Effective Date: January 2025

Personal Best International Education (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of our students, parents, and staff. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and protect personal information provided to us during the course of our summer and year-round programmes, in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal information from the following sources:

Students: Name, age, contact details, educational history, health information, emergency contacts, and other relevant details for participation in our programmes.

Parents/Guardians: Contact information, relationship to the student, emergency contacts, and other relevant details.

Staff: Personal contact details, employment information, educational background, and relevant professional information.

Educational Tour Operators: Contact details, student information, and relevant programme details that help facilitate student enrolment and participation in our programmes.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use personal information for the following purposes:

  • To facilitate the enrolment and participation of students in our programmes.
  • To communicate with students, parents, and staff about relevant updates, schedules, and emergency situations.
  • To ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff.
  • To comply with legal and regulatory requirements.

3. Lawful Basis for Processing Your Information

We process personal data based on the following lawful bases:

Consent: Where you have given explicit consent to the processing of your personal data for specific purposes (e.g., sharing information about the student’s health).

Contractual Necessity: To perform obligations under the contract between us and students/parents (e.g., enrolling students in programmes).

Legal Obligation: To comply with legal or regulatory requirements.

Legitimate Interests: To pursue our legitimate educational interests, such as ensuring the safety and well-being of students.

4. International Data Transfers

As part of our operations, we work with Educational Tour Operators who may send us students for participation in our programmes. This may require us to transfer personal data to these operators, some of whom may be based outside the UK. In such cases, we will ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data, as required by the UK GDPR. These safeguards may include:

The use of Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the UK Government for international transfers.

Ensuring that the destination country has adequate data protection laws, or that the transfer complies with other mechanisms as defined under the UK GDPR.

5. How We Protect Your Information

We are committed to keeping your personal information secure. We employ physical, technical, and administrative safeguards to protect your data from unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. Access to personal data is limited to staff members who require it to perform their job duties.

6. Sharing of Personal Information

We will not share your personal information with third parties except in the following cases:

  • With third-party service providers who help us operate our programmes (e.g., transportation services, health care providers), under strict confidentiality agreements.
  • In response to legal requirements, such as a subpoena, court order, or other legal process.
  • In cases of emergency, to protect the safety of students, staff, or others.
  • With Educational Tour Operators, for the purpose of facilitating student participation in our programmes, including international data transfers as described above.

7. Data Retention

We will retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by law. Once personal information is no longer needed, it will be securely disposed of.

8. Your Data Protection Rights

Under the UK GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

  • Right to Access: You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
  • Right to Rectification: You can ask us to correct any information that is inaccurate or incomplete.
  • Right to Erasure: You can request the deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances.
  • Right to Restrict Processing: You can ask us to limit the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances.
  • Right to Data Portability: You can request that we provide your personal data to you in a structured, commonly used format.
  • Right to Object: You can object to the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances.

To exercise these rights, please contact us at info@pbi-edu.com. We will respond to your request in accordance with the legal timeframes set out by the UK GDPR.

9. Consent

By providing your personal information to us, you consent to the collection, use, and storage of this information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. You have the right to withdraw consent at any time, though this will not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.

10. Cookies Policy

Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience and to improve the functionality of our website. Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device when you visit our site.

Types of Cookies We Use:

  • Essential Cookies: These are necessary for the functioning of the website, such as to enable logins or prevent fraud.
  • Performance Cookies: These help us understand how visitors interact with our website so we can improve it. For example, cookies may track the pages visited or the amount of time spent on the site.
  • Functional Cookies: These allow us to remember preferences you have set (e.g., language or region).
  • Targeting Cookies: These may be set by third-party advertisers to track your browsing habits across different websites, helping us serve relevant ads to you.

Managing Cookies: You can manage your cookie preferences by adjusting your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse or delete cookies. Please note that blocking or deleting cookies may affect your experience on our website.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be communicated to students, parents, and staff via email or other appropriate means.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us at:

Personal Best International Education
Whitenap Lane, Romsey, SO51 5SY
info@pbi-edu.com