Terms and Conditions

Please read the below carefully before making your booking with us.

Booking

To secure a place on one of our courses, please enter the course you need on our Booking form together with a non-refundable deposit of £250 to Castle School.

Fees

  1. Students must pay course fees in full in advance (no later than 21 days before the start of the course), unless otherwise arranged with the school.
  2. Students have to pay registration fees for examinations (if any).
  3. All students who require a home-stay must pay a minimum of four weeks accommodation fee as shown on the invoice (or the total fee if less than 4 weeks), at least 3 weeks before the start of their home-stay.
  4. If students require transport from the airport, the transfer fee must be paid at least 3 weeks before arrival in England.
  5. Once you have been resident in the UK for three months you will become eligible for our discounted resident course rate. Please enquire in the office. These special rates are NOT available online. These are for bookings made personally and do not include bookings made through third parties.

Services

In the event of circumstances beyond our control or where the number of bookings received does not reach the minimum number required to operate a course viably, the school reserves the right to change services offered, including details of the course, facilities and dates of programmes. Alternative arrangements will be made.

Cancellations / Refund Policy

In the case of acceptance letters having been sent, the Home Office is always informed of the student’s name and passport number if they cancel their course

  1. Cancellations must be made in writing and will only apply from the date it is received by the school administration.
  2. If notification of cancellation is received by Castle School more than 14 days before the start of the course, Castle School will give a full refund, and retain the (£250) deposit. If notification of cancellation is received less than 14 days before the start of the course, Castle School will retain 50% of the fees paid. In the event of cancellation after the commencement or before the end of the course, no fees can be reimbursed.
  3. If a student cancels their accommodation less than 14 days before the start accommodation date, 1 week’s accommodation fee is charged.
  4. Under no circumstances can fees or credit for cancelled courses be transferred to another student.
  5. If a student has arrived at the accommodation, and requests to be moved to another home stay, 1 week’s notice must be given, or 1 week’s accommodation fee must be paid (in the event of a student or home stay provider being very unhappy with their family/student, the school endeavours to rectify the situation as quickly as possible, and investigate the cause of the problem(s).
  6. If a cancellation is made (at any time) due to a student’s failure to obtain a Visa, a copy of the official refusal letter issued by the Home Office or British Embassy must be provided by the student. Failure to provide this confirmation results in the Home Office being informed of the student’s name and passport number and no refund will be given. If the confirmation is provided, all fees apart from £250 advance payment of fees are refunded.
  7. No fees are refunded in the case of late arrival for a course.
  8. Castle School reserves the right to charge a booking amendment fee of £100 for changes in tuition or accommodation made during the course.
  9. Castle School reserves the right to refuse any student suffering from any mental or physical disability that has not been disclosed on the Enrolment Form.
  10. All bookings made on-line are subject to a 7 working day cooling off period from the moment the booking is confirmed (not when payment is received). During this period only you are entitled to cancel and receive a full refund without question. Please note, if you intend to arrive within 4 weeks of making the booking, that we cannot arrange accommodation until after this 7 working day period has expired.

Public / Bank holidays

Castle School will be closed two weeks over the Christmas bank holidays. The exact dates change every year so please ask to ensure you do not want to study when the school is closed. The school will be closed for all other UK bank holidays.

Resolution of Disputes

If you are unhappy with any aspect of your course, you should contact the Reception or Director of Studies on site. If the matter is not resolved, you or your agent should write to Castle School. Any such complaint will be investigated providing:

  1. It is received within one month of the course start date.
  2. It was initially registered in writing to the Administration Manager or Director of Studies.
  3. All invoices relating to the student making the complaint have been settled in full.

Liability

Castle School, its staff and representatives are not liable:

  1. For any loss, damage or injury to persons or property however caused, except where liability is expressly imposed by law. Students are advised to purchase insurance, including medical insurance, to cover all eventualities before leaving their own country.
  2. In the event that reasons or causes beyond our control prevent the delivery of any service or programme.

Conduct of Students

  1. You must comply with the directions and follow the rules of the school and of your course.
  2. We reserve the right to expel any student for behaviour which is unacceptable. In this event fees will be forfeited and you will have to pay any consequential travel or other costs.
  3. You are liable for any damage you may cause, and will have to pay the full cost of replacement or repair.
  4. Any violence, threatening behaviour or abuse will be dealt with according to the Castle School Policy. (A copy is available upon request from Reception)

Attendance

Students who have been granted a student visa must report to the school on the due date then attend at least 15 hours tuition per week. Students failing to comply with Visa Regulations will be reported to the Home Office.

Policy for non-arrival of students

Students who book a course at the school must:

  1. Arrive on the date that their course begins, or
  2. Notify the school (prior to the course start date) of any problem preventing them from arriving at the school on the course start date. The school must be provided with documentary evidence of this problem within 14 days of notification, and arrive within 21 days of the course start date.

Failure to meet the above criteria will result in notification to the Home Office of the circumstances, including the name and passport number of the person in question.

Under 18s on Adult Courses

The courses at Castle School are primarilly aimed at adults. However, subject to conditions, we do accept students under 18 on some adult courses (contact us for more information).

In the case that a student under 18 wishes to book on an adult course, the parent(s)/guardians(s)  will be required to sign a consent form that acknowledges acceptance of the school’s terms and conditions and explains some of the legal restrictions that apply to under 18s (in particular with relation to alcohol and tobacco) and some of the school’s rules and protection policies that apply for us to accept a student aged under 18.

Social Media and Photography

Castle School uses social media for both the benefit of the students and the school. Castle School may use students’ images for these purposes and for the general marketing of courses. If you do not wish your image to be used for these purposes please let us know in writing as soon as possible.

Statutory Rights

Castle School’s Terms and Conditions do not affect your rights under UK law.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These terms and your use of this Website are governed by the laws of England and Wales and any disputes will be decided by the English courts.

Group Terms & Conditions

1. A quotation is not a guaranteed place at Castle School of English. You and Castle School of English must reach a written agreement before places are guaranteed.

2. You must sign a declaration that all group leaders have undergone appropriate police checks in their country of residence, and that you know of no reason why the group leaders should not be entrusted with the care of children under 18 years of age. Group leaders are required to sign and follow our code of conduct.

3. You should confirm full details for the booking as soon as possible after paying the initial deposit. Details should include flight arrival and departure information and a full name list including age, sex, and any homestay/residential sharing requests. All student/leader allergies and dietary requests must be included. In the case of details being received after 8 weeks prior to the group’s arrival. Castle School cannot guarantee to provide the services in the quotation.

4. Dietary Supplements: We charge dietary supplements for students who require certain types of diets. There are no supplements for no-pork diets. Halal, vegetarian, nuts free, vegan, gluten, and dairy-free diets are charged at a supplement of £30 per week per student.

5. You must inform Castle School of English of any learning difficulties or physical conditions which may impact on a student’s participation in the programme. You must also inform us of any medication taken by students in writing at the time of booking.

6. You must send a non-refundable deposit of 15% of fees within 14 days of being invoiced.

7. You must send the remaining fees at least 4 weeks before the arrival of the group. Education and accommodation services will not be provided if there is an outstanding amount owed, unless previously agreed in writing.

8. There will be a charge if documents are sent by courier. Please ask the school for a quote.

9. All prices quoted are NET of commission or ETO’s expenses.

10. This quotation is based on the final number of students in the group being within the range specified. A number below this will result in re-costing.

11. You must inform Castle School of English of any cancellations (individual or group) in writing. You must make sure that receipt has been confirmed by the school.

12. Charges apply if the booking is cancelled.

a. If students cancel or if significant changes are made to the tour details less than two weeks before arrival, the cancellation charge will be 35% of the total fee.

b. If students cancel or if significant changes are made to the tour details less than one week before arrival, the cancellation charge will be 100% of the total fee.

c. If a student cancels because of visa refusal, Castle School of English will normally refund all fees minus a non-refundable fee of (GBP 100). An official notice or letter of refusal from the UK immigration authorities is necessary. If you do not send this visa refusal documentation within 14 days, Castle School of English will not issue a refund.

14. During peak season groups should normally arrive and leave at the weekend except where agreed otherwise in writing.

15. Arrival and departure times: There is a £15 surcharge per person for each arrival and departure to/from Brighton between 22:00 and 08:00.

16. Castle School of English require to see and copy the passports or ID cards of all students and group leaders.

17. Castle School of English reserves the right to charge students who engage in vandalism, graffiti or criminal damage of any kind for the repair/replacement cost of the damage they may cause.

18. Castle School of English reserves the right to expel students for gross misconduct or continuous misconduct either within the school, while on school activities and excursions, or at their homestay.
The Student then will leave Castle School of English and accommodation as soon as possible andtheir care and transfer home is the responsibility of the group leader. Students who are expelled will not receive a refund. The Centre Manager’s decision is considered final.

19. Castle School of English reserves the right to withdraw accommodation or facilities from group leaders for gross misconduct or continuous misconduct either within the school, while on school activities and excursions, or at their homestay. The group leader will then leave Castle School of English and accommodation as soon as possible and their care and transfer home is the responsibility of the client company/organisation. The Centre Manager’s decision is considered final.

20. Students under 18 years of age: Castle School of English imposes curfews on students. Group leaders have the right to make this curfew earlier, but not later. In the event of a welfare issue relating to a student under 18 Castle School’s safeguarding team will decide the appropriate measures to be taken.

21. In the event of complaints which cannot be resolved between the customer and Castle School of English, the Directors will attempt to resolve the complaint. Please see our complaints policy at https://www.castle-school.co.uk/terms-and-conditions under the heading ‘Resolution of Disputes’.

22. Castle School of English follows UK data protection legislation. Details on request.

23. All contracts and agreements with Castle School of English will be governed by English law.

24. These terms and conditions may not be changed without the written agreement of Castle School of English. Castle School of English reserves the rights to refer debts older than 30 days to debt collection agents unless there is a relevant agreement. Statutory interest and compensation fees maybe charged at the rate determined in the individual country’s interpretations of European directive 2000/35/EC.