1. Information we may collect
Depending on how you use our services, we may collect:
- Parent or guardian name
- Student name
- Email address and telephone number
- Student age or year group
- School year and examination board
- Information about a student’s learning needs and academic progress
- Enquiry, communication and attendance records
- Booking and payment information
- Homework and educational activity
- Information voluntarily provided when contacting us
We aim to collect only the information reasonably necessary to provide our educational services.
2. How we use personal information
We may use personal information to:
- Respond to enquiries and arrange tuition
- Deliver lessons and communicate with parents, guardians and students
- Manage bookings, payments and attendance
- Provide homework and educational resources
- Understand educational needs and monitor academic progress
- Provide feedback and improve our educational services
- Maintain appropriate safeguarding records
- Meet legal and regulatory obligations
3. Our legal basis
Depending on the circumstances, we process personal information because it is necessary to provide a service or fulfil a contract, because we have a legitimate interest in operating and improving our educational services, because we have a legal obligation, or because consent has been provided where required.
Where children’s information is involved, we take additional care to ensure that its use is appropriate and proportionate.
4. Children’s information
GCSE Science Academy provides educational services to children and young people. We recognise that children’s personal information requires particular protection.
We aim to collect only information reasonably necessary to provide tuition, support learning, communicate appropriately and meet safeguarding responsibilities. Where appropriate, communications, bookings and payments should be managed through a parent or guardian.
5. Sharing personal information
GCSE Science Academy does not sell personal information. Information may be processed or shared with trusted service providers where reasonably necessary to operate our services, including:
- Online lesson platforms
- Payment providers
- Email and communication providers
- Booking and administration systems
- Trusted educational and homework platforms
- Website hosting and technology providers
We may also disclose information where required by law or where reasonably necessary to protect the safety or welfare of a child or another person. Service providers are given access only where there is a legitimate reason for them to process the information.
6. How we store and protect information
We take reasonable organisational and technical measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse or disclosure. Access is limited to people who reasonably require it to provide or administer our services.
7. How long we keep information
We keep personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including providing tuition, maintaining appropriate business records, meeting safeguarding responsibilities and complying with legal obligations.
Information that is no longer required will be securely deleted or anonymised where appropriate.
8. Your data-protection rights
Depending on the circumstances, individuals may have the right to request access, correction, deletion, restriction or transfer of their personal information, to object to certain uses, and to withdraw consent where processing relies on consent.
Children also have data-protection rights. A parent or guardian may assist a child in exercising these rights where appropriate.
9. Cookies and website information
Our website may use cookies or similar technologies necessary for it to operate and, where applicable, to understand how visitors use it. Where consent is legally required for non-essential cookies, visitors will be given an appropriate choice.
10. Marketing
We will send electronic marketing communications only where we have an appropriate lawful basis. You can ask us to stop sending marketing communications at any time.
11. Safeguarding
There may be circumstances where information needs to be used or disclosed because of a safeguarding concern. Where we believe a child or another person may be at risk, information may be shared with an appropriate parent, guardian, safeguarding professional, statutory authority or emergency service where necessary and lawful.
12. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy when our services, technology or legal obligations change. The latest version will be available through our website.
13. Contact us
If you have a question about how GCSE Science Academy uses personal information, or wish to exercise a data-protection right, please use our contact form.
You also have the right to raise concerns with the UK’s data-protection regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office.