Privacy Policy
Last updated: 2 February 2025
1. Data Controller
Classpot ("we", "our", "us") operates the website classpot.co.uk. We are a school comparison platform helping families find the right school in England.
Email: support@classpot.co.uk
2. Information We Collect
We collect and process the following categories of personal data:
2.1 Information you provide directly
Email address, if you submit a school suggestion, write a review, or contact us via the website.
2.2 Information collected automatically
- Usage data: pages visited, time on site, browser type, device type, and referring website, collected via Google Analytics.
- Location data: approximate geolocation (with your explicit permission) to display nearby schools. We do not store your location on our servers.
- Cookies and similar technologies: see Section 7 below for full details.
3. Lawful Basis for Processing
Under UK GDPR (Article 6), we rely on the following lawful bases for processing your personal data:
| Processing Activity | Lawful Basis | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Providing the school comparison service | Legitimate interest | Necessary for the core purpose of the platform |
| Geolocation to show nearby schools | Consent | Browser permission prompt; revocable at any time |
| Analytics (Google Analytics) | Consent | Via cookie consent banner |
| Advertising (Google AdSense) | Consent | Via cookie consent banner |
| Processing school submissions and reviews | Legitimate interest | To maintain and improve the service |
| Responding to enquiries | Legitimate interest / Contract | Necessary to respond to your request |
4. How We Use Your Information
We use the personal data we collect for the following purposes:
- To provide and improve our school comparison service.
- To display relevant schools based on your approximate location (with your consent).
- To analyse website usage and improve user experience (with your consent, via cookies).
- To display relevant advertisements via Google AdSense (with your consent, via cookies).
- To process school submissions and reviews.
- To respond to your enquiries.
5. Third-Party Services and Data Sharing
We do not sell your personal data. We use the following third-party services, each of which may process data on our behalf:
| Service | Purpose | Data Processed |
|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics | Website traffic analysis | Anonymised usage data, device info, approximate location |
| Google AdSense | Displaying advertisements | Cookies, browsing behaviour for ad personalisation |
| Vercel | Website hosting | Server logs, IP addresses (as part of hosting infrastructure) |
Each of these providers acts as a data processor or independent controller under their own privacy policies. We recommend reviewing their respective privacy policies for detailed information.
6. International Data Transfers
Some of the third-party services we use (Google Analytics, Google AdSense, Vercel) are operated by companies based in the United States. This means your personal data may be transferred to, and processed in, countries outside the United Kingdom.
Where such transfers occur, we ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place, including:
- Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
- The UK International Data Transfer Agreement (IDTA) or UK Addendum to EU SCCs, where applicable.
- Adequacy decisions by the UK Secretary of State, where available.
If you would like further information about the specific safeguards applied to international transfers of your data, please contact us at support@classpot.co.uk.
7. Cookies and Similar Technologies
Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit our website.
7.1 Types of cookies we use
| Category | Purpose | Provider | Consent Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strictly Necessary | Essential site functionality | Classpot | No (exempt under UK PECR) |
| Analytics | Understanding usage patterns | Google Analytics | Yes — opt-in via cookie banner |
| Advertising | Personalised ad delivery | Google AdSense | Yes — opt-in via cookie banner |
7.2 Cookie consent
When you first visit our website, you will see a cookie consent banner. Non-essential cookies (analytics and advertising) are not placed until you provide explicit consent. You may withdraw your consent at any time by adjusting your preferences via the cookie settings link in the website footer, or by clearing cookies through your browser settings.
8. Data Retention
We retain personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes set out in this policy:
| Data Type | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Review submissions and school suggestions | For as long as they remain published and relevant |
| Contact enquiries (email) | Up to 12 months after resolution |
| Google Analytics data | 26 months (Google Analytics default) |
| Cookie consent preferences | 12 months |
9. Your Rights Under UK GDPR
Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation, you have the following rights in relation to your personal data:
- Right of access — you can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Right to rectification — you can request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Right to erasure — you can request deletion of your data in certain circumstances.
- Right to restrict processing — you can request that we limit how we use your data.
- Right to data portability — you can request your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
- Right to object — you can object to processing based on legitimate interest.
- Right to withdraw consent — where processing is based on consent, you can withdraw it at any time without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at support@classpot.co.uk. We will respond within one calendar month. If we require additional time (up to two further months), we will inform you and explain the reason.
10. Right to Complain
If you are not satisfied with how we handle your personal data or your rights request, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK supervisory authority:
Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
Website: ico.org.uk
Telephone: 0303 123 1113
Address: Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
11. Children's Privacy
Our service is designed for parents, guardians, and educators. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected data from a child, please contact us immediately at support@classpot.co.uk, and we will take steps to delete such data without undue delay.
We are aware that younger users may visit the site. Where behavioural advertising cookies are used, these are only activated with explicit consent from the adult user via our cookie banner, in line with the ICO's Age Appropriate Design Code.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. Any material changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Where changes are significant, we will make reasonable efforts to notify you (for example, via a prominent notice on our website).
13. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your data rights, or have concerns about how your data is handled, please contact us:
Email: support@classpot.co.uk