Terms and conditions

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. General information and schedule

Emerald International Education is an unregulated international centre specialising in the A-Levels programme, owned by THINK AHEAD ACADEMY, SL.
Each academic year lasts a total of 10 months. The 2024-25 academic year begins on September 5, 2024, and ends on June 24, 2025.
The mandatory school hours for the 2024-25 year are from 09:00 to 14:00, Monday to Friday. This schedule may vary by mutual agreement of both parties.
The mandatory school hours include all teaching hours. Various enrichment activities, co-curricular activities, and sports may occur outside teaching hours.

SHARED COMMITMENTS

2. Emerald International Education commits to:

Applying the principles, values, policies, and protocols approved by its school council, articulated through various documents listed in the Center Policies annex included in this document. These Center Policies are available for consultation on the website emeraldinternationaleducation.com.
Enrolling the student in the Center and providing education in accordance with the Center Policies, the Curriculum, and the ethical criteria established by the Center as declared in promotional materials, its website, and other publications.
Ensuring that the Center complies with the laws and regulations of the Community of Madrid, the Kingdom of Spain, and the European Union.
Adhering to the principles, organisational model, and action protocols outlined in Chapter IV of Organic Law 8/2021, of June 4, on the comprehensive protection of children and adolescents against violence.
Having an Educational Center Insurance that covers its civil liability and accidents on the Center’s premises.
Properly informing about potential updates to these Terms and Conditions.

3. Parents commit to:

Informing the Center of any support required by the student, or if the student has any special educational needs (SEN).
Ensuring, under their responsibility, that the student has been vaccinated with the mandatory vaccines specified in the Spanish vaccination schedule.
Ensuring, under their responsibility, that the student has health insurance before entering the Center, understanding that the Center does not assume any health or pharmaceutical expenses caused by a possible illness or accident of the student.
Ensuring that the student complies with the Center Policies listed in the annex of this document and available on the website emeraldinternationaleducation.com. Due to their nature, these Center Policies will undergo updates aimed at improving educational quality and ensuring the safety of the school environment. Parents must proactively stay informed of these updates (published on the website) and remain properly informed.
Ensuring that the student arrives at the Center on time and properly equipped for classes.
Informing the Center of any scheduled absences or unforeseen reasons preventing attendance.
Avoiding unnecessary absences, including vacations during the school period.
Sharing any concerns or issues that might affect the student’s learning or behaviour with the Center.
Informing the Center of any medical condition, illness, or functional diversity situation that parents are aware of and that might affect the student’s well-being during school activities.
Helping the student adhere to the Student Code of Conduct and all aspects related to school coexistence, as well as participating in all areas of the curriculum.
Encouraging and supporting the student’s personal work at home.
Supporting and respecting the Center’s policies and guidelines.
Supporting and respecting the school’s actions against negative or disruptive behaviour by the student, including sanctions outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.
Attending parent-teacher consultations, as well as tutoring and other meetings aimed at sharing the student’s progress.
Reading, applying, and staying informed of all communications issued by the Center, responding when required.
Interacting with the Center staff and the parent community constructively and respectfully.
Providing updated contact details and informing of any possible changes.
Supporting the compliance with all protocols implemented in the Center, especially those related to safety and health included in the Center Policies.

4. The student commits to:

Respecting the internal regulations listed in the Center Policies.
Respecting the school coexistence and good conduct rules, and protocols implemented in the Center.

ADMISSIONS, FEES, AND PAYMENTS

5. Admission to the Center

The Center reserves the right to admission within the Spanish legal framework.
The Center will formally notify parents of the student’s admission through a specific email, including a formal proposal.
Parents understand and accept that providing false, inaccurate, or misleading information during the admission process can lead to the rejection of the application or the student’s expulsion from the Center, exempting the Center from any economic or other liability arising from the rejection of the application or the student’s expulsion.
Parents are responsible for ensuring that the student has the visa/permit to study according to Spanish laws. The absence of this visa/permit would invalidate the student’s admission, exempting the Center from any economic or other liability.

6. Place booking

Once the student is admitted and the admission is formally communicated, the Center will send the parents via email the Enrollment Form and the Terms and Conditions, which must be returned duly completed and signed. Simultaneously, another email will be sent to parents attaching the reservation invoice, the payment of which will complete the student’s enrollment, thus guaranteeing their place in the Center.
The reservation payment must be made via bank transfer within 7 calendar days from the admission notification. Non-payment, if the Center determines so, will void the student’s prior admission.
The reservation fee, only for Year 12, consists of a single payment of 6,500 euros. This amount is an advance on the tuition fee. The tuition advance will be refunded via bank transfer, issued within a maximum of 15 calendar days after the end of the Year 13 course.
Except for the cases explicitly stated in this document, the reservation fee is non-refundable.
There are no admission requirements for the Center. However, the educational proposal made for each student before their incorporation is based on expectations agreed upon during the admission process for the IGCSE results (or equivalent systems). If a previously admitted student achieves results below expectations, the Center reserves the right to update its educational proposal for the student, which may impact the quarterly fees payable by the client. If the client rejects this new proposal, the reservation fee payment will not be refunded.
A previously admitted student may be finally rejected by the Center between the admission date and September 5, 2024, if new unsatisfactory official reports from their previous Center are known or disruptive behaviours are revealed that advise against their incorporation into the Center. In this case, the total amount paid to the Center to date will be refunded within the first five calendar days following the rejection notification.

7. Types of School Fees

School fees consist of: Tuition fees and additional fees.
The Center may modify the rates of the additional fees. These changes will be published on the Center’s website and communicated to parents at least three months before the new rates take effect.
Except for the cases explicitly stated in this document, school fees are non-refundable.

8. Tuition Fees

Tuition fees depend on the number and type of courses agreed upon by the Center and the family, as listed in the annex of this document (ANNEX – Price List).
The academic year is divided into three terms, and tuition into three quarterly payments. Tuition invoices will be issued quarterly one week before each of the final direct debit dates established in clause 8.3.
Payment must be made by direct debit to the bank account indicated in the SEPA direct debit mandate. The Center will proceed with the corresponding SEPA debits according to the following schedule:
- - Autumn term (first term): August 1-3
  - Spring term (second term): December 1-3
  - Summer term (third term): March 1-3

9. Additional Fees

The additional fees, stipulated in the annex of this document (ANNEX – Price List), will be added to the quarterly invoice in advance if already agreed with the family. If these additional fees arise during a term, they will be included in the next quarterly invoice. If new additional fees arise in the last term of Year 13, a separate invoice will be issued, payable in advance by the client.
Regarding official exams:
- - - All Year 12 and Year 13 students must officially sit each exam for each of their subjects.
    - Exams are spread across the two courses, Year 12 and Year 13, so that by the end of Year 12, students take half the exams for each A-Level subject and complete the remaining half at the end of Year 13. The exception is the subjects of Spanish and French, for which students take all exams at the end of Year 13.
    - Centre students will take A-Level exams from the Edexcel, IAL Edexcel, and Cambridge examination boards. For the 2024-25 course, each exam (paper) fee is 150 euros. This exam fee is not included in the tuition fee and may vary from one academic year to another.
    - For late registrations not attributable to the Center, or for students needing to take exams from other examination boards or the IGCSE stage, the fee will depend on the cost of said exam at the time of registration.
    - A specific invoice will be issued, including the official exam fees. For the January exam session, the invoice will be sent in the first five working days of November; for the May-June exam session, the invoice will be sent in the first five working days of April. These official exam fees will be charged by direct debit, with a SEPA debit for the amount of each issued invoice.

10. Surcharges and Non-Payments

At the Center’s discretion, depending on the case, a delay in payment due to a SEPA debit incident for any of the fees described above will be subject to a 5% surcharge.
If the quarterly tuition invoices are not received one week before the final SEPA debit date stipulated in clause 8.3, it is the parents’ responsibility to contact the Center’s Finance Office.
Failure to receive the invoice for a school term does not exempt parents from their obligation to have sufficient funds in the account to cover the direct debit on the scheduled dates.
If parents do not pay the amounts due, the student may be excluded from the Center. The Center also reserves the right not to enrol the student in official exams and to withhold all results, certificates, and school records of the student until the amounts due are paid.
No school fees will be refunded for the student’s temporary absence due to illness or other causes.
If a third party is responsible for paying any Center expense, parents must inform the Center in advance, providing the third party’s details. Parents accept that it is their responsibility to clearly explain all conditions in these terms and conditions to the third party and provide them with a copy of this agreement.

HEALTH, SAFETY, AND DAMAGES

11. Surcharges and Non-Payments

In case of a medical emergency, the school will do everything possible to contact the parents. However, if this is not possible, parents authorise the Center to seek medical advice and treatment for the student and commit to paying all expenses the Center may incur, releasing the Center from all liability. In any case, actions taken by Center staff in a medical emergency will be subject to the protocols outlined in its Health and Safety Policy (Center Policy No. 15), which parents are aware of and accept.
Before the start of the course, Health Plans will be developed jointly by the parents and the Center for students who need them due to their medical condition. These plans will determine the specific protocol for administering medical treatment by Center staff. In any case, actions taken by Center staff regarding any medical condition of the student will be subject to the protocols outlined in the Health and Safety Policy (Center Policy No. 15), which parents are aware of and accept.
The Center will be exempt from all liability if a student self-administers any medication not included in the approved Health Plan.
Parents understand, under their responsibility, that in the event of an outbreak of a contagious or infectious disease, the Center may have to close or prohibit the entry of a student or group of students for the period deemed necessary by the Principal. In this case, parents explicitly waive any claim against the Center.
When the student is at the Center, their mobile phone will be kept by Center staff unless the student requests to use it in an emergency. Additionally, electronic devices used by students at the Center will have restricted access to social networks and websites not required for their academic training.
In general, the Center will apply the provisions of the Electronic Security Policy.
Parents accept that the Center is not responsible for death, bodily harm, or losses or damages of any kind that the student may suffer at the school, during trips authorised by the Center, or elsewhere, and that are not attributable to negligence by the Center.
Parents are responsible and must cover any intentional damage caused by the student to Center property, staff, or other students. Parents of students who lose or misplace books, iPads, or other school materials provided must reimburse the Center 100% of the price of the items reflected in the corresponding purchase invoices.

SCHOOL LIFE

12. School life

School lunches are mandatory for all students, and bringing food and groceries into the Center is not allowed.
School rules are found in the Center Policies and, briefly, in the Parent and Student Handbook, as well as in other documents published periodically. Parents are requested to read these documents carefully with the student at the beginning of the school year (September).
Parents accept the authority of the Principal and other staff members to take all necessary disciplinary or preventive measures to safeguard and promote the student’s well-being and the school community as a whole, as outlined in the Center Policies (No. 2, 4, 7, 9, and 12).
At the Principal’s discretion, the Center reserves the right to temporarily suspend or expel a student for misconduct or serious disciplinary violations, as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct (Center Policy No. 2).
A student who shows very poor progress may not be enrolled in official exams and, in extreme cases, may be expelled from the Center. Both decisions are at the exclusive discretion of the Principal, as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct (Center Policy No. 2).
Students may not smoke or consume illegal drugs or alcohol on school premises, at school functions, or on school trips. Bringing or possessing any type of drugs or weapons at school is strictly prohibited. In case of suspected drug or alcohol use, tests may be required, which will be duly reported to parents, in accordance with the Center’s rules and applicable laws, as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct (Center Policy No. 2).
Any communication from the Center or its staff to one parent will be considered received by both.

SUBJECT SELECTION

13. Subject selection

Students at Emerald International Education will choose their subjects based on the results and information gathered during the admission process with the students.
The initial subject selection agreed upon by the Center, the student, and the family may be subject to modifications before the academic year begins, depending on the final IGCSE (or equivalent system) grades obtained by the student or other relevant academic aspects for the Center.

DURATION, MODIFICATIONS, AND TERMINATION

14. Duration, modifications and termination

The agreement between parents and the Center, explicit through these Terms and Conditions, comes into effect on the date of signing.
The agreement will be valid until the student is no longer enrolled in the Center, and as long as each party fulfils its obligations under this agreement.
A student who has, or has had, illegal behaviour may be excluded from the Center as soon as these facts are known to the Center, regardless of the date when such behaviour occurred.
The exclusion or expulsion of a student in the cases outlined in clauses 11.4, 15.3, 1.4, and 13.5 implies the termination of the agreement explicit between parents and the Center through this document, without entailing the reimbursement of any previously paid school fees.
Parents can unilaterally terminate the agreement, provided they notify in writing and understand that previously paid amounts will not be refunded. If the termination notification occurs in August, September, October, or November, the Center will not refund any amount and reserves the right to demand up to thirty percent of the second-term tuition fee. If the termination notification occurs in December, January, or February, the Center will not refund any amount and reserves the right to demand up to twenty percent of the third-term tuition fee.
Any additions and modifications made to the agreement will be valid when signed by all parties.

DATA PROTECTION POLICY

Your personal data has been collected in accordance with Organic Law 3/2018, of December 5, on Personal Data Protection and the guarantee of digital rights, and with the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of April 27, 2016, concerning the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and the free movement of such data.

In accordance with the above legal framework, you have the right to freely exercise the rights of access, rectification, cancellation, limitation, opposition, and portability by writing to THINK AHEAD ACADEMY, S.L. at C/ Valportillo II, 14 CP 28108, Alcobendas (Madrid) or by email to raul.garcia@academiathinkahead.es.

To comply with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of April 27, 2016, concerning the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and the free movement of such data, and following the Recommendations and Instructions issued by the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD), THINK AHEAD ACADEMY, SL

INFORMS YOU

That there is a possibility of making communications through instant messaging systems like WhatsApp to expedite the management of the contracted services, for which your consent is requested by signing and submitting these terms and conditions to use this type of personal information.

That the personal data requested and provided by you will be incorporated into a privately owned file, duly registered with the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD), and whose sole responsible party and recipient is THINK AHEAD ACADEMY, SL.

That only those data strictly necessary for the adequate provision of the requested educational service will be requested, and it may be necessary to collect contact data of third parties, such as legal representatives, guardians, or designated persons.

That all collected data have the confidentiality commitment required by the regulations, with legally established security measures, and are never transferred or processed by third parties, either physical or legal, without your prior consent, except in those cases where it is essential for the proper provision of the requested educational service.

That, once the student is no longer enrolled in the Center, their data will be archived and kept for a minimum period of 5 years, after which they will continue to be archived or, failing that, will be deleted.

CONSIDERING

That I have been informed that the data I provide will be included in the file named Enrichment Program of THINK AHEAD ACADEMY, SL, to manage the assigned treatment, issue invoices, contact, etc., to which I give my consent.

That I have also been informed of the possibility of exercising my rights of access, rectification, cancellation, limitation, opposition, and portability by writing to THINK AHEAD ACADEMY, S.L. at C/ Valportillo II, 14 CP 28108, Alcobendas (Madrid) or by email to raul.garcia@academiathinkahead.es.

ANNEX: PRICE LIST

Overview of the Most Frequent Individual Fees and Expenses. Fees cannot be prorated unless explicitly stated.

All amounts are in Euros (€).

Valid as of Term 1, 2024/25.

Academic Individual

Single Academic Courses (One-to-One Teaching)

AS/A2 Level: €3,270 per term
AS/A2 Level Spanish: €1,960 per term
IGCSE: €2,600 per term
5 IGCSE Subjects: €8,300 per term

Single Academic Courses (Class Teaching 1:3 Ratio)

AS/A2 Level: €2,670 per term
AS/A2 Level Spanish: €1,600 per term
EPQ: ProjectX: €650 per term
IGCSE: €2,000 per term
IGCSE Spanish*: €650 per term

*Based on 1 lesson per week, completed in one academic year.

Single Academic Courses

IELTS: €525 per term

Examinations & Materials

External Exam Board Entry Fee: €150 per registration
IELTS: €250 per registration
Language Diplomas: €250 per registration
Special Access Arrangements: … per registration

*Fees determined by the Examinations Officer based on specific needs and requirements.

College Counselling & Applications

USA Universities Package (10 Applications): €20,000 per student
UK Universities Package (5 Applications): €10,000 per student
European Universities: €2,000 per application
Summer Programs: €1,500 per application
SAT Preparation: €1,660 per term
Premium Package: USA, UK, EU Universities*: €39,000 per student

*Premium Package includes: USA (10), UK (5) & European (5) University Applications, Summer Program Applications (2), Internships (2), SAT Summer Preparation (10 lessons, in-house mock exams and assessment), and preparation for BMAT, LNAT, etc. (as required).

All packages start as soon as the student joins Emerald and are delivered over a maximum of 3 years. Packages are non-refundable and invoiced on a termly basis from the year that the service has commenced.

Private Courses

Applies to private lessons (tutoring), individual coaching, homework support, supervised study time, make-up programs, foreign languages outside of standard offering.

Pro-rated for up to 4 weeks.

Lessons Per Week (One-to-One Session)

1: €250
2: €500
3: €750
4: €1,000
5: €1,250
6: €1,500
7: €1,750

Enrichment Programmes

Please see the current list of offerings for details.

Group Course: €800 per term
Private Course: €1,200 per term