Parent Contract

1. Definitions

1.1 Meanings of some words and phrases we use in these terms and conditions.  In these terms and conditions, some words and phrases have particular meanings and it is helpful to ensure certainty and consistency to have them defined.  Such defined terms are set out below and when used in these terms and conditions they shall have the meaning given to them here.

“Acceptance Form” means the form provided by the School for parents to complete when accepting a place for their child at the School;

“child” means a child of whatever age admitted by the School to be educated;

“Complaints Procedure” means the School’s procedure for handling complaints from parents, as amended from time to time for legal or other substantive reasons, or in order to assist the proper administration of the School.  It is not intended to form part of the contract between you and the School.  A copy of the most up-to-date procedure is on the School’s website and is otherwise available from the School at any time upon request;

“contract” has the meaning given in Clause 1.3 below;

“deposit” means the amount set out and referred to as the deposit in the Acceptance Form and that is separately set out in the Schedule of Fees;

“fees” means the termly fees set out in the Schedule of Fees;

“Head” means the person appointed by the Governors of the School to be responsible for (or to share in the responsibility for) the day-to-day running of the School, including anyone to whom such duties have been delegated;

“Schedule of Fees” means the published note of the School’s prevailing fees notified to you from time to time and a copy of which remains available on the School’s website and from the School at any time upon request;

“School Rules” means the body of rules of the School as may be amended from time to time for legal, safety or other substantive reasons, or in order to assist the proper administration of the School.  A copy of the then current version of the rules is provided to each child on entry and is sent to parents with the Acceptance Form. Parents will be notified of subsequent changes to the rules;

“term” means a term of the School as notified to parents from time to time;

“a term’s notice” means written notice given not later than the first day of the term before the term to which the notice relates. If, for example, a term’s notice is required to withdraw your child from an extra-curricular activity with effect from the start of the summer term (which is the term to which the notice relates) then a term’s notice means you need to tell us in writing about the withdrawal, at the latest, on the first day of the spring term immediately before;

“terms and conditions” means these terms and conditions as may be amended from time to time;

“we” or the “School” means the legal entity carrying on as the School as identified in Clause 1.2 below; and

“you” or the “parents” means each person who has signed the Acceptance Form as a holder of parental responsibility for the child, or a person who with the School’s express written consent replaces a person who has signed the Acceptance Form.

In these terms and conditions we sometimes provide illustrative examples to try and provide you with a better understanding of what we are referring to.  We do this by using the words “for example”, “includes” or “including”. When we do use these words, it means that the examples that are given are not exclusive or limiting examples of the matter in question.

We also use headings to introduce separate provisions.  These headings are for ease of understanding only.

1.2 Who we are.  We are Dallington School Limited, a company registered in England and Wales.  Our company registration number is 03649660 and our registered office is at 5 Underwood Street London N1 7LY.

1.3 Our contract with you.  The Acceptance Form, the Schedule of Fees, the School Rules and these terms and conditions (as in each case may be varied from time to time) form the terms of an agreement (the “contract”) between you and the School.  It is not intended that the terms of this contract shall be enforceable by your child or by any other third party.

2. Acceptance and Deposit

2.1 How you accept our offer of a place. An offer of a place for your child at the School is accepted by your submitting the completed Acceptance Form and paying the deposit.

2.2 The non-refundable status of the deposit.  The deposit is not refundable if your child does not take up their place at the School.  The limited exception to this is where notice is given in accordance with Clause 3.1 below and the School actually fills the specific vacancy created by your child’s withdrawal, in which case the School shall refund the deposit to you less its costs in administering your dealings with the School or a reasonable estimate of those costs. You should be aware that in the event of a late withdrawal it is very unlikely that the School would be able to find a replacement.

2.3 How we use the deposit. Unless you have indicated that you would like to donate the deposit to the School’s Development Fund, the deposit will form part of the general funds of the School until it is credited without interest to the final payment of the fees or other sums due to the School on your child’s leaving (unless otherwise stated in these terms and conditions).

3. Withdrawing your Acceptance of a Place before your child joins the School

3.1 Notice to withdraw your acceptance of a place before your child joins the School.  If you wish to withdraw your acceptance of a place BEFORE your child starts at the School you must either give us a term’s notice to that effect or pay to the School a term’s fees in lieu of notice.  This means that if, for example, your child is due to start at the School in September (at the start of an academic year) then you would need to tell us in writing that you wish to withdraw your acceptance of their place on or before the first day of the preceding summer term (ie, the final term of the previous academic year) or pay the fees in lieu referred to above.

3.2 If we receive a term’s notice.  If you provide a term’s notice, you will lose the deposit (subject to repayment under Clause 2.2 above if the specific vacancy created by your child’s withdrawal is actually filled by the School) but no further fees will be payable.

3.3 If we do not receive that period of notice.  If you do not provide us with notice before the first day of the term immediately preceding the term in which your child was due to start (or if no notice is provided at all) a term’s fees will be payable by you and will become due and owing to the School upon demand as a debt.  The term’s fees will be charged at the rate applicable for the term immediately preceding the term when your child was due to start. The School will credit the deposit you have paid (without interest or any entitlement to repayment under Clause 2.2 above) to the payment of the term’s fees you will owe us.  Where applicable, such fees will be reduced to take account of any scholarship or bursary awarded to you.

4. School Fees, Supplemental Charges and Payment

4.1 What the fees include. Unless set out in the Schedule of Fees or notified to you at any time, the fees include the costs we incur in the usual course of educating your child.

4.2 What the fees do not include: supplemental charges.  We refer to any items charged to you in addition to the fees as supplemental charges.  By way of example, any extra-curricular activities (such as individual music lessons, Extended Provision, clubs, trips and visits) in which you agree in advance your child may participate and which need to be paid for, will be supplemental to items met by the fees and charged for accordingly. Additional charges incurred by the School in providing for the special educational needs of your child may also be charged as supplemental to the fees.

4.3 Who is responsible for payment.  Each of you who has signed the Acceptance Form is liable for and must ensure that all of the fees and supplemental charges due are paid to the School.  This is because our contract applies to both of you together and each of you on your own.  Each person who signs the Acceptance Form therefore has an individual responsibility to ensure that, between them, the fees and supplemental charges owing to the School are paid.  In practice this means that if fees or supplemental charges have not been paid then in order to recover the outstanding payments, the School can seek payment of the full amount outstanding from either parent. The only exceptions to this are set out in Clause 4.5 immediately below.

4.4 How one person can remove him/herself from their payment responsibility and circumstances where the School may agree to accept payment from a person who has not signed the Acceptance Form and is not a party to this contract . A person who has signed the Acceptance Form may be removed from their payment responsibility under this contract by submitting a term’s notice but that person  must  obtain the prior written consent of  both  the School  and  the other person who has signed the Acceptance Form before submitting such notice. Otherwise, each of you remains liable to the School for all of the fees and supplemental charges due in accordance with Clause 4.4  above UNLESS AND UNTIL the School (without obligation to do so) has expressly agreed in writing with each of you to look exclusively to any other person for payment of the fees and/or any supplemental charges.

4.5 How bursary awards are treated.  If your child has been awarded a bursary, your responsibility will be to pay for the amount of fees due after taking account of that award.  An award may be withdrawn in accordance with (or by reference to) the terms upon which such award is made and/or if, in the opinion of the Head, your child’s attendance, progress and/or behaviour (and/or your behaviour or conduct (or the behaviour or conduct of one of you)) no longer merit the continuation of the award.  Any such withdrawal of an award will not operate so as to increase the fees due in respect of a term which has already commenced.  Where it appears likely to the Head that an award may be withdrawn from your child, you will be notified in advance.  If within fourteen (14) days following the withdrawal of a bursary your child is withdrawn from the School, no fees in lieu of notice will be payable by you. This will give you enough time to decide whether you want to continue to educate your child at the School.

4.6 How the fees are charged and payment requirements.  Each term’s tuition fees are listed on the School’s website under the ‘Admissions’ tab. The annual fees are divided into three equal parts and charged termly, regardless of the length of any term.  Each term’s fees are charged separately and the fees payable in respect of each term fall due for payment by you on the first day of that term.  Each term’s fees will be included in an invoice to be sent by email to you (or such other person(s) the School may have agreed separately shall pay the fees under Clause 4.5above).  The fees are invoiced a term in advance and must be paid by direct debit on or before the first day of the term to which the invoice relates.  Please refer to Dallington School’s Direct Debit Scheme Terms and Conditions.  We may not allow your child to attend the School if you do not pay on time.

Instead of making one payment of a term’s school fees in advance by direct debit, you may elect to pay the school fees for an academic year, which comprises three terms, in advance, for which a discount of £100 will be given.

You may also elect to pay a term’s fees by three equal instalments by direct debit for which a charge of 1.75% of the term’s fees will be levied. The first instalment of the direct debit will be scheduled for the first day of the term, followed by two further instalments on consecutive months following the first instalment.

4.7 Payment of supplemental charges.  All supplemental charges, such as school trips, extended provision and instrument lessons for each term (and for other unpaid supplemental charges that were agreed) will be invoiced with the following term’s School fees retrospectively and itemized.

4.8 Non-payment of fees: refusal to attend school.  We may refuse to allow your child to attend the School, withhold any references while fees remain unpaid or there is a persistent failure by you to pay the fees on time.

4.9 Non-payment of supplemental charges: refusal to participate in the relevant activity.  We may refuse to allow your child to participate in the relevant extra-curricular activity, while the applicable supplemental charge for that activity remains unpaid.

4.10 We can charge interest if you pay late.  If you do not make any payment to the School by the due date for payment (see Clauses 4.7 and 4.8 above) we may charge interest to you on the overdue amount at the rate of 3 per cent a year above the bank base rate.  Unless we tell you otherwise in writing, this interest will accrue on a daily basis from the due date until the date of actual payment of the overdue amount, whether before or after we obtain a court judgment against you. You must pay the School the interest together with the overdue amount.

4.11 We can recover our costs for recovering late or non-payments.  You will be responsible for paying the costs we incur in recovering, or attempting to recover, any unpaid fees or supplemental charges from you (including reasonable legal costs, ie costs that would be allowable by the courts if judgment was made in the School’s favour).

4.12 We can notify other educational institutions of your outstanding payments.  We may inform any other school or educational establishment to which you propose to send your child of any outstanding fees or supplemental charges.

4.13 Our ability to increase the fees.  We will review our fees during the course of your child’s education and may increase them.  We will try to give at least a term’s notice of any increase and will always give you notice of any increase not later than the final day of the preceding term.  If we:

(i) give you notice of an increase to the fees before the end of the penultimate term before the increase is to take effect, you will have time to consider the increase and, if you wish to withdraw your child from the School before the proposed increase is set to take effect, then you will have sufficient time to provide the required term’s notice of withdrawal to the School under Clause 5.1 below; or

 (ii) give you notice of an increase in fees which exceeds 5% later than the last day of the penultimate term before the increase is to take effect, you will be entitled to withdraw your child from the start of the following term PROVIDED THAT you give the School notice in writing of the withdrawal within twenty-one (21) days from the date when notice of the increase in fees is given. If you provide this notice you will not need to give a term’s notice or pay fees in lieu of notice and will be able to withdraw your child without being responsible for fees for the next term.

4.14 Fees and supplemental charges will not be reduced due to your child’s absence.  Fees and any agreed supplemental charges will not be reduced or refunded as a result of absence due to illness or otherwise, or as a result of your child being required to study from home as a result of us providing educational services remotely for whatever reason. If your child takes study leave at home before or during public examinations, or stays at home following those examinations, or if a term is shorter than others (or shortened), no reduction of fees will be made in respect of any periods spent at home.

4.15 Information on your identity and the source of funds. From time to time we may ask you to provide us with information, that we consider to be satisfactory, so that we can verify:

• 4.15.1 your identity;
• 4.15.2 your child’s identity;
• 4.15.3 your child’s right to enter, live and study in the United Kingdom; and
• 4.15.4 the source of funds you are using to pay the fees.

You must provide the School with the information and documentation we ask for.

4.16 Allocation of payments to your fees account.   Except where expressly agreed with you otherwise, the School shall be entitled to allocate payments from you to your account as it sees fit. The School shall be entitled to allocate a payment made in respect of one child to the unpaid account of any other child of yours at the School.

5. Notice Requirements

5.1 Notice to withdraw your child from the School.  If you wish to withdraw your child from the School (other than at the normal leaving date which is at the end of year 6, you must either give us a term’s notice to that effect or pay to the School a term’s fees in lieu of notice, at the rate that would have been charged for the final term of provision if a term’s notice had been given. The School will credit the deposit you have paid (without interest or any entitlement to repayment under Clause 2.2 above) to the payment of any such fees in lieu of notice. This means that if, for example, you wish to withdraw your child with effect from the start of the autumn term (ie, at the start of an academic year) then you would need to tell us in writing that you wish to withdraw your child on or before the first day of the preceding summer term (ie, the final term of the preceding academic year) or pay the fees in lieu of notice referred to above.

5.2 When the relevant amount in lieu of notice must be paid.  In cases under 5.1 above, the appropriate amount of fees in lieu of notice will become payable by you upon demand.

5.3 Notice to withdraw your child from participating in an activity covered by a supplemental charge.  If you wish to withdraw your child from an activity charged for as supplemental, you must either give a term’s notice to that effect or pay to the School as a debt a term’s charges for the activity in which your child has ceased to participate.

5.4 Withdrawal part-way through a term does not reduce the amount you owe to the School.  It is not possible for you to reduce the amount of fees or supplemental charges due, or to obtain a refund of fees or supplemental charges, by withdrawing your child or by your child’s ceasing to participate in an activity part-way through a term.

6. Home School Agreement (School Rules)

6.1 Compliance with the Home School Agreement (School Rules).  It is a condition of remaining at the School that you and your child comply with the Home School Agreement (School Rules).  In addition, you must ensure that your child attends School punctually and that your child conforms to any rules of appearance, dress and behaviour as we may issue (if not already included within the Home School Agreement School Rules).

7. Suspension, Exclusion and Required Removal

7.1 The Head’s discretion to suspend or exclude your child from the School. The Head may in his or her discretion suspend or, in serious or persistent cases, exclude your child from the School if the Head considers that your child’s conduct or behaviour (including behaviour or conduct outside school) is unsatisfactory and the suspension or exclusion is in the School’s best interests or those of your child or other children.

7.2 The Head may decide that suspension or exclusion for a lesser offence is justified where there has been previous misbehaviour.  All aspects of your child’s record at the School may be taken into account.

7.3 The Head’s discretion to require you to remove your child from the School. Instead of exclusion or suspension, the Head may in his or her discretion require you to remove your child from the School if the Head considers that:

7.3.1   your behaviour or conduct (or the behaviour or conduct of one of you): is unreasonable; and/or adversely affects (or is likely to adversely affect) your child’s or other children’s progress at the School, or the wellbeing of School staff; and/or brings (or is likely to bring) the School into disrepute; and/or is not in accordance with your obligations under this contract; or

7.4 What happens if your child is suspended, excluded or removed from the School. 

7.4.1   Should the Head exercise his or her right under either  Clause 7.1  or  Clause 7.3  above you will not be entitled to any refund or remission of fees or supplemental charges due (whether paid or payable) in or relating to the term in which your child is excluded, suspended or removed and (save in the case of suspension, or in the circumstances referred to in this final sentence of this Clause) the deposit will be forfeited meaning that the School will retain the deposit. If you are required to remove your child from the School as a result of the Head exercising his or her discretion under Clause 7.3.2 then the deposit will be credited in the usual way (see  Clause 2.3).

7.4.2   If your child is excluded or you are required to remove your child from the School, fees in lieu of notice will not be payable and any fees and/or supplemental charges that have been prepaid for or relating to any term after the exclusion/required removal will be refunded.

7.5 Impact of exclusion or required removal on this contract. This contract will terminate with immediate effect if your child is excluded or if you are required to remove your child from the School.

7.6 Your right to have decisions to exclude or require the removal of your child reviewed.  You are entitled to have any decisions taken by the School and/or Head to exclude or require the removal of your child under this Clause 7 reviewed.  Any such review shall be governed by the final stage of the Complaints Procedure.

8. The School’s Obligations

8.1 The period of your child’s schooling.  Subject to these terms and conditions, the School will accept your child as a pupil of the School from the time of joining the School until the end of his or her primary schooling, ie to the end of year 6.

8.2 The scope of our duty to exercise reasonable skill and care for your child’s education and welfare.  While your child remains a pupil of the School, we will exercise reasonable skill and care in respect of his or her education and welfare.  This obligation will apply during school hours and at other times when your child is permitted to be on School premises or is participating in activities organised by the School.  We cannot accept any responsibility for the welfare of your child while off the School premises unless he or she is taking part in a school activity or otherwise under the direct supervision of a member of School staff.

8.3 Consent to participation in contact sports and similar activities.  Unless you notify us to the contrary, you consent to your child participating, under supervision, in contact sports and in other normal sports and activities which may entail some risk of physical injury.

8.4 What happens if your child needs urgent medical attention.  If your child requires urgent medical attention while under the School’s care, we will if practicable try to contact you to obtain your prior consent.  However, if it is not practicable to contact you we will make the decision on your behalf if, for example, consent is required for urgent treatment recommended by a doctor or other medical practitioner (including anaesthetic or operation, or blood transfusion (unless you have previously notified us you object to blood transfusions)).

8.5 Our right to make changes at the School.  Our prospectus describes the broad principles on which the School is presently run.  However, from time to time it may be necessary to make changes to any aspects of the School, including the curriculum or the manner of providing education for your child (including by providing such education remotely (whilst your child remains at home, for example, where the School is required to close the School premises)).

8.6 We will give you notice of significant changes.  Where practicable, we will give you notice of any planned changes that we regard as significant to your child’s education prior to the end of the penultimate term before the change is to take effect.  This will allow you time to consider the proposed change and, if you wish to withdraw your child from the School before the proposed change is set to take effect, then you have sufficient time to provide the required term’s notice of withdrawal to the School under Clause 5.1 above.

8.7 Monitoring your child’s progress at the School.  We will monitor your child’s progress at the School and produce regular written reports.  We will advise you if we have any concern about your child’s progress but we do not undertake to diagnose dyslexia or other conditions.  A formal assessment can be arranged either by you or by the School at your expense.

9. The Parents’ Obligations

9.1 We require your co-operation.  In order to fulfil our obligations under this contract and to maintain a constructive relationship with you, we, the Head and School staff, need your co-operation, including in particular by you fulfilling your own obligations under this contract.

9.2 Examples of the co-operation and assistance we require.  You must co-operate with the School and School staff in good faith, including by:

9.2.1   maintaining a constructive relationship with School staff (including where the School is exercising its rights and performing its obligations under this contract) and including in the tone, content, volume and/or nature of your communications with the School);

9.2.2   encouraging your child in his or her studies, and giving appropriate support at home;

9.2.3    keeping the School up-to-date and informed of matters which affect or may affect your child (including circumstances which arise at any time that affect or may affect your ability to pay the fees and supplemental charges for your child);

9.2.4   ensuring that all details or other information notified or otherwise disclosed to the School about you and/or your child are accurate, truthful and not misleading and that relevant details and information (or changes to it) are not withheld;

9.2.5   providing cooperation and assistance to the School so that your child can participate in, and benefit from, the School’s provision of education; and

9.2.6   attending meetings and keeping in touch with the School where your child’s interests so require.

9.3 You must notify us of your child’s health/medical conditions or special educational needs.  It is a condition of your child’s joining and remaining at the School that you complete and submit to the School a medical questionnaire in respect of your child.  You must inform the School of any health or medical condition, special educational need(s), disability or allergies that your child has or subsequently develops, whether underlying, long-term, or short-term, including any infections.  You must also provide us, whether upon further request by the School or otherwise, any reports or other materials relevant to any of the same. If you withhold from us or otherwise misrepresent to us information of this nature in particular, please be aware that this may result in us exercising our right to end this contract under Clause 14.1.2 below.

9.4 Circumstances where we may require you to keep your child away from School.  If the School so requires due to a health risk either presented by your child to others or presented to your child by others or by reason of a virus, pandemic, epidemic or other health risk, you may be required to keep your child at home and not permit him/her to return to the School until such time as the health risk has passed.  Where it is considered appropriate, we will try to continue providing education to your child remotely during such period (including, for example, by sending you your child’s work assignments electronically or by post).

9.5 You must notify us of any special arrangements needed for your child.  You must inform the School of any situations where special arrangements may be needed for your child, including for their education or welfare.

9.6  You must notify us of any court orders that relate to, or that may impact upon, the provision of education to your child.  You must inform the School if, at any time prior to or during your child’s time at the School, a court order is put in place or an undertaking is given to a court in respect of (or relating to) your child’s attendance at the School (including its premises) and/or the School’s provision of education to your child.  This would include any court order or undertaking given to a court which may deal with or impact upon in any way: (i) your child’s living and/or contact arrangements; (ii) your child’s education, welfare and/or upbringing; (iii) the payment of fees and/or supplemental charges; and/or (iv) your exercise of parental responsibility in respect of your child.  In any such circumstances you must (whether upon request or otherwise) promptly provide the School with relevant information, including copies of the relevant court order(s) or undertaking(s) (or the relevant parts of them) having obtained the permission of the court if necessary.

9.7 We are entitled to expect that parents have consulted with each other regarding decisions relating to your child.  You (and each of you as the holders of parental responsibility for your child) acknowledge and agree that, prior to and during your child’s time at the School, the School is entitled to assume that you have consulted with each other so far as decisions regarding your child are concerned.  Accordingly, except under Clause 9.9 below, you (and each of you) accept that the School is entitled to treat:

9.7.1   any instruction, authority, request or prohibition received from one of you as having been given on behalf of both of you; and

9.7.2   any communication from the School to one of you as having been given to both of you.

9.8 We are entitled to require that notices of withdrawal must be signed by both parents.  A notice of withdrawal of your child served under this contract (ie, under any of Clauses 3.1, 4.6, 4.13, 5.1 or 5.2) must be in writing and signed by each of you as the holders of parental responsibility for your child (and the School shall be entitled not to accept such notice unless and until all holders of parental responsibility have signed such notice).

9.9 You must notify us of your child’s absence from School.  The School must be informed as soon as possible in writing of any reason for your child’s absence from School. You can do this by contacting the School office.  Wherever possible the School’s prior consent should be sought for absence from the School.

9.10 Parents must notify us if they will be absent for a period of time.  If at any time during your child’s time at the School you (or either of you) will not be in the United Kingdom at any time or will otherwise be absent from your main residential address for a period of longer than three (3) consecutive school days then you must inform the School immediately in writing and provide the details required by the School as a result, including the name and contact details for a ‘responsible adult’ for the period of your absence.

9.11 Raising concerns with the School and making formal complaints.  If you have cause for concern as to a matter of safety, care, discipline or progress of your child you must inform the School without undue delay.  Complaints should be made in accordance with the Complaints Procedure.  A copy of the most up-to-date version of the Complaints Procedure is on the School’s website and is otherwise available from the School at any time upon request.

10. Insurance

The School has Public Liability Insurance.

Your responsibility to make your own insurance arrangements.  You must make your own insurance arrangements if you require further cover for your child or their property while at School or for the payment of fees due to absence of your child or closure of the School premises.

11.  How we may use Personal Information: References, Confidentiality and Data Protection

11.1 References for your child.  We may supply information and a reference in respect of your child to any educational institution which you propose your child may attend.  Any reference supplied by us (or received by us) will be confidential.  We will take care to ensure that all information that is supplied by us relating to your child is accurate and any opinion given on his/her ability, aptitude for certain courses and character is fair.  However, we cannot be responsible for any loss you are or your child is alleged to have suffered resulting from opinions reasonably given, or correct statements of fact contained, in any reference or report given by us.

11.2 We will need to use information relating to your child, and to you, for certain purposes connected with the running of the School.  This will include name, contact details, school records, photographs and audio-visual recordings, both whilst your child is at the School and after he or she has left, for the purposes of:

11.2.1  Managing relationships between the School and current pupils/parents and fulfilling our obligations to you, including educational and examination purposes, safeguarding, statutory reporting, health and safety, complaints, administration and processing of fees and;

11.2.2           promoting the School to prospective pupils/parents;

11.2.3           publicising the School’s activities; and

11.2.4           communicating with the school community and the body of former pupils.

In respect of sub-clauses 11.2.2, 11.2.3 and 11.2.4, this includes use of such information by the School in/on the School’s prospectus (in whatever format or medium it is produced/made available), the School’s website(s) and (where appropriate) the School’s social media channels.

11.3 You are required to update us of changes to information held, or in circumstances relating to, you and/or your child. You must:

11.3.1           confirm (or update, if necessary), when requested, such information (and/or documentation) about you and/or your child that is held by the School; and

11.3.2           inform the School of any change to you or your child’s circumstances (including, where applicable, in connection with your child’s entitlement to enter, reside and/or study in the United Kingdom), or to information about you or your child that has previously been notified to the School, including relevant contact details.

11.4 We will send information (eg, school reports) about your child to both of you as a matter of course.  Any person who has parental responsibility for your child is entitled to receive certain information about your child from the School (including school reports, correspondence and other materials relating to his or her progress, development and/or education generally).  The School will therefore disclose such information as a matter of routine to each such person unless the School is restricted from doing so by a court order (or similar direction) or by any other legal requirement or obligation (for example, under data protection law).

11.5 Data Protection Law.  The School will process personal data about you and your child in accordance with data protection law, including the Data Protection Act 2018 (as it is amended or superseded) and other related legislation.  We will process such personal data:

11.5.1           as set out in this Clause 11, and in the School’s ‘Privacy Notice’ which is available on the School’s website as may be amended from time to time;

11.5.2           in order to comply with any court order, request from or referral to an appropriate authority, or legal, regulatory or good practice requirement; and

11.5.3           to perform our obligations under this contract, and where otherwise reasonably necessary for the school’s purposes.

12. Intellectual Property Rights

Recognising these rights.  We shall recognise any intellectual property rights created, generated or owned by or vested in your child.

13. Changes in Ownership, etc

The circumstances in which we may transfer this contract to someone else.  For the purposes of constitutional changes to the School (including changes to the legal entity that owns and runs the School) or amalgamation of the School with another we may transfer the undertaking of the School to another person or organisation. We will notify you if we plan to do this and we will ensure that the transfer will not affect your rights under this contract. We may transfer our rights and obligations under this contract in connection with any such transfer and/or amalgamation.

14.  Ending this Contract

14.1 Our rights to end the contract.  In addition to where this contract is terminated automatically as a result of an exclusion or required removal under Clause 7, the School may end this contract at any time by notice in writing to you, without any obligation to return any deposit or fees paid to you, if:

14.1.1   you do not make a payment to us when it is due and you still do not make payment within fourteen (14) days of us reminding you that such payment is due;

14.1.2  you (or either of you) make a serious misrepresentation of facts or circumstances to us, or you (or either of you) withhold important information from us, about you and/or your child or that is relevant to the provision of education by the School to your child (such as misrepresenting at any point in time (and whether by act, omission or withholding of information on your part) that you and/or your child is legally entitled to enter, reside and/or study in the United Kingdom when in fact you/your child is not or any information about your child’s health, medical condition, special educational needs, disability or allergies);

14.1.3  you fail or refuse to complete and submit to the School a medical questionnaire in respect of your child.

14.1.4   you fail or refuse to provide us with information we consider to be satisfactory as to your identity, your child’s identity, your child’s right to enter, live and study in the United Kingdom, or the source of funds you are using to pay the fees, as required under Clause 4.16;

14.1.5   you (or either of you):

(a)       are unable, following our request, to demonstrate that you will be able to pay the fees and supplemental charges due under this contract;

(b)       are otherwise unable to pay your debts as they fall due;

(c)       are the subject of a bankruptcy petition or order; or

(d)       you enter into an individual voluntary arrangement; or

14.1.6           you otherwise do not comply with (ie, you breach) your obligations under this contract such that we have a legal right to end the contract because of something you have done wrong or, in the Head’s reasonable discretion, the School is not able to provide, or is compromised in providing, the educational services it needs to in satisfaction of its obligations under this contract.

14.2 Your rights to end the contract.  You may end this contract at any time by notice in writing to the School if:

14.2.1  you have a legal right to end the contract because of something we have done wrong; or

14.2.2  the School becomes insolvent or goes into liquidation or receivership or administrative receivership or is wound-up for any reason.

14.3 When this contract will end if not terminated early.  For the avoidance of doubt and without us having to provide you with notice, this contract shall end at the end of your child’s schooling at the end of year 6.

14.4 Ending the contract will not affect any accrued rights.  Once this contract ends, it will not affect any legal rights or obligations that either you or we have that may already have arisen, for example your obligation to pay any outstanding invoices, fees, or supplemental charges.  After this contract ends, you and the School will keep any rights each has under, or as a matter of, general law.

15. Events outside of our, or your, control

15.1 What we mean by an “event outside of our/your control”.  We mean any event beyond either your or our reasonable control including, by way of example, acts of God, war, riot, civil commotion, compliance with any law or governmental order, rule, regulation, guidance or direction (including that of a local authority), accident, fire, flood, storm, pandemic or epidemic of any disease, terrorist attack, chemical or biological contamination.  In the remainder of this Clause 15 we shall refer to such events outside of our/your control as an “event”.

15.2 What happens if we are affected by an event outside of our control.  If an event arises which prevents or delays the School’s performance of any of its obligations under this contract, the School shall give you notice in writing specifying the nature and extent of the circumstances giving rise to the event.  Provided that the School has acted reasonably and prudently to prevent and/or minimise the effect of the event, the School will not be responsible for not performing those of our obligations which are prevented or delayed by, and during the continuance of, the event.  To the extent reasonably practicable in the circumstances the School shall try during the continuance of the event to continue to provide educational services (including by providing appropriate educational services remotely).

15.3 Events lasting more than 6 months.  If the School is wholly and completely prevented from performing all of its obligations as a result of an event (and is unable to provide educational services remotely) for a continuous period of more than six (6) months, the School shall notify you of the steps it plans to take to ensure performance of the contract after such period and you shall then, following receipt of such notice, be entitled to end this contract on written notice to the School and without giving a term’s notice or paying fees in lieu of notice.

15.4 What happens if your child is affected by an event outside of your control.  Subject to Clause 4.15 (which means that you are not entitled to a refund or reduction in fees in cases of illness or absence), if your child is wholly and completely unable to participate in the provision of any education at School or remotely due to reasons caused by an event you shall give the School notice in writing of such circumstances and the following provisions shall apply:

15.4.1   in consultation and cooperation with the School you shall do everything you reasonably can to minimise the impact of the event in order to continue to perform your obligations under this contract in any way that is reasonably practicable in the circumstances; and resume the performance of the obligations as soon as reasonably possible;

15.4.2   in circumstances where, following the efforts made and steps taken under sub-clause 15.4.1 above, your child is not able to participate and benefit from any level of provision of education by the School (whether at School or remotely) then you shall not be responsible for failing to perform your obligations (including the obligation to pay fees, pro-rated accordingly) during the continuance of the event; and

15.4.3   if the event continues to prevent your child wholly and completely from attending the School or being able to participate and benefit from any level of provision of education by the School (whether at School or remotely) for more than six (6) months you shall discuss with the School a solution by which this contract may be performed and, following such discussions, you or the School shall be entitled to cancel the contract on written notice and without you being required to give a term’s notice or to pay a term’s fees in lieu of notice.

16. Communications between you and the School

16.1 Notices must be in writing.  When this contract requires you or the School to give notice of something to the other then, unless we agree otherwise, this should be done in writing.

16.2 We will use the contact details held by the School to contact you.  Communications (including notices) will be sent by the School to you at the address(es) shown in our records, or using your other contact details included in our records.  You must notify the School of any change of address(es) or other contact details.

16.3 How to provide written notice to the School.  Notices that you are required to give under these terms and conditions must be in writing addressed to the Head and either:

16.3.1  sent by email to the School using this email address: admin@dallingtonschool.co.uk

16.3.2         delivered by hand to the School;

16.3.3        sent to the School by recorded or other form of registered post requiring a signature upon receipt as proof of delivery; or

16.3.4           otherwise sent to the School’s address by first or second class post.

In light of the importance under this contract of serving certain notices on or before a particular deadline (and the consequences that follow if you do not do so) we recommend that if you provide notice under any of Clauses 3, 4.6, 4.13, 5.1, 5.2 or 5.4 of these terms and conditions[1] you telephone the School to confirm receipt if you have not received an acknowledgement from us within 48 hours (during term-time) and 5 working days (during a school holiday period) after sending the notice.

17. The Law that applies to this contract and where legal proceedings may be brought

17.1 The law that applies to this contract.  The contract between you and the School is governed by English Law and either you or the School must bring legal proceedings in respect of this contract in the English courts.

17.2 Rights in relation to the enforcement of this contract.  If we choose not to enforce any part of this contract, or delay enforcing it, this will not affect our right to enforce the same part later (or on a separate occasion) or the rest of this contract.  And, if we cannot enforce any part of this contract, this will not affect our right to enforce the rest of this contract.

18. Changes to these Terms and Conditions

Reserving the right to change these terms and conditions.  We reserve the right to change or add to these terms and conditions from time to time for legal, safety or other substantive reasons or in order to assist the proper delivery of education at the School.  The School will send you notice of any such modifications prior to the end of the penultimate term before the modifications are to take effect.

Latest review: 24th November 2020 AH

[1] ie, those provisions dealing with withdrawing your child from the School or otherwise changing your child’s place at the School or the activities that your child is undertaking at the School