Learner Code of Conduct - iSales Academy

1. Introduction
iSales is committed to providing a professional and ethical environment, which serves and protects the whole iSales community. Certain expectations for good conduct are described in specific policies and procedures e.g. equality & diversity, anti-bullying etc. This Code supplements those and provides additional guidance for learners studying with iSales Academy.
The overriding expectation is that learner’s will adopt high standards of personal conduct in order to maintain the confidence and respect of their colleagues, staff, tutors, other learners, the public in general and all those with whom they work. This means that learners should not behave through words, actions or inaction in a manner which would lead any reasonable person to question their suitability to study iSales Academy or act as a role model.

2. Scope
This Code applies to all learner’s studying with iSales Academy. Any breaches of the Code of Conduct Policy will be regarded as a serious matter which could result in disciplinary action, and possible dismissal from the programme or course. This policy forms part of any learner’s learning contract, unless otherwise stated, and it can be amended at any time.

3. Roles and Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of iSales Academy to establish and monitor standards of conduct and behaviour, including the establishment of relevant policies and procedures. It is the responsibility of the senior management team to address promptly any breaches of good conduct and behaviour, using informal procedures where possible, but implementing formal procedures where necessary. It is the responsibility of all learners to familiarise themselves, and comply, with this Code, policies, procedures, conditions of learning and any relevant professional standards.

4. Standards
There is an expectation that iSales Academy’s learner’s will exhibit the highest possible standards of behaviour during their course or programme. Learner’s will be expected through agreed procedures and without fear of recrimination, to bring to the attention of their tutors any deficiency in the provision of service/training. Learner’s must report to either their tutor or Head of Apprenticeships any impropriety or breach of standards.

5. Confidentiality
Training with iSales Academy can sometimes mean having access, in a variety of ways, to information that can be regarded as confidential. As a general rule, all information received in the course of training, no matter how it is received, should be regarded as sensitive and confidential. Learners should use their discretion regarding these matters, should refer to the Data Protection Policy and the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and, if in doubt, should seek advice from the Managing Director or Head of Apprenticeship Training.

6. Use of E-mail, Mobile Phones and the Internet
When attending training locations and using equipment and the internet, learners are expected to do so responsibly and to comply with all applicable laws, policies and procedures of iSales Academy, and with normal standards of professional and personal courtesy and conduct.
Computers, laptops and mobile phones loaned to learner’s by iSales Academy are provided solely to support their learning and learner’s must notify iSales Academy of any proposed significant personal use.
Electronic media must not be used for knowingly viewing, transmitting, retrieving, or storing any communication that is:

Discriminatory or harassing
Derogatory to any individual or group
Obscene or pornographic
Defamatory or threatening
Illegal or contrary to iSales Academy’s policies or business interests

The transmission of usernames, passwords or other information related to the security of iSales Academy’s computers is not permitted.
The internet/intranet are business tools provided to learner’s and other users at significant cost. Hence, it is expected that this resource will be used primarily for learning-related purposes. Reasonable access and use of the internet/intranet is also available to recognised representatives of employers or professional associations.

7. Social Networking
The purpose of including this in this policy is to ensure:

That iSales Academy is not exposed to legal and compliance risks
That the reputation of iSales Academy is not adversely affected
That users are able to clearly distinguish where information has been provided via social networking applications, it is legitimately representative of iSales Academy.
Protocols are applied where learners are contributing in an appropriate capacity to social networking applications provided by external organisations.

Social networking applications include but are not limited to:

Blogs, Online forums, for example Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat
Media sharing services for example YouTube; ‘Micro-blogging’ application for example X (formally Twitter)

iSales Academy may make the decision to put a complete block on social networking sites during the training day, but it cannot stop individuals using social networking sites at their companies and or home in their own personal time, therefore all learner’s need to understand the implications of inappropriate and improper use of social networking sites at their companies and or home in their own personal time that may result in detriment to iSales Academy and therefore to disciplinary action being taken.
All learner’s at iSales Academy should bear in mind that information they share through social networking applications, even if they are on private spaces, are still subject to copyright, Data Protection and Freedom of Information legislation and the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. Learner’s must also operate in line with iSales Academy Equality and Diversity Policy.
Any communications or content published on a social networking site which is open to public view, may be seen by members of the iSales Academy community. Learners are seen as representatives of iSales Academy and are viewed as such in the public domain. Inappropriate usage of social networking sites by learner can have a major impact on the training/learning relationship. Any posting that causes damage to iSales Academy, any of its employees or any third party’s reputation may amount to a serious disciplinary offence, which could result in dismissal from the course or programme.
iSales Academy reserves the right to require the closure of any applications or removal of content published by learner’s which may adversely affect the reputation of iSales Academy or put it at risk of legal action. Anyone who becomes aware of inappropriate postings on social networking sites, must report it to their tutor as soon as possible. The tutor will then decide on the most appropriate course of action. If a learner fails to disclose an incident or type of conduct relating to social networking sites, knowing that it is inappropriate and falls within the remit of this policy, then that learner may be subject to the disciplinary procedure.
Indecent images of any learner that can be accessed by other learner’s, employers or members of the public are totally unacceptable and can lead to safeguarding issues as well as bringing iSales Academy into disrepute.
It is totally unacceptable for any learner to discuss another learner’s, employers, work colleagues or any other member of the iSales community on any type of social networking site. Reports about oneself may also impact on the learning/training relationship – for example if a learner is off sick but makes comments on a site suggesting the contrary.
Learners should ensure that personal social networking sites are set as private and that iSales Academy learners are never listed as approved contacts.
Learners should not use or access social networking sites of iSales learners save in exceptional circumstances and only then with the prior express permission of the senior management team.

8. Mobile Phones and Driving
Since 1 December 2003 the use by drivers of hand-held mobiles has been illegal. Anyone found to be using such devices whilst driving will face a fine and, from 27 February 2007, three penalty points on their licence. The use of a properly installed hands-free kit is allowed but drivers will continue to risk prosecution if when using a mobile phone in this way they are found not to have proper control of their vehicle. iSales Academy expects any learner driving in relation to iSales Academy activity/business, (i.e. on an educational visit), not to receive or to make calls on a mobile phone whilst driving (this includes whilst stationary in traffic jams). To make and receive calls safely the vehicle must be properly parked and the engine switched off.

9. Mobile Phone Security
Mobile phones (including personal mobile phones) could contain confidential information regarding other learner’s such as personal phone numbers, e-mail addresses or pictures. All mobile phones brought onto the premises (including personal mobile phones) should have a password locking system enabled to ensure that their contents remain secure in the case of loss.

10. Relationships
The Community and Service Users: Learner’s must always remember their responsibilities in the community they are learning in and ensure courteous, efficient and impartial behaviour to all groups and individuals within the community as defined by the policies of iSales Academy.
Close personal relationships at work: Situations arise where relations, or those in other close relationships, may be studying at iSales Academy and it is recognised that a significant proportion of close relationships are formed at work. Learners are required to disclose any personal relationships that they may have with another learner or staff member or contractor at the iSales Academy. Learners should discuss, confidentially with the senior management team, any relationships with another learner or iSales Academy employee which may impact on the conduct of iSales Academy.

11. Political Neutrality
Learner’s must ensure that the individual rights of members of the iSales Community are respected and must not allow their own personal or political opinions to interfere with their learning or training.

12. iSales Academy Code of Conduct: Learner’s
In the classroom: Learners are expected to meet the following expectations:

Arrive to class on time
Sit where the tutor/lecturer may require them to sit
Take out the necessary materials immediately
Exhibit good positive body language – i.e. FOCUS – Follow with my eyes, On Task, Concentrate, Up in my seat, Silent until called upon
Listen carefully and contribute to discussions as directed to by the tutor
Join in during lessons, respecting the views of others
Fully participate in learning by active listening, thinking and contributing
Refrain from talking to classmates unless it is part of a class activity
Stay on task during class activities
Refrain from disrupting the order and learning atmosphere of the class
Follow the correct procedure for finishing lessons and exiting the classroom

In the virtual classroom: Learners are expected to meet the following expectations:

Accept calendar invites in a timely manner
Log in on time
Keep camera’s on where possible
Mute microphones when tutor is talking
Use hands up function when wanting to ask a question
Listen carefully and contribute to discussions as directed to by the tutor
Join in during lessons, respecting the views of others
Fully participate in learning by active listening, thinking and contributing
Refrain from talking to classmates unless it is part of a class activity
Stay on task during online activities
Refrain from disrupting the order and learning atmosphere of the class
Follow the correct procedure for finishing lessons and exiting the virtual classroom

Expectations outside the classroom: Learners are expected to be responsible citizens of the local community and good representatives of iSales Academy, particularly in the following ways:

Show respect to others
Under no circumstances do something that brings iSales Academy into disrepute
Exhibit good behaviour when travelling to and from iSales Academy training/educational venues
Use appropriate language in public
Use appropriate manners at bus stops and on public transportation
Be punctual and only be absent for a genuine reason

13. iSales Academy Code of Conduct: Staff
See staff code of conduct policy

14. Code of Conduct: Learner’s Employer
Employers will:

Support iSales Academy and its behaviour policy
Promote positive behaviour at work to provide continuity
Contact the tutor in the first instance if concerned about learner’s behaviour
Contact the senior management for further support

Version last updated: June 2025