Professor Simon Goldhill was able to continue teaching undergraduates while he was being investigated for sexual and professional misconduct, Varsity can reveal.

Earlier this month, The Times reported that Goldhill, 69, kissed and touched a female student in her twenties without consent. The incident occurred in autumn 2024, but the student did not make a complaint until March 2025, due to fears of damaging her academic and career prospects.

During the initial internal investigation, the professor of Greek literature and culture at King’s was able to continue lecturing. Goldhill only stopped teaching for the classics faculty after the University commissioned an external investigation in October.

Varsity has seen emails from classics directors of studies revealing that colleges were never informed about the investigation.

As undergraduate supervisions are organised at the college level, this meant Goldhill could still be assigned to students after he had stepped away from faculty teaching. Varsity understands this happened to at least one student.

An email sent to all King’s students on 10 April, following the publication of the article in The Times, said: “The College is waiting for information on the case from the University, which will inform any decisions on what actions the College might take, but we have not received that yet.”

The email continued: “Simon is now effectively suspended from teaching and from contact with students while the issue is being investigated and the College seeks to get access to the relevant information around the incident.”

The University has a Data Sharing Protocol, which allows it to share information with colleges “if it is deemed necessary and proportionate to do so”. However, this requires permission from both the complainant and the respondent.

The campaigning group End Sexual Violence Cambridge (ENDSV) told Varsity: “We believe that student welfare and safety must remain a central priority for the University, and that measures taken should consistently reflect this commitment.

“We are especially concerned by reports suggesting that Goldhill’s teaching duties may have continued, and that colleges may not have been fully informed about the complaints made against him. If accurate, these reports raise important questions about Cambridge’s communication and safeguarding processes.”

The group concluded: “We would strongly advise the University of Cambridge to review and, where necessary, adapt its policies to ensure the safeguarding of students remains a fundamental priority. We would welcome this opportunity to engage constructively with the University to discuss how processes can be improved and how we can move forward together.”

A spokesperson for the University said: “The University of Cambridge takes all complaints of sexual misconduct very seriously and any concerns raised by staff or students would be looked into in line with the relevant University policies and procedures, and action would be taken, where appropriate. These processes are by their nature confidential so we will not be commenting further.”

Goldhill is set to retire at the end of this year, but he could still be given the honorary position of emeritus professor. The date of the tribunal to decide whether Goldhill will receive disciplinary action is yet to be determined.

In 2024, a Varsity investigation revealed that only one of six upheld complaints against staff for sexual misconduct had led to the individual losing their job in the previous six years. Of the other five, three resulted in a “formal warning” and two in an “informal warning”.

More recently, Varsity found the number of complaints of sexual misconduct more generally increased from eight in 2024 to 21 in 2025. ENDSV said this suggested students were more comfortable reporting misconduct, rather than an increase in the number of cases.

The same investigation found the University’s disciplinary body held four hearings for sexual misconduct in 2025, as opposed to zero in 2024. Student campaigners welcomed the increase, but called for all cases to receive a hearing, rather than being examined by a single student discipline officer (SDO).

In response to these investigations, the University told Varsity: “While disciplinary action may vary depending on the circumstances of a particular case, we always take allegations seriously, providing support for those affected and clear systems for reporting incidents. The Office of Student Conduct, Complaints and Appeals has also increased its investigative capacity, thanks to funding for an additional investigator.”

Improving sexual misconduct reporting at the University is a key issue for many Cambridge students, forming the core of Bethan Watson’s successful campaign for university councillor last term. In February, the groups ENDSV and More than Misconduct (MTM) launched a form for students to submit testimonies of their experiences with the University’s disciplinary procedures.