Code of Conduct

ScholarBridge is built on respectful, professional relationships. This Code sets the standards of behaviour expected of everyone involved in a programme: students, parents and guardians, mentors, and staff. It covers non-academic conduct. Academic honesty is governed separately by our Academic Integrity & Misconduct Policy and Generative AI Policy.

1. Our shared standard

Everyone taking part is expected to treat others with courtesy and good faith, communicate respectfully, and help sustain a safe and respectful learning environment built on integrity and dignity. Because we work with students aged 14–18, safeguarding takes priority over every other consideration; any conduct that raises a welfare or safety concern is handled under our Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy.

2. What we expect of students

• Attend scheduled sessions on time and prepared, having completed any pre-session tasks.
• Engage in good faith and contribute meaningfully to your own project.
• Treat your mentor and ScholarBridge staff with respect and professionalism.
• Communicate through ScholarBridge-managed channels, and route cancellations or rescheduling requests through ScholarBridge rather than directly to your mentor.
• Do not record sessions without the prior written consent of ScholarBridge and the mentor.
• Do not share, distribute, or publish programme materials, mentor contact details, or session content without ScholarBridge's prior written consent.

3. What we expect of parents and guardians

• Support the student's own effort rather than requesting that work be produced for them.
• Communicate respectfully with mentors and staff at all times.
• Raise any concern through ScholarBridge using the process below.
• For a student under 18, confirm that you have reviewed and accepted the programme terms and take responsibility for the student's compliance with them.

4. What you can expect of ScholarBridge

• Professional, respectful conduct and clear communication from mentors and staff.
• A focus on guiding and teaching, never on producing work for the student.
• Appropriate boundaries, with contact kept within ScholarBridge-managed channels.
• Adherence to our safeguarding commitments and to this Code.

Mentors and staff are bound by their own conduct requirements. Conduct that falls short is treated as staff misconduct under our internal procedures.

5. Unacceptable behaviour

The following examples are not exhaustive, but each is a breach of this Code and may lead to action up to and including immediate termination of a programme without refund:

• Abusive or threatening behaviour: abusive, threatening, intimidating, or harassing communication or conduct, including threats to harm another person.
• Bullying and harassment: bullying of any kind, including online; repeatedly contacting or following someone against their wishes; public shaming or humiliation.
• Discriminatory behaviour: abusive or offensive comments or conduct relating to a person's protected characteristics (see Section 6).
• Sexual misconduct: any unwanted sexual comment, advance, or contact, and the sharing of sexual or private material without consent.
• Misuse of images and recordings: recording, photographing, filming, distributing, or publishing a session, a mentor, a student, or any person connected with ScholarBridge without their consent.
• Deception and impersonation: deliberately deceiving ScholarBridge, or misrepresenting who you are.
• Misuse of materials and circumvention: sharing or publishing programme materials without consent; soliciting a mentor's private contact details; attempting to engage a mentor privately outside ScholarBridge, or to engage the same mentor for services outside ScholarBridge within 12 months of a programme's completion.
• Reputational or operational harm: behaviour that damages, or could damage, the reputation of ScholarBridge or the proper running of its programmes.
• Breach of other policies, or unlawful conduct: behaviour that breaches another ScholarBridge policy, or that constitutes a criminal offence.

6. Anti-discrimination and equal treatment

ScholarBridge is committed to treating everyone fairly regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, or other characteristics protected by law in the United States and the United Kingdom. Discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on any of these grounds is a breach of this Code. Where a concern relates to a person's disability or another protected characteristic, we consider carefully how to respond fairly and how to provide support.

7. How concerns are handled

A concern about conduct may be raised by anyone affected, and should be sent to [email protected]. Concerns are handled on these principles:

• Presumption of innocence until a concern has been fairly considered.
• Balance of probabilities: a concern is upheld only if, on the evidence, it is more likely than not that a breach occurred.
• Fairness: the person concerned is told what the issue is and given a fair opportunity to respond; a student under 18 is supported by a parent or guardian.
• Proportionality: any response is proportionate to the seriousness of the behaviour.
• Sensitivity: information is shared only where necessary, in line with our Privacy Policy. Where several reports suggest a pattern, they may be considered together.

8. Precautionary measures

To keep everyone safe while a concern is looked into, ScholarBridge may take proportionate precautionary measures. These are not a finding of fault and are reviewed regularly. They may include: pausing sessions; establishing a single point of contact; restricting access to a shared platform; or, in a serious case, suspending the programme. Where a concern raises a safeguarding issue, our Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy takes priority and, where necessary, matters are reported to the appropriate authorities.

9. Outcomes

Where a breach is found, outcomes are proportionate and may include: a warning; conditions for continuing on the programme; a required apology or piece of reflective learning; or suspension or termination of the programme without refund, as set out in the Terms of Service. Serious breaches, including abusive, threatening, or discriminatory behaviour, will normally result in immediate termination.

10. Raising a concern or making a complaint

If you wish to raise a concern about conduct, or are dissatisfied with how a matter has been handled, our Complaints & Appeals Procedure sets out the informal, formal, and escalation stages. A safeguarding concern should never wait for those stages; raise it immediately at [email protected].

11. Review

This Code is reviewed at least annually and updated as our programmes and practice develop.

Contact

For questions about this Code, or to raise a concern, contact us at [email protected].