MOOR ALLERTON PREPARATORY SCHOOL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. DEFINITIONS
1a) In these terms and conditions:
'acceptance form' means the form provided by the School for the parent/s or guardian/s to complete when accepting a place at the School;
'child' means a child of whatever age admitted by the School to be educated;
'the Complaints Procedure' is the School’s procedure for the review of the treatment of serious disciplinary matters and related decisions, as amended from time to time;
'registration fee' of £200 is the amount set out to cover the cost of admission;
'fees' means the fees set out in the schedule of fees as amended from time to time;
'enrolment' means the first day of attendance at the School;
'Head' means the person appointed by GEMS UK Ltd to be responsible for the day-to-day management of the School, including anyone to whom such duties have been duly delegated;
'Parent Handbook ' outlines the rules of the School, a copy of the current version of which is provided to each parent. Rules may be amended from time to time. Parents will be given notice of such amendments;
There are three school terms during an academic year: Autumn, Spring and Summer. Fees are payable at the start of each term
a 'term’s notice' means notice given not later than the first day of the term preceding the term to which the notice relates;
'terms and conditions' means these terms and conditions of admission as amended from time to time;
'we' or the “School” means the legal entity carrying on as the School as identified in Clause 1(b) below, or its duly authorised representative, as the context requires;
'you' or the 'parents' means each person who has signed the Acceptance Form as parent or guardian of a child or who with the School’s written consent has subsequently assumed parental responsibility for such child;
1b The Acceptance Form, Medical Form, the Parent Handbook and these Terms and Conditions constitute the terms of a contact between you and Moor Allerton School. It is not intended that the terms of the contract shall be enforceable by your child or by any other third party.
2. ACCEPTANCE
2a) Application of the registration process:
The registration fee is non-returnable and covers the cost of processing the admission. It does not secure a place for your child at the School.
2b) Acceptance of a place:
An offer of a place for your child at the School is accepted by your completion of the acceptance form.
2c) Enrolment:
Failure to attend the school after securement of a place at the School could result in the payment of a term's fees if a full term's notice has not been given in writing.
3. SCHOOL FEES
3a) All the costs incurred in the usual course of the education by the School of your child, including the provision of any necessary educational materials, shall be met by the fees unless otherwise notified by the School.
3b) Any extra–curricular activities such as private music lessons, trips and visits in which you agree your child may participate shall be deemed to be supplemental to items met by the fees and charged for accordingly. In particular, all public examination charges and any additional charges incurred by the School in providing for the special educational needs of your child shall be charged as supplemental to the fees.
3c) Each person who has signed the Acceptance Form is liable for the whole of fees due and any supplemental charges. The persons who have signed the Acceptance Form remain liable to the School for the whole of the fees and supplemental charges due, unless the School has agreed in writing to look exclusively to any other person for payment of the fees or any part of them.
3d) Each invoice must be paid either in full before or by the first working day of term or, if fees are paid in monthly instalments under the Monthly Payment Plan Agreement, (each instalment must be paid on the first working day of each month) with supplemental charges being collected at the start of each term.
3e) We reserve the right to refuse to allow your child to attend the School or to withhold any references while fees or supplemental charges remain unpaid. We may make an interest charge of three per cent above the base rate for the time being of the School’s bank on any late payment. You consent to our informing any other school or educational establishment to which you propose to send your child of any outstanding fees and consent (if necessary) to the Credit Control Department of GEMS UK Ltd carrying out a search (at any time) with a credit reference agency, which will keep a record of that search and may share that information with other businesses. An administration charge will apply on any default of payment under the Monthly Payment Plan Agreement and for any dishonoured cheques.
3f) The fees will be reviewed from time to time and may be increased by such amount, as the School considers reasonable. We shall endeavour to give at least a term’s notice of any increase in the fees due for a particular term.
3g) Fees and any prepaid supplemental charges will not normally be reduced as a result of absence due to illness or otherwise. (In the event that your child takes study leave at home before or during public examinations or stays at home following those examinations no reduction of fees will me made in respect of such periods spent at home)
4. NOTICE REQUIREMENTS
4a) If you wish to withdraw your child from the School (other than the normal leaving date) or withdraw your child from an activity charged for as a supplement
4b) You shall either give a term’s notice to that effect or shall pay to the School a term’s fees (or, as the case may be, [half] a term’s charges for the activity that your child has ceased to participate in, in lieu of notice, at such rate as would have been changed for the final term of provision if a term’s notice had been given. In cases where notice is not given, the appropriate sum in lieu of notice will become due and owing to the School as a debt on the first day of the term which would have been the final term of provision if a term’s notice had been given.
4c) You acknowledge that the School’s affairs are organised on a termly basis and that it is not possible for you to reduce the amount of fees due or to obtain a refund of fees by withdrawing your child or by your child's ceasing to participate in an activity part-way through a term.
5. SCHOOL RULES (HANDBOOK)
5a) It is a condition of remaining at the School that your child complies with the School Rules (as shown in the Parent Handbook). In particular, you undertake to ensure that your child attends School punctually and regularly throughout each term and that your child conforms to such rules of appearance, dress and behaviour as shall be issued by the School from time to time.
5b) To ensure compliance with the School Rules on illegal drugs the Head may require your child to submit to testing for drugs in accordance with suitably approved procedures
5c) The School reserves the right to monitor your child’s email communication and Internet use for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the School Rules.
6. DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE
6a) The Head may in (his/her) discretion require you to remove or may suspend or expel your child from the School if (he/she) considers that your child’s attendance, progress or behaviour is unsatisfactory and, in the reasonable opinion of the Head, the removal is in the School’s best interests or those of your child or other children.
6b) The Head may in (his/her) discretion require you to remove or may suspend or expel your child if his/her behaviour of you or either of you is in the opinion of the Head unreasonable and affects or is likely to affect adversely the child’s or other children’s progress at the School or the well-being of School staff or to bring the School into disrepute.
6c) Should the Head exercise (his/her) right under sub clause 6(a) or 6 (b) above, you shall not be entitled to any refund or remission of fees or supplemental charges paid or due. However, in such circumstances fees in lieu will not be payable.
6d) The School Rules set out examples of offences likely to be punishable by suspension or expulsion. These examples are not exhaustive, and in particular the Head may decide that suspension or expulsion for a lesser offence is justified where there has been previous misbehaviour. All aspects of the pupil’s record at the School may be taken into account.
6e) The review of serious disciplinary matters is governed by the Complaints Procedure.
7. THE SCHOOL COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
7a) Should the parent/s or guardian/s have a complaint to make about the School:
7b) They should, in the first instance, discuss the matter with the Head who will wish to investigate any concerns or complaints and ensure that they are resolved to the satisfaction of both parties.
7c) If the matter can not be resolved to the satisfaction of both parties, or the parents/guardians wish for the matter to be reviewed, they should apply in writing to the School’s Education Officer (details held at the School’s office}
7d) Any further reviews should be applied for in writing to the Director of Schools division, GEMS UK Ltd (details held at the School’s office).
7e) The final review should be in writing to the Chairman of the Company, GEMS UK Ltd, (details held at the School’s office).
8. THE SCHOOL'S OBLIGATION
8a) Subject to these terms and conditions, the School undertakes to accept your child as a pupil of the School from the time of joining the School until the end of his or her preparatory schooling.
8b) While your child remains a pupil of the School, we undertake to 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.
8c) In order to fulfil our obligations, we need your co-operation, in particular by: fulfilling your obligations under these terms and conditions; encouraging your child in his or her studies, and giving appropriate support at home; keeping the School informed of matters which affect your child: maintaining a courteous and constructive relationship with School staff and attending meetings and otherwise keeping in touch with the School where your child's interests so require.
8d) We undertake not to subject your child to corporal punishment, or to physical contact except where such contact may be deemed appropriate for the maintenance of good order, your child's safety or otherwise. Unless you notify us to the contrary, you consent to your child participating, under proper supervision, in contact sports and in normal sports and activities, which may entail some risk of physical injury.
8e) If your child requires urgent medical attention while under the School’s care, we will if practicable attempt to obtain your prior consent. However, should we be unable to contact you we shall be authorised to make the decision on your behalf should consent be required for urgent treatment (including anaesthetic or operation) recommended by a doctor.
8f) Although our prospectus describes the broad principles on which the School is presently run and is believed to be correct at the time of printing it does not form part of the contract between you and the School. We reserve the right to make changes to any aspects of the School, including the curriculum. We will give parents a term’s notice of significant changes in the curriculum and where practicable will consult with parents on such changes.
8g) We shall monitor your child’s progress at the School and produce regular written reports. We shall advise you if we have any concern about your child’s progress but we do not undertake to diagnose dyslexia or other specific conditions. A formal assessment can be arranged either by you or by the School at your expense. You may be asked to withdraw your child without being charged fees in lieu of notice if in the opinion of the Head the School cannot provide adequately for your child’s special educational needs.
8h) Religious observation at the School shall be conducted in accordance with the School Rules.
9. THE PARENTS' OBLIGATION
9a) It is a condition of your child’s joining the School that you complete and submit to the School a medical questionnaire in respect of your child. You undertake to inform the School of any health or medical condition, disability or allergy that your child has or subsequently develops, whether long-term or short-term, including any infections.
9b) You undertake to inform the School of any situations where special arrangement may be needed in relation to your child.
9c) The School will be entitled (unless notified otherwise) to treat any communication from any person who has signed the Acceptance Form as having been given on behalf of each such person. Unless other arrangements are agreed between you and the School we shall be entitled to treat any communication from the School to any such person as having been made to each of them.
9d) The Head must be informed in writing of any reason for your child’s absence from School. Wherever possible the School’s prior consent should be sought for absence from the School.
9e) We cannot accept any responsibility for the welfare of your child while off the School premises unless he/she is taking part in a school activity or otherwise under the supervision of a member of the School staff.
9f) If you have cause for concern as a matter of safety, care, discipline or progress of your child you must inform the School without delay. Complaints should be made in accordance with the School’s Complaints Procedure.
10. INSURANCE
10a) You must make your own insurance arrangements if you require cover for your child’s property whilst at School. Your child is included in an obligatory personal accident insurance scheme, the charge for which is included in fees.
11. CONFIDENTIALITY AND REFERENCES
11a) You consent to our supplying 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 will be confidential. We will take care to ensure that all information that is supplied 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 liable for any loss you are or your child is alleged to have suffered resulting from a reference given by us.
11b) You consent to us making use of information relating to your child whilst he or she is at the School and after he or she has left for the purposes of communicating and managing relationships with pupils and former pupils of the School
12. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
12a) We shall recognise any intellectual property rights vested in your child.
13 CHANGES IN OWNERSHIP
13a) For the purposes of reconstruction or amalgamation we reserve the right to transfer the undertaking of the School to any natural or legal person, and to assign the benefit of this contract in connection with any such transfer, and/or to amalgamate the School with any other educational institution.
14. COMMUNICATIONS
14a) All notices required to be given under these terms and conditions must be given in writing you undertake to notify the School of any change of address of any person who has signed the Acceptance Form. Communications (including notices) will be sent by the School to the address shown in its records. Notices that you are required to give under these terms and conditions must be addressed to the Head and sent to the School’s address. If sent by first class post, notice shall be deemed to have been given on the second day after posting.
15. INTERPRETATION
15a) Headings in these terms and conditions are for the ease of understanding only and do not form part of these terms and conditions.
16. JURISDICTION AND GOVERNING LAW
16a) The contract between you and the School is governed by English Law. You agree with us to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
17. VARIATIONS
17a) We reserve the right to make reasonable modifications to these terms and conditions from time to time. The School will give you a term’s notice of any such modifications.
Top