Privacy

Data Protection Information

Disclaimer: Any reference to ‘you’ or ‘your’ should be interpreted as a reference to the student and (if applicable) the parent or guardian who is funding the tuition.

LESSONing the Load is registered with the ICO: HERE

LESSONing the Load is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This privacy notice sets out how I collect, use and protect your personal data when you visit the website, subscribe to the newsletter or apply for a place on a training course.

The nominated Data Controller and Data Protection Officer is Allison Agar, who can be contacted at lessoningtheload@gmail.com or through the contact form on this website.

 

Personal Data Collected

From Website Visitors

  • Contact Form Data: Your name, telephone number, email address and any message you provide when using my website contact form.
  • Technical Data: IP addresses and cookies collected when you browse and use my website.


From Clients and Students 

When you first contact me, I collect and process personal data. For instance,  when you complete a contact form or contact me through email,  telephone or social media:

  • Initial contact, enquiry or discovery call: Your name, telephone number, email or other relevant information that may be required to assess your suitability, together with any message you choose to send when you contact me.
  • Application forms: your name, contact details, emergency contact, exam concessions or other information relevant to safe and suitable participation in practical activities, tuition or the provision of reasonable adjustments.
  • Payment: name, payment details and payment history.


When you become a client or student, I may be required to monitor the completion of assessments, attendance and punctuality or keep written notes of our sessions for the purpose of maintaining a high standard of tuition and consistency. I also reserve the right to produce a recording of any sessions with clients and students, but you will be notified of this before any recording begins, and you may refuse permission to be recorded.


Newsletter Subscribers and Access to Free Taster Courses

  • Your name and email address.


Who Has Access To Your Data?

Only Allison Agar can access your data unless:

  • you ask me in writing to share your information with someone else,
  • a parent, guardian or third party is paying all or part of your fees, in which case information may be shared, in accordance with the relevant clause in the intake form,
  • Allison Agar is temporarily or permanently incapacitated. In these circumstances her tuition executor (Martin Agar) will be permitted to access your contact and payment details, if necessary. No other information may be accessed by Martin Agar, and this data will be used for the sole purpose of notifying clients or students, facilitating the destruction or secure transfer of your records,  completing any outstanding tasks relating only to the administration of the programme, including the closure of the tuition practice.


Third party services:

I rely on a number of trusted third-party providers to manage some services. These platforms act as ‘Data Processors.’ Your data is handled in accordance with their respective privacy policies:

  • My online form is powered by Site123 and your form submissions are processed through their servers. Read their privacy policy HERE.
  • I use Zoom video conferencing software for online sessions and may store recordings, where applicable, using Zoom Cloud storage services. They collect and store your name and contact details to compile an attendance list for each session. Read their privacy policy HERE.
  • If you contact me, or I contact you, by social media, telephone call, text message or email, messages will be stored on their servers in accordance with the particulars of respective providers’ privacy policies.
  • I receive fee payments by bank transfer using Starling Bank. This provides me with your account name and the payment amount. Read their privacy policy HERE.
  • My accounts are kept on Intuit QuickBooks, which stores your account name, payment amount and payment history. Their privacy policy is available HERE.
  • I securely store files using OneDrive cloud storage. Read their privacy policy HERE.


International transfers outside the EEA:

If it is necessary to make any other transfer of information outside the UK or EEA, you would be contacted beforehand to obtain your consent. You would be provided with:

  • the basis of the transfer’s necessity,
  • which entities would be involved and in what capacity (i.e. data controller, data processor),
  • how I propose to transfer the information.


Safeguarding and exceptions to confidentiality

I owe all clients and students a duty of confidentiality. This duty does carry some exceptions, for example when confidentiality comes into conflict with my duty of care. I may choose to reveal information about you to the appropriate person or authority where one or more of the following circumstances applies:

  • it is demonstrated to be in your best interest to disclose relevant information to your medical consultant or physician.
  • you have given me written permission to disclose information to a third party, such as a prospective employer or the LEA.
  • the law requires disclosure, e.g. where the Children’s Act applies or where a court order is otherwise issued. Please note: I am legally required to report any disclosure of child sexual abuse.
  • when sharing information for the purposes of professional good practice. In this case, anonymity will be guaranteed.
  • I have cause to believe that not disclosing the information would expose you/others to a serious risk of harm or law breaking.

Individuals aged 16 or 17 are presumed to have sufficient capacity to advise me of their tuition needs, like adults, unless there is significant evidence to suggest otherwise. Individuals aged below 16 must be sufficiently mature, intelligent and competent. If they are not sufficiently mature, intelligent and competent, there may be a requirement to work closely with parents or carers. Anyone under the age of 18 is still subject to the above disclosure scenarios.


Lawful Basis 

You do not have to provide me with your personal information. However, if you choose not to provide it, I may be unable to communicate with you, process your application, proceed with tuition services.

I only use your information for specific purposes in accordance with the following lawful bases under UK GDPR legislation.

  • Contractual Necessity: I will process your data in order to assess your suitability for sessions or training, arrange classes, maintain educational records, administer assessments, and provide you with the tuition services you have requested (if applicable).
  • Criminal offence data: Information about criminal convictions is collected only with your consent or where necessary under the provisions of Data Protection Act 2018, Schedule 1.
  • Consent
    • When you request access to a free Taster Course, you may be required to indicate consent on the request form.
    • If you make a formal complaint, you will be asked to give consent for the information you provide to be used to investigate and respond to that complaint. This includes sharing it with relevant parties during the investigation process.
  • Explicit Consent: I process special category data, such as information about your physical or mental health, with your explicit specified consent. This is obtained through your consent, specified prior to you providing your signature on the Intake Form.
  • Legitimate Interest (GDPR Article 6(1)(f)): It is in my legitimate interest to use your contact details to reply to you if you contact me by telephone, text or email, or through my website and social media, This allows me to provide effective customer service, manage client or student relations and handle incoming queries about our activities.
  • Vital Interest (GDPR Article 6(1)(d)): In exceptional circumstances, I may disclose limited necessary information that may protect a life, if I believe you or someone else is at immediate risk of serious harm or death. This provision is intended only for emergency situations.


Data Retention 

  • Client and Student records: application forms, payment details, attendance records, session notes, assessments, correspondence, and details of certificates issued are retained for at least seven years after the end of your programme, or for at least seven years after you reach the age of majority. After this time, they are securely destroyed.
  • Administrative records are retained for seven years from the date they are received, or for at least seven years after you reach the age of majority. After this time, they are securely destroyed.
  • Newsletters: Your email address will be retained for as long as you wish to receive updates. If you unsubscribe, you will be removed from the active mailing list. Limited information may be retained where necessary to ensure that your unsubscribe request is respected.


Your Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights. You can read more about your rights on the ICO Website.

  • To know what data I collect, how I use it and how long I keep it,
  • To look at the data I hold about you,
  • To ask me to correct mistakes,
  • To ask me to delete your information, although there may be circumstances where I am legally entitled or professionally required to retain some records,
  • To ask me to limit some of the ways I use your data,
  • To ask me to share your data with another organisation,
  • To object to me using your data in some ways, e.g. for direct marketing,
  • Not to be subject to decisions based solely on automated processing.

To make a request, or if you have any questions about this privacy notice, please contact me.


Data Protection Complaints

If you have any concerns about the way I use your data, you may make a complaint.

Trading Name: LESSONing the Load

This policy explains how you can submit a complaint to me if you believe I have mishandled your personal data or breached UK data protection laws (including the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act).


How to Make a Complaint

  • I want to make it as simple as possible for you to voice your concerns. You do not need to use formal legal language to file a complaint. You can contact me directly through either of the following channels:
  • Online Contact Form: https://www.lessoningtheload.co.uk/contact
  • Email: lessoningtheload@gmail.com
  • Letter: addressed to Allison Agar at 15 Dalton Court, TS10 2TL
  • What to include: Please provide your full name, preferred contact details, and a clear description of your concern or the specific data incident.


Response Timeline

Once I receive your data protection complaint, I will follow a response framework in accordance with current law:

  • Acknowledgement (Within 30 Days): I will formally acknowledge receipt of your complaint within 30 days of receiving it.
  • Inquiry: I will begin an internal inquiry into the matter without undue delay to identify potential issues and implement corrective procedures.
  • Progress Updates: If the inquiry takes time (for example, due to technical complexity), I will provide you with updates on progress.
  • Outcome: I will contact you to explain the outcome of the inquiry, including any corrective procedures taken, without undue delay.


Your Right to Escalate to the ICO

I will aim to find a suitable resolution for all parties involved. However, if you remain dissatisfied with the outcome of the inquiry, or if I fail to respond to you within the legal timeframes, you have a right to escalate your complaint directly to the UK supervisory authority:

  • Authority: Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
  • Website: ico.org.uk
  • Helpline: 0303 123 1113


Further information

Further information about privacy is available in my cookie policy.


Privacy policy updated on 23rd August 2026