Terms & Conditions for Tuition with Rachel Bee Music and Tuition

These Terms & Conditions apply to all music tuition and educational support provided by Rachel Bee Music and Tuition.

1. Lessons

Lessons are normally delivered on a one‑to‑one basis and may include:

  • Instrumental tuition

  • Music theory tuition

  • GCSE Music support

  • EPQ mentoring and guidance

  • Other educational support agreed in advance

Lesson content and teaching approaches are tailored to each student’s individual needs and goals.

Group lessons (theory and GCSE only) are capped at a maximum of four students per class.

2. Lesson Length and Fees

Standard lesson lengths are:

  • 30 minutes for beginners or very young students

  • 60 minutes for theory, GCSE, EPQ, and intermediate/advanced instrumental students

Fees are reviewed annually in December, in line with guidance from the Musicians’ Union and the Independent Society of Musicians.

A Flexi‑Scheme is available for adult daytime students who cannot commit to weekly lessons. This scheme does not guarantee a fixed weekly slot; future sessions are arranged mutually at the end of each lesson.

Short group courses must be paid for in advance.

Any changes to fees will be communicated in advance.

3. Payment

Payment for termly blocks of ten lessons is required in advance. Lessons cannot commence until payment has been received.

For repeated late payments, a £25 refundable holding deposit will be applied. This deposit will be returned when tuition ends, provided that the required notice period is given: half a term or two months, whichever is longer.

Payments should be made using the details provided on the invoice, or via a secure link (Flexi‑Scheme only).

4. Cancellation and Rearrangement

Termly Paying Students — Please Read Carefully

If Rachel Bee is absent due to illness, the missed lesson will either be rearranged or deducted from your next invoice.

If you know in advance that your child will be absent (e.g., holiday, appointment, school trip), please notify Rachel before paying your termly invoice so the lesson can be deducted from the total.

Termly payments cover 10 or 11 lessons, depending on the school calendar. Rachel generally follows Northamptonshire term dates and may teach during half‑term. Families in other local authorities should check dates carefully. Rachel typically takes annual leave in early September; please do not assume lessons will follow your child’s school timetable exactly.

If you cannot attend a lesson, please give at least 24 hours’ notice. Without this notice, changes cannot be made.

If a student is unable to attend in person but is still able to participate (e.g., cold, eczema flare‑up, broken leg, childcare issues), the lesson will be delivered via WhatsApp.

Where rescheduling is requested, this will depend entirely on Rachel’s availability. There is no obligation to offer an alternative slot. If no alternative is available, a WhatsApp lesson will be offered at the usual slot. Declining a WhatsApp lesson means the lesson is forfeited with no refund.

Flexi‑Scheme Students

Fees are paid at the end of each session via BACS or Settle Up. As this scheme does not include a reserved weekly slot, missed lessons are simply rearranged at a mutually convenient time. However, it is expected that advance notice is given if the student is unable to attend a booked lesson.

Group Lessons

Payment is made upfront via BACS or Settle Up.

Refunds for cancellations:

  • More than 14 days’ notice: full refund

  • 7–14 days’ notice: refund minus 25%

  • 24 hours to 7 days’ notice: refund minus 50%

  • Less than 24 hours: no refund

If Rachel Bee Music cancels a course, all fees will be refunded in full. You may be offered an alternative course, but you will always have the option of a full refund.

Termination of Contract

For termly students, termination of tuition requires two months advance notice or a half term, whichever is the longer. This is expected to be given BEFORE the end of the previous academic year should a student no longer wish to continue in the September. No fees are refundable should a student wish to withdraw after term has begun.

5. Online Lessons

Online lessons are normally delivered via WhatsApp.

Students must ensure they have:

  • A suitable device

  • A reliable internet connection

  • Any required books or resources

  • A quiet and appropriate learning environment

If significant technical issues prevent a lesson from taking place, reasonable efforts will be made to rearrange it.

6. Students Under 18

For students under 18, all arrangements regarding tuition, payment, and contractual matters must be made with a parent or guardian.

Rachel Bee is DBS‑checked and registered with the DBS Update Service.

Communication with students under 18 follows the Rachel Bee Music Safeguarding Policy, available at: www.rachelbeemusic.co.uk

7. Student Responsibilities

Students are expected to:

  • Attend lessons punctually

  • Participate appropriately

  • Arrive with clean hands and having used the toilet beforehand

  • Complete agreed work

  • Treat the tutor and others respectfully

  • Use online platforms appropriately

For students under 18, parents are expected to encourage regular practice and purchase necessary materials (books, reeds, etc.).

Rachel Bee reserves the right to discontinue tuition where there are serious or repeated behavioural, safeguarding, or other concerns. These will be discussed with parents/guardians where appropriate.

8. Academic Integrity

Tuition, including EPQ support, is designed to help students develop independent knowledge, skills, and understanding.

Rachel Bee will not complete assessed work for students or provide support that constitutes academic malpractice.

Students are responsible for ensuring their submitted work meets the requirements of their school, college, examination board, or awarding organisation.

AI‑generated content is not accepted for assessed work. Plagiarism is treated as a serious offence. While AI tools are increasingly common, students are expected to learn how to research and write independently to fully understand their learning.

9. Educational Outcomes

High‑quality, personalised tuition will be provided. However, specific outcomes such as examination grades or assessment results cannot be guaranteed.

Progress requires consistent practice at home. By enrolling in lessons, students (and parents, where applicable) agree to:

  • Undertake daily instrumental practice

  • Complete written homework for theory, GCSE, or EPQ tuition

Musical development requires regular physical practice, much like building strength at the gym.

10. Resources

Teaching materials provided by Rachel Bee are for personal educational use only and must not be reproduced, published, sold, uploaded, or distributed without permission.

Parents are responsible for purchasing music books. These may be purchased through Rachel Bee Music if preferred, at cost price with no markup.

11. Personal Information

Personal data is retained for the duration of tuition. Communication will be made via email, text message, or WhatsApp regarding lessons. General updates or events will be shared via the Rachel Bee Music Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RachelBeeMusicServices/

All communication is directed to parents (or adult students) unless otherwise agreed.

Upon termination of tuition, personal data will be retained until the end of the financial year and then securely destroyed.

12. Agreement

For ALL students:

Booking tuition—whether termly, via the Flexi‑Scheme, or on a group course—constitutes acceptance of and adherence to these Terms & Conditions.