  • Negligence or neglect of duty resulting in any loss that might expose the College to a serious claim
  • Unauthorised release of technical, commercial, financial or other information that could lead to a competitor gaining commercial advantage
  • Solicitation and/ or acceptance of money, gifts, services or other inducements unless the amount is trivial (e.g. a box of chocolates at the end of a course)

This list is not intended to be exhaustive and other issues not previously identified may also be considered as unacceptable conduct.

There are some areas where it is appropriate to seek guidance from NEC. If assigned a family member or close friend for tutoring there is an obvious conflict of interest and the tutor should raise this with NEC, either for the student to be reassigned, or for a higher degree of scrutiny to be exercised. If the tutor suspects plagiarism or cheating on the part of a student, this should be raised with NEC.