Masters Policies & Charter

MASTERS PERFORMING ARTS PRIVACY POLICY

Masters Performing Arts is a data controller and collects information on a lawful basis as follows. Most of this information is mandatory. We are committed to ensuring that your privacy is fully protected and you can be assured that the information will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement.

Contact Masters Performing Arts at: 2 & 4 Totman Crescent, Rayleigh, Essex SS6 7UY;
Tel: 01268 777351; email: [email protected]

WHAT INFORMATION WE COLLECT AND HOLD

Personal information (e.g. name, address, telephone number, email, parent/guardian details/information)
Characteristics (i.e. ethnicity, nationality, special needs) • Previous Education (i.e. schools, training, qualifications, references)
Medical information
Attendance information
Assessment Results and Reports
DBS certificate
Curriculum Vitae
Photographs for internal files only (when applying for our course)
Printed and digital images for promotional purposes and also industry professionals and future employment (only during and after leaving Masters college)
Payment information for invoicing purposes

WHEN WE COLLECT INFORMATION ABOUT YOU

When you enquire about Masters college, its courses, auditioning and becoming a student at Masters college through our website
When you fill in an application form for an audition
When you register as a student with Masters
When you enter into a contract with us
When you apply for employment opportunities through us
When you apply for employment opportunities with us
When you apply for work experience with us

WHY WE COLLECT INFORMATION ABOUT YOU

To support pupil learning
To monitor and report on student progress
To keep present staff and students briefed on day-to-day classes, timetables, relevant college information
To provide appropriate pastoral care
To have the relevant contact information for emergencies
To carry out legal obligations (e.g. HMRC)
To carry out contractual obligations
Communication and provision of services to our governing body CDMT
To assess the quality of our services
For future employment opportunities

WHO DO WE SHARE INFORMATION WITH

Our governing body CDMT on a statutory basis. This helps regulate Masters, its policies, and our monitoring as a college. Please see CDMT website for their own privacy policy
Industry professionals, agents, during and after leaving Masters College
Other parties connected to you where you have given consent to contact them as referees, legal guardians or legitimate carers
Disclosing & Barring Service for DBS checks (for employees and self-employed personnel only)
Courts and tribunals to comply with legal requirements and the administration of justice
Accountants, banks (online banking, processing payments)
HMRC (to fulfil our legal obligations)
Royal Mail, when posting letters to your home or student accommodation address
Other employees when seeking a reference
Council offices for housing requirements & tax credits as required by law
Landlords for accommodation requirements
Medical/welfare/injury establishments
Emergency services to protect your vital interests
Marketing Events (i.e. Move It, Can you Dance)
Event registration and ticket purchasing (e.g. Eventbrite)
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram (Photos & Advertising)
Anyone else where we have your consent or as required by law

HOW LONG DO WE HOLD INFORMATION FOR

All auditionee applicants that cancel or are unsuccessful, or auditionee applicants that are successful but choose not to take up their place here at Masters, we will hold their information on file for a period of 12 months
All successful applicants that become a student of Masters college, their information will be held on file for a period of 6 years (3 year training, 3 years thereafter)
All website enquires will be deleted after a period of 12 months
All potential job enquiries submitted CVs will be held for a minimum period of 3 years unless you withdraw your consent.
All employed and self-employed staff of Masters information will be held on file during the time of employment and for a period of 3 years thereafter unless you withdraw your consent.

CONSENT

On becoming a student, employee or self-employed tutor at Masters, you will be asked to sign a consent form agreeing to the retention and sharing of information. This will include the sending and receiving of emails via our companies registered email addresses.

WITHDRAWAL OF CONSENT

You can withdraw your consent at any time by contacting the administrator in writing, by email, when we will actively aim to have your data deleted from our files within one month. Withdrawal of consent may also affect what we can do for you in the future.

Please note – Information can be held longer than the periods stated above in accordance with any legal situation that may be ongoing, i.e. until all fees are paid in full, court procedures, debt collectors, legal claims.

YOUR RIGHTS

You have the right to be informed about the collection and use of your personal data. This privacy notice meets these rights.
You have the right to access your personal data and rectify it if it is inaccurate or complete it if it is incomplete. You have the right to confirm that your data is being processed and to access the information we hold about you.
In certain circumstances, you have the right to have your information erased and destroyed by us
You have the right to restrict processing and to object and prevent direct marketing (this restriction must be made in writing to the administrator) • You have the right to prevent automated decision-making and profiling
You have the right to data portability (the right to move, copy or transfer personal data easily from one IT environment to another in a safe and secure way without hindrance and usability)
You have the right to refuse consent, however, we will be limited to the service we can provide for you You can make these requests verbally or in writing to the college administrator.

If you have a concern about the way we collect or use your personal data you can raise your concerns with us in the first instance or directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office at https://ico.org.uk/concerns/

SECURITY

We are committed to ensuring that your information is secure. In order to prevent unauthorised access or disclosure, we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect manually and online.

WEBSITE

Our website may contain links to other websites to enable you to visit them easily. However once you have used these links to leave our site, you should note that we do not have any control over that other website. Therefore we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites and such sites are not governed by this privacy statement. You should exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the websites in question.

COOKIES

Cookies are text files placed on your computer to collect standard internet log information and visitor behaviour information. This information is used to track visitor use of the website and to compile statistical reports on website activity. For further information visit www.aboutcookies.org You can set your browser not to accept cookies and the above website tells you how to remove cookies from your browser. However, in a few cases, some of our website features may not function as a result.

CHANGES TO OUR PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to amend this data privacy policy from time to time without prior notice. You are advised to check our website www.mastersperformingarts.co.uk regularly for any amendments.

This Privacy Policy was last updated in line with GDPR in May 2018. This was reviewed in September 2020.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

OUR AIMS

Masters Performing Arts takes seriously their responsibilities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young adults and vulnerable adults who use the college.

To provide an outstanding programme of study in performing arts that trains, develops and encourages all students in a correct and positive manner
To ensure equal opportunities for all of our staff and students and in all areas of our service and work
To ensure fair and transparent dealings with all staff, students and all other parties
To ensure our students have the provision of safe and effective care
To endeavour that our premises are accessible to all
To actively tackle reported discrimination or harassment
To regularly monitor and evaluate all policies and practices

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES STATEMENT

Masters Performing Arts are fully committed to the practice of Equal Opportunities, please see the Equality Act 2010. Masters aim is to provide a thriving, creative, and motivated community of staff and pupils. Our desire to be confident that not only is there justice and fair play equally across the board, but also a passionate promotion of inclusiveness along with the dedicated pursuit of achievement to all, providing appropriate and helpful ways of measuring and reporting our progress towards our aims.

Masters Performing Arts are committed to ensuring that it treats its employees and students equally, fairly, and with respect and that it does not discriminate against individuals or groups on the basis of any of the protected characteristics outlined in the Equality Act 2010.

Any stereotyping, prejudice, bias, and harassment based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability, and religion will not be tolerated.

BULLYING OR HARASSMENT

Masters Performing Arts will not tolerate bullying or harassment. Harassment is unlawful under the Equality Act 2010. Harassment and Bullying being behaviour that makes someone feel intimidated or offended.

Harassment and bullying both involve behaviour which harms, intimidates, threatens, victimises, offends, degrades, humiliates, or undermines a person’s dignity.

Some examples of behaviour that is bullying or harassment (this list is not exhaustive):

Offensive material that is displayed publicly
Verbal abuse or comments that degrade students and teachers
Unwelcome and hurtful jokes
Direct or subtle threats
Offensive gestures
Ignoring or isolating a person
Unwanted physical contact of a sexual nature
Aggressive physical behaviour
Repeated behaviour which a person has previously objected to

Any form of discrimination or harassment should be reported to the appropriate personnel – Head of Year Tutor, Head of Department and/or Senior Management.

DISABILITY & ACCESS POLICY

Masters Performing Arts recognises that people with disabilities and learning difficulties experience discrimination within society. The College is committed to providing equality and opportunity to all who study and work at the College. Our aim is to ensure that all our students can participate fully in all aspects of college life.

You are disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.

The term “physical impairment” includes sensory impairment e.g. loss of hearing, visual impairment etc. It includes disfigurement and people with a history of disability. The term “mental impairment” covers impairments relating to mental functioning, including clinically recognised mental illness and learning difficulties e.g. dyslexia.

At Masters Performing Arts we welcome people from all sections of the community. We undertake a full individual analysis into a student’s physical restrictions, as well as his/her strengths to determine their suitability for the very demanding physical nature of the course. It may be the case that an individual would endanger his/her personal safety or that of other members of the class and so should be precluded from undertaking either the course or a particular activity on the grounds of health and safety. Masters Performing Arts realises that any student who has a disability or learning difficulty may need special consideration or additional support in order to succeed within the course. We recognise that these needs are individual and we aim to ensure that all students have the support necessary for their individual needs.

Masters Performing Arts ensures all staff are aware that they must not treat students with disabilities more or less favourably than other students simply because of their disability. Our overriding teaching approach is that, so far as possible, all students should be afforded the same treatment.

IMPLEMENTATION

MANAGEMENT WILL UNDERTAKE TO

Encourage an atmosphere of inclusion combined with the use of appropriate language
Encourage all staff and students to reach their full potential
Follow the relevant procedures to take action against staff and students who discriminate for reasons of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability, and religion
Ensure all applications for vacant staff positions are considered equally and interviews will be fair, transparent, and consistent
Ensure the selection of students is fair, transparent, and consistent, with applications accepted and encouraged from all areas of society. Entry criteria will apply to all applicants but will be as flexible as possible to accommodate those with particular access requirements (please see Disability Policy)
Ensure the all curriculum materials and practices are delivered without discrimination
Ensure all assessments are carried out in a fair, transparent, and consistent manner with all candidates being treated equally and judged against the same criteria

STAFF WILL UNDERTAKE TO

Encourage, support, and train students equally, promoting mutually respectful relationships
Refrain from socialising with students or entering into personal relationships with students
Recognise, report, and oppose any form of discrimination or harassment within the college
Ensure all teaching materials and practices do not discriminate against or exclude, any individual or group

STUDENTS WILL UNDERTAKE TO

Enter into mutually respectful and appropriately professional relationships with staff
Treat fellow students with respect and professional consideration
Recognise, report, and oppose any form of discrimination or harassment within the college

ENFORCEMENT

Staff and students are encouraged to be vigilant and if they believe they have witnessed discrimination, harassment, or victimisation of any kind this must be reported to their year tutor and/or senior management. They will then investigate and in turn report to the Directors. Any persons failing to comply with the college’s equal opportunities guidelines will be subject to the appropriate disciplinary procedure.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Monitoring of Equal Opportunities, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy is an on-going process. Any areas for improvement will be identified in the college annual Self-Assessment Report and action plans will be drawn up and implemented.

Masters Performing Arts prides itself on the supportive and caring ‘family’ atmosphere we offer our students. This is made possible by the relatively small number of students on site, combined with high student/tutor contact hours. Students have access to continual pastoral care and receive regular individual tutorials with specific course tutors. All members of staff conduct classes in a supportive and mutually respectful manner. Masters ‘open door’ policy allows students to fully communicate with their peers and staff and they are encouraged to express and discuss any difficulties they may be experiencing.