Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

SchoolFinder ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website and services.

By using SchoolFinder, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

When you register for an account, we collect:

• Name
• Email address
• Password (encrypted and hashed)
• Home address and postcode (optional)
• Geographic coordinates (derived from your address if provided)

2.2 Usage Information

We automatically collect certain information when you use our service:

• Login activity and session information
• Houses and schools you view or save
• Search queries and filters used
• IP address and browser information (via logs)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for:

• Account Management: Creating and managing your user account
• Service Delivery: Providing personalized house and school recommendations based on your location
• Distance Calculations: Computing distances between your home and schools/properties
• Communication: Sending account-related emails (password resets, account approval notifications)
• Security: Protecting against unauthorized access and maintaining system integrity
• Improvement: Analyzing usage patterns to improve our service

4. Cookies and Tracking

We use essential cookies necessary for the website to function properly. These are strictly necessary cookies that enable:

• Session Management: Keeping you logged in during your visit
• Security: CSRF protection and secure authentication
• Functionality: Maintaining your preferences during your session

We do not use analytics, advertising, or third-party tracking cookies. For more details, see our Cookie Policy.

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share information only in these circumstances:

• With Your Consent: When you explicitly agree to share information
• Legal Requirements: If required by law, court order, or government regulation
• Service Protection: To protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of our users

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information:

• Passwords are encrypted using industry-standard hashing (scrypt)
• Secure session management with HttpOnly and SameSite cookie protection
• CSRF protection on all forms
• Rate limiting to prevent brute force attacks
• Regular database backups
• Secure server infrastructure

However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Your Data Rights (GDPR)

Under GDPR and UK data protection laws, you have the following rights:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Right to Rectification: Update or correct your information
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your account and data
• Right to Restrict Processing: Limit how we use your data
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
• Right to Object: Object to certain processing of your data
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time

To exercise these rights, please contact us at Click to reveal email or use the account deletion feature in your account settings.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. If you delete your account, we will remove your personal data within 30 days, except where we are required to retain it for legal compliance.

9. Children's Privacy

SchoolFinder is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. Your continued use of SchoolFinder after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us:

• Email: Click to reveal email
• Address: SchoolFinder, United Kingdom