Privacy Policy

This notice explains how Pyrolondon LTD, trading as SQE Forum ("we", "us"), uses personal data as the controller of this revision and student community service. We process data in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Our payment provider is a separate controller for the payment processing it carries out, and linked employers control applications submitted on their own sites.

1. What we collect

• Account details: name, email, password (stored securely, never in plain text) or Google sign in details, display name, target exam sitting.
• Study data: questions answered, scores, review queue, lesson progress, quiz attempts, certificates and readiness statistics.
• The Clerk conversations: questions, prompts and follow up messages you submit, responses and any context from your study session needed to answer them.
• Community content: chat room and private messages, reels, comments, reactions, voice notes, GIFs, reviews and course discussions.
• Tutor and provider data: qualifications, experience, CV, photo ID, referee details and responses, location, availability, rates and payout information.
• Payment data: membership status, purchases, bookings, tickets and gifts. Card details are handled by our payment provider; we do not receive them.
• Moderation records: reports, blocked or removed content, suspensions and appeals.
• News and career submissions: submitter identity, organisation, role or story details, location, deadlines, source and application links, and review status for jobs, training contracts and apprenticeships.
• Support communications: information you provide when raising an enquiry, report, payment issue or appeal.
• Technical data: IP address, device and browser information, session identifiers, cookies or browser storage, error logs and service usage information needed to run and secure the site. To keep the free first month to one per person, we store a scrambled (one way hashed) device identifier and network address when you sign in; we cannot read them back, and we use them only to check whether a device or network has already claimed the free month.

2. Why we use it and our lawful basis

• To provide your account, revision tools, tutoring, lectures, courses and community features: performance of a contract.
• To process questions and conversation context with The Clerk and return study responses: performance of a contract. Do not submit confidential client information, sensitive personal data or information you do not have permission to share.
• To take payments, pay tutors and providers their 85% share, and keep tax and accounting records: contract and legal obligation.
• To verify tutors and providers (ID, CV, references) and keep the community safe through moderation: legitimate interests in a trustworthy, respectful service.
• To personalise study recommendations and readiness feedback: contract / legitimate interests.
• To review and publish news and career advertisements, identify authorised submitters and prevent misleading listings: contract and legitimate interests in a reliable student service.
• To investigate errors, secure accounts, prevent fraud and improve the service using technical and usage data: legitimate interests. We balance these interests against your rights.
• To respond to support enquiries, complaints and rights requests using your contact details and correspondence: contract, legitimate interests or legal obligation, depending on the request.
• To send service messages, receipts and notifications: contract. Marketing only with your consent, which you can withdraw at any time.

3. Content screening and study recommendations

Content screening tools may examine posts, messages and prompts to identify hate, harassment, abuse or other prohibited content. The Clerk's response providers process submitted prompts and relevant conversation context to return responses. Study recommendations use your answers and progress to suggest areas for revision, not to award professional qualifications. Screening and responses can make mistakes; moderation decisions can be challenged on the Appeals page for review by a person.

4. Who we share it with

• Hosting, account authentication, storage, communications, support and technical service providers who help us operate the site; response and content screening providers receive the text and context needed for their work.
• Our payment provider, for payment processing, subscription management, refunds, tax compliance and invoicing.
• Other users, as the features require: for example your display name and posts in rooms, your profile to tutors you book, or your public tutor/provider profile.
• Referees you name, who we contact to verify your application.
• Professional advisers, including legal and accounting advisers, where necessary for advice, compliance or claims.
• Regulators, law enforcement or courts where required by law.

We do not sell your personal data. Providers may process data outside the UK or EEA. Where required, transfers rely on applicable adequacy decisions or appropriate contractual safeguards, such as standard contractual clauses together with the UK Addendum or International Data Transfer Agreement. You may request information about the safeguards relevant to your data.

Public room posts, reels, reviews and approved advertisements can be seen by other users and, where publicly available, guests. Private messages are shared with their participants. Job applications are made on the linked employer's site; we do not collect candidate applications through career listings. Read the employer's privacy notice before submitting an application. Linked sources, video hosts and media services may receive device and connection information when you open or load their content, under their own notices.

5. How long we keep it

• Account and study data: while your account is open, then deleted or anonymised within 12 months of closure.
• The Clerk conversations, community content, support correspondence and advertisements: while needed to provide the relevant feature or handle an enquiry, then deleted or anonymised within 12 months after closure or resolution, unless a justified legal or safety need requires longer retention.
• Payment and payout records: 6 years, for tax and accounting.
• Tutor ID documents and CVs: while your application or listing is active, then deleted within 6 months.
• Moderation records: up to 2 years, to handle appeals and repeat abuse.

Technical and security records are retained only as long as necessary to investigate faults and protect the service. Legal claims, fraud investigations and statutory record keeping may require longer retention. Data is deleted or anonymised when no longer needed; residual backup copies remain protected until replaced under the backup cycle.

6. Security

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures, including encrypted connections, access controls, private document storage and restricted staff access. Tutor CVs and photo ID are limited to the applicant and authorised reviewers. Voice notes are available to the relevant message participants or the audience of the room or reel to which they are attached. Course media is available to eligible learners, preview viewers where offered, providers and authorised staff. No internet service can guarantee absolute security.

7. Your rights

Subject to the conditions and exceptions in applicable law, you may request access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability of data provided under consent or contract, and objection to processing based on legitimate interests. You can withdraw consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of earlier processing. You may also ask for review by a person where a decision affects your access.

You can update your profile or request account deletion in Account settings. Other privacy requests can be raised with SQE Forum through the site; identify your account and the right you wish to exercise, without sharing your password. We normally respond within one month. If a complex request permits an extension, we will explain this within that month; we may need to verify your identity.

You can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk) or your relevant local supervisory authority. You do not have to contact us first to exercise that right.

8. Cookies and local storage

We use essential cookies and browser storage to maintain your sign in session, support security and remember interface preferences. We do not currently set optional analytics or marketing cookies in the SQE Forum application. If we introduce them, we will seek consent where required and provide a way to change your choice.

You can clear or block cookies and local storage in your browser settings; doing so may sign you out or stop features working. Our payment provider's checkout and external media or employer sites have their own cookie notices and preference controls.

9. Children

SQE Forum is for adults (18+). We do not knowingly collect data from children.

10. Changes

We will post updates here and notify you of material changes. See also our Terms and Conditions and Refund Policy.