TERMS & CONDITIONS

Whilst we pride ourselves on being friendly and helpful, we do need to ensure that everyone is aware of our terms and conditions outlined below. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Terms and conditions are essential to create a happy, respectful environment in which staff members can have a work / life balance and enjoy putting on shows without it affecting their well being. They are also there to protect the finances of the club. Being a small business, on small funds, we are unable to offer flexibility or exceptions. Our terms and conditions are now in line with most other major performing arts schools.

This agreement sets out the terms and conditions that will govern the relationship between us, The Stage and screen Academy and you, the Parent/Guardian. It is a legally binding agreement. These conditions are important to maintain standards and to ensure that all members gain the maximum benefit from their membership.

Standard performing arts terms:

Any free trial (taster session) is strictly at the approval of the academy Principal, subject to availability and does not guarantee a place. A free trial may not be claimed in retrospect. These are currently not on offer.
Fees are divided into monthly academy tuition. Class timetables, teachers and in some cases Principals are subject to change from time to time without notice or refund.
We reserve the right to revert to online sessions for any enforced closure outside of our control. This includes, but is not limited to, national and localised shutdown due to weather, pandemic, venue availability and lockdown. Where an Academy is running physical face-to-face sessions, or a combination of physical face to face sessions the standard monthly fee applies and is payable via direct debit. Where an Academy is running exclusively via an online platform for a period of 9 or more consecutive weeks a reduced fee will then apply.
In order to avoid disturbing classes, you and your child are requested to arrive in good time. Entrance to classes may be barred to anyone arriving more than 10 minutes late
To comply with safeguarding regulations, students must be collected promptly at the end of their session. Parents should arrive 5 minutes before the end of class to collect their child. The academy accepts no liability if a parent does not collect their child. Parents must get hold of the teacher in the event that they have an issue arriving on time for pick so that the teacher ensures their child does not leave the venue. Lateness of over 10 minutes may be chargeable. Frequent lateness may result in termination of membership.
A teacher may, at any time, ask your child to leave a class if he/she is jeopardising the safety or enjoyment of others or their educational experience.
Yourself, your child and any guests are required to observe academy rules in full.
The minimum membership period is 1 month. You must pay the monthly membership subscription by Direct Debit for the minimum membership period unless your membership is terminated without liability, suspended or transferred in accordance with these terms. The Academy reserves the right to change the day, time and location of the sessions. Should this be restrictive to attendance the minimum notice period will be waived.
In the event that your child is unable to attend a scheduled session, due to sickness, holiday, government restrictions or a decision by the Parent or Student not to attend, the academy is unable to offer any refund of fees paid, or make up the missed session.
Payment is due on the first of each month. Payment must be made by Direct Debit mandate. In the event that you fail to make the monthly membership and tuition fee payments when due or when notified of non-payment, the right to send the child to attend any session will be withdrawn until payment is received and brought up to date.
Interest is payable (whether before or after judgement) on any sums not paid when due at the rate of 4% p.a. above the base lending rate of NatWest Group Bank calculated daily.
If payment of membership fees or tuition fees is not made in full for any reason we reserve the right to suspend or cancel your membership and to exclude your child from the academy.
If your account falls into arrears on more than three occasions during any one calendar year we reserve the right to terminate your membership with immediate effect.
At the end of the minimum membership period, your membership will automatically continue unless either party cancels by giving the other at least one month’s notice.
We may terminate your membership and discontinue the child’s entitlement to attend the Academy in the event of serious or repeated breach of these Membership rules, without any refunds.
We reserve the right to use any individual or group photographs or movie shots of your child for press or promotional purposes.
Bullying, harassment, abuse or other inappropriate behaviour by you, your child or guests is strictly forbidden and will result in exclusion and such other legal remedies as may be available.
To the extent permitted by law, our liability to you, save in respect of death or personal injury caused by our negligence shall be limited to the total amount you have paid for your membership.
You and your child must treat all members, children, staff and teachers with respect and consideration. The academy does not tolerate rude, offensive or aggressive remarks and behaviour in any way. You must make yourself and your child aware of the health and safety rules of the venue and comply with the recommendations at all times.
Smoking, vaping and the bringing or consumption of alcohol and the use or being under the influence of illegal substances is not permitted anywhere in our Academies.
We reserve the right to make changes to these rules.
A minimum of four week notice period is required for termination of membership and can only be given in writing via email. The time of receipt (not sending) shall be the time of commencement of the notice period. Please note monthly memberships will not be split. If notice is given mid january for example, all of February’s membership will be due and the membership will be terminated in march.

Terms specific to the Stage and Screen academy:

Members must setup a Direct Debit mandate in order for us to take payment
A child must have fully paid their monthly membership before being allowed entry to the classes that month. Bursaries can be applied for for disadvantaged children (receiving free school meals). We are also more affordable than a majority of other performing arts schools, with out fees being sometimes less than half those of other performing arts group. We cannot, however, put on shows without fees being paid.
Payment is due on the first of each month (excluding August). Payment must be made by Direct Debit mandate. If payment of membership fees or tuition fees is not made in full for any reason we reserve the right to suspend your membership and to exclude your child from the Academy.
Cancelling the Direct Debit will be equivalent to cancelling your child’s membership. Your child’s place may therefore be given to another child.
Failed payments will automatically be retried. Failed payments will incur a penalty fee. If payment has still not been possible by the 3rd attempt, the membership will be cancelled and your child’s place will be lost.
Membership fees will not be refunded except in circumstances where we are unable to run the Academy and the academy was unable to provide a catch up session.
Once a BACs payment has been submitted (which is usually after you receiving an email with a cost break down and a gocardless notification that a payment is coming out), then no refund will be due.
IF a one week trial has been offered you MUST let us know of any cancellation in writing, by email, by 3pm the next day, after this, no refund will be due
If we cancel a lesson due to a teacher being ill or away, we will set a catch up date for the session.
Refunds are not available for pupil’s illnesses, holidays or conflicting interests.
Please give us a MINIMUM of 4 weeks written notice by email if your child no longer wishes to continue. If the payment has already gone out for the next month, it will not be refunded. Advanced notice is important to not disrupt the projects the children are working on.
Membership is charged monthly: If a child stops coming mid month, the whole month membership is still due. We do not charge on a week by week or session by session basis. Therefore if your child has handed in their notice in writing for example end of may, then the June membership will be due and your child’s membership will be terminated in July
Bullying, harassment, abuse or other inappropriate behaviour by you, your child or guests is strictly forbidden and will result in expulsion and such other legal remedies as may be available. Treat all members, children, staff and teachers with respect and consideration. We do not tolerate rude, offensive or aggressive remarks and behaviour in any way. You must make yourself and your child aware of the health and safety rules of the venue and comply with the recommendations at all times. Non constructive feedback on frequent criticism will result in termination of membership, with no refund.
In order to avoid disturbing classes, you and your child are requested to arrive in good time. Entrance to classes may be barred to anyone arriving more than 10 minutes late
A teacher may, at any time, ask your child to leave a class if he/she is jeopardising the safety or enjoyment of others or their educational experience.
When you register with The Stage and Screen Academy, we assume consent for us to communicate with you regarding payment and Stage and Screen events. We will not share your information with any other persons or companies without your explicit consent. All your personal data is stored on our database.
As per the nature of being a performing arts group, to join, you must agree to your child being photographed and filmed and for these images and video to be used online. This includes, but not limited to: during rehearsals, local performances and shows.
We reserve the right to use any individual or group photographs or movie shots of your child for press or promotional purposes.
Mobile phones should not be used in class. Bringing expensive items to class is at the owner’s risk and we accept no liability for these items.
Children should not have chewing gum during classes.
Children should throw their rubbish away before leaving the class to leave the venue as it was found. They should not damage or change anything in the venue.
Stage and Screen Tshirts are to be worn at rehearsals and performances. After 1 week of attendance, it is compulsory to wear them. It is requested to wear a black, plain Tshirt in the meantime.
We expect good attendance from all our members, with a minimum of 80 percent. Over a 6 months period, if there are 22 sessions, we expect kids to miss a maximum of 4 sessions in the case of illness.
We expect kids and parents to practice lines, songs and dances at home.
We expect parents to be at the venue at least 5 minutes before the end of class to ensure they are there to collect their child. We accept no liability in the event a child is not collected and noone has informed us. We will however endeavour to keep an eye on each child the best we can. Particularly if you do not trust your child to stay safely in the venue with us, then please ensure you are not late for pick up. High school kids can leave alone IF and ONLY if parents have sent us a release statement via email. Children without a release will be encouraged to stay in the venue with the teachers until their parent arrives. We rely however on parents arriving on time for them to be safely collected. We will only make a particular effort to make sure a child does not leave the building if you’ve told us you would be late and we’ve been able to receive that information in time. Collection will be done inside the venue by parents. After the end of your child’s session time, the academy is no longer responsible for your child’s wellbeing or whereabouts.
We expect parents to keep up to date with newsletters, and announcements.
We expect parents to write all scheduled sessions into their calendars to not miss any.
If a child gives their 4 weeks notice, resulting in not completing the show, they must return their script in order to get their script deposit back. The script should be in good condition.
We expect parents to appreciate that there specific working hours, and emails and messages will be responded to in that time to maintain work life balance and the wellbeing of all staff members.
We reserve the right to recast, change costumes, change dances and change any part of the show, at any time. This is entirely at the creative team’s discretion. The creative team does not have to justify any decisions made for the show, but will happily give constructive feedback on auditions, progress or performance.
Performing arts is a fast paced environment. It is up to parents to consider if it will be a good fit for their child. We expect kids to be able to sit a listen to instructions and respect teachers and other children.
Term dates can be changed at any time and without refund
Teachers can change at any time and without refund
We reserve the right to make changes to these rules.
We may terminate your membership and discontinue the child’s entitlement to attend the Academy in the event of serious or repeated breach of these Membership rules.
By attending any of our classes, you agree to the above Terms and Conditions.