Privacy and Terms of Use

Date last updated: 14.12.21

Who are we

STEM Learning and The Primary Science Teaching Trust are working in partnership to deliver the Explorify offer.

STEM Learning Ltd is the UK’s largest provider of education and careers support in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). It has a mission to improve lives through world-leading STEM education. To find out more visit www.stem.org.uk

Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT) is a registered charity that aims to facilitate the development and dissemination of excellence in primary science, providing a wealth of resources and other support for teaching, learning, assessment and subject leadership. To find out more visit www.pstt.org.uk   

 

Terms of Use

Before using this website, please read our Terms of Use, which you will be deemed to have accepted by using this website. 

These set out the ways in which you are permitted to use the website and the content on it.

 

Privacy Statement

STEM Learning and Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT) take the care of your personal data seriously. This privacy notice is here to explain how the personal data you supply to both STEM Learning and PSTT is collected and used. STEM Learning and PSTT will be joint data controllers for all information collected as part of the Explorify Programme. This means that both organisations will work together to decide why and how your personal information is processed. It also means that we are jointly responsible for that processing.

The STEM Learning Privacy Policy and PSTT Privacy Policy explain:

  • how we collect, store, and use personal information about you
  • how to contact us about your personal information and data protection rights

 

Information about you that we may collect and use specific to Explorify

We require your name, email address, school address and details of your role if you register on our website. You may give us feedback on the Explorify website, how you use it and various aspects of science teaching.

We may also receive information about you from third parties, for example from our service providers. When you visit our site, we use third party services to collect certain technical information from your device including standard internet log information i.e. Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser type and version, and page interaction information.

 

How STEM Learning and PSTT will each use your information on Explorify

We use the information you give us to:

  • deliver activities, events or services you have registered for
  • administer any user accounts you have with us
  • identify where Explorify has the greatest impact in UK schools
  • conduct surveys and process your response to any survey you participate in for research, evaluation, and statistical purposes
  • ensure that content from our site is presented in the most effective manner for you
  • process a request that you have made for information from us
  • send you service updates
  • send you information about extra resources and CPD where you have consented for us to do so
  • send you progress communications and newsletters you have subscribed to.

You can unsubscribe from newsletters at any time by:

  • logging into the website and updating your email preference via “Settings” to adjust your subscription status OR
  • following the unsubscribe link on any email message sent to you OR
  • by emailing us at explorify@stem.org.uk

The technical information we collect when you visit our site is used for site administration and internal operations (i.e. troubleshooting, data analysis, testing, research, statistical and survey purposes). This enables us to improve our site to ensure that content is presented in the most effective manner for you and for your device, and to allow you to participate in interactive features of our services when you choose to do so.

 

On what lawful basis we use your information

Our lawful basis may include:

  • Where we have your consent.
  • Where processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which you are a party. If you fail to provide this information, we may be unable to perform the contract.
  • Where it is within legitimate interests to process your information. We know that under this basis of processing, we have a heightened responsibility to keep your interests central and to make sure that your rights as a data subject override our legitimate interest.
  • Where we need to comply with a legal obligation.

 

Cookies

When you visit this website, we use cookies automatically to collect information about how you use the site. Please see our Cookies information (below).

 

Sharing your information

We use data processors, which are third parties who provide elements of services for us. We have contracts in place with our data processors. This means that they cannot do anything with your personal information unless we have instructed them to do it. They will hold it securely and retain it for the period we instruct.

The third-party processors we use fall into a number of categories which are listed below. We do change these processors from time to time and will do what we can to update this table regularly

Third party processor

 

For what purpose

IT service providers 

Software providers we use to help us to deliver our services to you

Email systems – Dot Digital

 

To send emails including newsletters where you have signed up to receive them

Research organisations - UXtweak

Research - where you have agreed to take part in surveys or research.

Certain pages on Explorify will show an option to open a survey in the bottom right-hand corner of the page. Selecting it will open a survey to fill in about your experience on that page to help us optimise that area in the future. Answers are anonymous and not linked to any user accounts.

Funders

We will supply statistical information derived from your data to funders, potential funders and partners that will not include any details that could be used to identify you

 

We may share your information with other relevant organisations if you are asked and you agree that your information can be shared in that way, or we have a legal obligation to do so.

As part of the services offered to you by us, the information you provide may be transferred outside of the United Kingdom (UK). These countries may not have similar data protection laws to the UK. By submitting your personal data, you’re agreeing to this transfer, storing or processing. When transferring your information outside of the UK in this way, we take steps to ensure that appropriate security measures are taken with the aim of ensuring that your privacy rights continue to be protected.

 

Changes

We may from time to time make changes to our privacy policy and will notify you at the top of this notice the latest update, and where appropriate, send to you by email. Please check the website regularly to see any updates or changes to our privacy policy. By continuing to use our website, you will be deemed to have accepted such changes.

 

Contact

For any queries or requests relating to this policy write to The Data Protection Officer, STEM Learning, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, or email datasecurity@stem.org.uk

 

Cookies Policy

Like most websites, Explorify uses cookies to capture information about our site’s users. A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we put on your computer if you agree.

Cookies allow us to recognise and count your visits, and to see how you move around the site while you are using it. This helps us to provide you with a good experience while you browse and to improve the way our site works, for example by making sure you can find what you need.

Cookies are also set when you click on social networking buttons in our pages, watch videos, register for services, and take part in surveys and other activities.

By continuing to use our site and by using video and social media functionality, you consent to the relevant cookies being set on your device.

For general information about cookies, and how to control and disable them, please visit www.allaboutcookies.org

Cookies we use on our site by type

Across this site we may make use of Flash files, which present information, allow integration with third parties (such as YouTube) and can offer a richer online experience. We have strived to identify any Flash elements that are likely to set cookies but, at this point in time, we cannot guarantee the status of every Flash file. Adobe offers a tool to monitor and remove Flash cookies.

 

Analytics

Name _ga

Purpose Used to distinguish users.

Duration 2 years

 

Name _gat

Purpose Used to ensure that there are not too many people requesting a page or resource from Google Analytics at the same time.

Duration 10 minutes

 

Name _gid

Purpose Used to distinguish users.

Duration 24 hours

 

Session

Name PHPSESSID

Purpose The user's session - contains a reference to their session on the server which links their session to their account by email address

 

Long life

Name REMEMBERME

Purpose Allows the user to be logged into their account automatically if they selected the option to "remember me" on login

Duration 1 year

 

Name cookieSeen

Purpose Stored so that the user doesn't see the cookie message repeatedly

Duration 28 days

 

Name verificationPromptSeen

Purpose Stored so that user doesn't see the verification message repeatedly

Duration 28 days

 

Third party:

Name _hjIncludedInSample

Purpose Temporarily on site when we study usability of site 

 

Social networking 

Name personalization_id

Purpose Used by Twitter for personalisation across devices.

Duration Stored cookie

 

Name fr

Purpose Used by Facebook.

Duration Stored cookie

 

User preferences

Name PREF

Purpose Stores user preferences for Google.

Duration Session cookie