Terms & Conditions

The following terms and conditions provide important information regarding the provision of music lessons by Thirst Music School.

Fees

Fees will be due upon receipt of half-termly invoices sent out within or before the first week of the same school term. If payment is not received by the end of the half term, lessons will discontinue. No refunds will be given for cancellations including illness. Lesson fees are subject to annual review.

Any additional lessons booked during school holidays (to be held at the studios) will be added to the following half-term’s invoice. 24 hours notice must be given for cancellation and any subsequent rescheduling of cancelled/missed lessons is at the discretion of the tutor.

If a student has lessons during school time and another school event prevents the student from attending, at least one week’s notice must be given by either the school or the parent/guardian and the lesson will be rescheduled at a mutually convenient time. (Thirst Music School is automatically notified by the schools at the start of a term of any designated exam days or activities weeks. Students will not be charged for these lessons.)

If a Thirst Music School tutor is unavailable to provide any scheduled lesson, the lesson will be carried forward to another date. If this is not possible, any fee already paid will be refunded or used to pay for a future lesson.

In the case of adverse weather conditions when the schools are closed, fees will still apply for missed lessons however, Thirst Music School will issue a voucher for any missed lessons which can be redeemed during the school holidays. Vouchers will be valid for one calendar year from the issue date. If the schools remain open, lessons will go ahead as usual and any lessons missed will still be subject to fees (please note that the above also applies to studio lessons after school).

In the event that face to face lessons are not possible (for example, if we are not permitted to operate lessons due to Public Health guidance), we will offer the option of having lessons by video link with the teacher at the usual scheduled time.

Termination of Lessons

A decision to discontinue lessons may be taken by the student/parent/guardian in which case notice of one half-term must be given. In the event that the student discontinues lessons with insufficient notice, the student/parent/guardian will be liable to pay fees for those lessons not attended during the notice period.

Thirst Music School reserves the right to terminate lessons with immediate effect if a student demonstrates any physical or verbal abuse or any inappropriate behaviour towards a tutor.

General

The student/parent/guardian must not make photocopies of any music/teaching material provided by Thirst Music School.

The student should, at all times, have respect for the teaching equipment used in lessons. Any wilful damage to the equipment provided by Thirst Music School will be charged to the student/parent/guardian.

Privacy Notice

This Privacy Notice explains what to expect when Thirst Music School collects and uses your personal information. Please read it carefully – it is also available on our website.

Our promise

Thirst Music School is committed to respecting your privacy and ensuring the personal information you have entrusted to us is processed in accordance with The Data Protection (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2001. This law will be updated in May 2018 (The Data Protection (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2017) to strengthen your rights and give you control over the personal information that organisations hold about you.

How we collect personal information

We collect personal data from you when you or your child makes the decision to begin music lessons, when you wish to purchase a gift voucher or when you or your child attends or participates in one of our annual events such as Battle of the School Bands or Arts Sunday. In addition, we may use Guernsey Post’s postcode finder to check the accuracy of the address we hold.

The personal information we collect

• The name of the student
• The name of the student’s parent (if the student is under 18 years old)
• Contact details including postal address, postcode, email address and telephone number
• When registering for our children’s groups, we also ask for information relating to special needs or medical conditions
• When a student has requested to sit an examination, we will ask for their date of birth (a requirement of RSL Awards)

Sensitive Personal Data

The Data Protection Act recognises some information as ‘sensitive personal data’. This includes, but is not limited to, information which reveals your religious beliefs, health issues, race or ethnic origin.

Thirst Music School will always treat any sensitive personal data we process with the greatest care and process the information in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

Why we collect your personal information

• We collect your personal information:
• For the administration of organising and arranging music lessons and/or events relating to the business of Thirst Music School
• We will send you invoices, newsletters and other information relating to Thirst Music School
• We will contact you should the rescheduling of lessons be necessary

Who we share your information with

We will share your information with the member of staff who is teaching you or your child. This is to enable them to contact you should a lesson be cancelled or rescheduling be necessary.

If you or your child has authorised us to make an entry for a music examination, only yours/your child’s name and date of birth will be submitted to the awarding body to enable us to make the entry.

We will never pass your information on to a third party without your prior consent.

How long we keep your data

We will keep your personal information for as long as you or your child are a student at Thirst Music School. Once you no longer have an association with us, we will securely destroy your data.

Your information rights and choices

• The Data Protection Act (DPA) gives you the right:
• To request in writing and securely obtain copies of the personal information Thirst Music School holds about you.
• To correct or update your personal information processed by Thirst Music School.
• To request Thirst Music School to stop using your personal information for marketing purposes or for any other purpose where there is no legal requirement for continued processing.

Reporting concerns

Please contact our Data Controller, Mrs Lorraine Mahy, if you wish to raise a concern about Thirst Music School’s handling of your personal information:

Thirst Music School Ltd
The Aviaries Business Centre
Collings Road
St Peter Port
GY1 1FL

If you would like to report a Data Protection breach, please contact the Office of The Data Protection Authority at the following address:

Block A 
Lefebvre Court 
Lefebvre Street 
St Peter Port 
GY1 2JP