OXFORD University is considering plans to ban romantic and sexual relationships between teachers and students.

Academics found flouting the policy, which would apply to any staff directly teaching or supervising a student, could face sanctions.

These range from a formal warning to dismissal under new plans, which aim to tackle sexual harassment on campus.

The move to bring in a formal ban comes months after It Happens Here – an Oxford University Student Union group, which campaigns against sexual violence – launched a campaign calling for a ban on the 'inappropriate' relationships.

It argued that such relations 'raise issues, relating to inequalities of power in a relationship, or perceived favouritism, or the undermining of trust in the academic process' as stated by the current university policy.

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The student group also pointed out that a 2017 investigation showed that Oxford University had the highest number of student allegations of sexual misconduct by staff of any UK university.

A statement from It Happens Here said: "As it stands, the only university-wide limit to a romantic or sexual relationship between a student and a staff member who has responsibility over that student, is that the staff member must declare it to their Head of Department.

"The move would reinforce the maintenance of a College environment in which students and staff feel safe, supported and free from sexual harassment."

Such relationships are already falling out of favour in UK universities and, if Oxford does take the plunge, it would be the second of the Russell Group institutions to introduce the ban.

University College London was the first to do so last year.

Oxford University did not provide a comment by the time the newspaper went to print.