Privacy Policy

Introduction

At Direct Stars committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal data is handled responsibly and transparently. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and safeguard your information when you access and use our online tuition services.

Scope of This Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to all students, parents/guardians, and visitors (“you” or “users”) who access our website, platforms, or services, including our online classes in Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, and Physics across multiple international curricula: UK, US, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Europe, and Asia.

Information We Collect

We collect different types of information to provide and improve our services:

a) Personal Information

Full name of student and/or parent/guardian
Contact details (email address, phone number, residential address)
Date of birth (for age verification and class placement)
Emergency contact information

b) Academic Information

Educational background and current school level
Subjects of interest (Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics)
Emergency contact information

c) Technical Information

Login credentials for our platform
IP address, browser type, and device information
Usage logs (e.g., attendance, class participation, duration of sessions)

d) Financial Information

Payment details (e.g., bank transfer records, debit/credit card information, third-party payment processors).

Note: We do not store full credit/debit card details on our servers. Payments are processed securely via trusted third-party gateways.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

To provide online tuition services tailored to your chosen curriculum.
To communicate with students and parents regarding schedules, class updates, and academic progress.
To personalize lessons and learning materials based on student needs.
To process payments, billing, and account management.
To monitor service performance, troubleshoot technical issues, and improve our platforms.
To comply with applicable laws and regulatory requirements.

Legal Basis for Processing Data

We process personal data under the following lawful bases:

Consent: Where you have given explicit permission.
Contractual necessity: To deliver educational services agreed upon.
Legal obligation: To meet regulatory or statutory requirements.
Legitimate interest: To improve educational outcomes and maintain service quality.

Data Sharing and Disclosure

We respect your privacy and only share information in limited circumstances:

With tutors, academic coordinators, and authorized staff for class delivery.
With third-party service providers (e.g., payment processors, IT support, secure cloud storage).
With regulators or legal authorities if required by law.
With parents/guardians, for minors, to ensure academic monitoring.

Data Security

We implement strong safeguards to protect your personal data:

Encrypted storage and transmission of sensitive information.
Restricted access to personal data on a need-to-know basis.
Regular monitoring of systems for vulnerabilities and breaches.
Secure video conferencing platforms for tuition delivery.

Children’s Privacy

Direct Stars provides tuition for students, including minors. We require:

Parental/guardian consent before collecting, processing, or storing data for students under 18.
Communication and progress reports to be shared with parents/guardians for minors.

International Data Transfers

As Direct Stars operates across multiple countries, your data may be transferred and processed outside your country of residence. We ensure such transfers comply with applicable data protection laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA).

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your user experience. You can choose to disable cookies through your browser settings; however, this may affect your ability to use our website.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to update or change this Privacy Policy at any time. When we do, we will revise the "Effective Date" at the beginning of this policy. We encourage you to periodically review this page for the latest information on our privacy practices.