ROTHWELL EDUCATION
Terms of Service
Last updated: September 2026
These Terms of Service set out the basis on which Rothwell Education provides private tuition, home education support, educational consultancy, courses and related educational services.
Please read these terms before booking a service. By confirming a booking or asking Rothwell Education to begin providing services, you agree to these terms.
1. About Rothwell Education
Rothwell Education is an independent education practice operated by Michael Rothwell, providing private tuition, home education support, educational consultancy and small-group courses.
Rothwell Education is based in Edinburgh and works with pupils and families in the UK and internationally, both online and, where specifically agreed, in person.
You can contact Rothwell Education at:
Rothwell Education
New Town, Edinburgh
hello@rothwelleducation.co.uk
2. Enquiries and introductory conversations
An initial enquiry or complimentary introductory conversation does not commit either party to an ongoing arrangement.
Before tuition, home education support or consultancy begins, the nature of the service, fees, anticipated schedule and any significant additional charges will be agreed with the client.
Rothwell Education reserves the right to decline an enquiry or proposed engagement where the service requested falls outside the areas in which appropriate support can be provided, where suitable availability cannot be offered, or where another form of educational support would be more appropriate.
3. The client
Unless otherwise agreed, where services are provided to a child or young person, the client is the parent, guardian or other adult who books the service and accepts responsibility for payment.
The client is responsible for providing information reasonably necessary to deliver the agreed service, including relevant information about the pupil's curriculum, examinations, educational requirements and any circumstances that may materially affect tuition.
Clients should notify Rothwell Education of any significant changes to this information.
4. Tuition
Private tuition is normally provided on a one-to-one basis, online or in person where specifically agreed.
The subject, level, frequency and approximate duration of tuition will be agreed with the client. Unless otherwise stated, published tuition fees are hourly rates.
A regular lesson time may be agreed, but an ongoing tuition arrangement does not guarantee indefinite availability at that time. Where changes become necessary, Rothwell Education will give as much notice as reasonably possible and seek to agree a suitable alternative.
Tuition may include lesson preparation, marking, recommendations for independent study and reasonable communication with a parent or guardian concerning a pupil's progress.
5. Home education
Home education arrangements may involve a broader level of academic planning and administration than conventional private tuition.
Depending on the arrangement, this may include curriculum planning, timetabling, setting and reviewing independent work, progress reporting, examination planning and liaison with parents or guardians.
Unless otherwise agreed, substantial home education programmes include one hour of academic administration for each five hours of teaching, charged at the applicable tuition rate.
The precise scope and anticipated timetable of a home education arrangement will be agreed with the client before substantial work begins.
Rothwell Education provides educational support and guidance but does not assume the legal responsibilities of a parent or guardian in relation to a child's education.
6. Educational consultancy
Educational consultancy may include advice concerning school selection, admissions strategy, entrance examinations, interviews, application planning and related educational decisions.
The standard consultancy package is currently £500, unless a different fee or scope is agreed in writing.
The precise scope of a consultancy engagement will be confirmed before work begins.
Unless specifically included in the agreed scope, ongoing private tuition, extended entrance-examination preparation and substantial additional work are separate services and may incur additional fees.
Advice provided by Rothwell Education is independent. Rothwell Education is not affiliated with, employed by, or acting on behalf of any school referred to on the website or during a consultancy engagement unless expressly stated otherwise.
7. Courses
From time to time, Rothwell Education may offer small-group courses or academic intensives.
Submitting an expression of interest does not constitute a confirmed booking.
When a course is announced, its dates, format, fees, group arrangements, cancellation provisions and any course-specific terms will be provided before a booking is confirmed.
If course-specific terms differ from these general Terms of Service, the course-specific terms will apply to that course to the extent of the difference.
8. Fees and payment
Current standard tuition fees are published on the Rothwell Education website. The fee applicable to a particular arrangement will be confirmed with the client.
Unless otherwise agreed, invoices will be issued electronically and payment should be made by the due date shown on the invoice.
Any material additional costs, such as agreed travel expenses for in-person tuition outside the normal area of operation, will be discussed with the client in advance wherever reasonably possible.
Rothwell Education may revise its fees from time to time. Changes will not retrospectively affect services already provided. Reasonable notice will be given before a revised rate applies to an existing ongoing arrangement.
If an invoice becomes overdue, Rothwell Education may pause future lessons or other services until the outstanding balance has been paid.
9. Cancelling or rescheduling individual lessons
Clients are asked to give at least 24 hours' notice if an individual tuition session needs to be cancelled or rescheduled.
Where at least 24 hours' notice is provided, no cancellation fee will normally be charged and, subject to availability, an alternative lesson time may be arranged.
Where less than 24 hours' notice is provided, the lesson may be charged at the normal rate because the time has been reserved and may not reasonably be available to another pupil.
No charge will normally be made where cancellation results from exceptional circumstances and it would be unreasonable to apply the cancellation charge. This will be considered fairly on a case-by-case basis.
If Rothwell Education needs to cancel a lesson, the client will not be charged for that lesson. Where a lesson has already been paid for, an alternative time will be offered or the relevant payment will be credited or refunded.
10. Late arrival and missed lessons
If a pupil arrives late for a lesson, the lesson will normally still finish at the originally agreed time.
If a pupil does not attend an agreed lesson and no appropriate notice has been provided, the session may be treated as a late cancellation and charged accordingly.
If Michael is late, the lost teaching time will either be made up where practical or reflected appropriately in the amount charged.
11. Online lessons
For online tuition, clients are responsible for ensuring that the pupil has reasonable access to:
- a suitable computer or other device;
- a reliable internet connection;
- any agreed video-conferencing software; and
- a suitable environment in which to learn.
Occasional technical problems can occur. Where a significant technical failure on Rothwell Education's side prevents a lesson from taking place properly, the affected teaching time will be rearranged, credited or refunded as appropriate.
Where a problem is caused by the pupil's equipment or internet connection, reasonable efforts will be made to continue or rearrange the lesson, but Rothwell Education cannot guarantee that lost teaching time can always be replaced.
12. In-person tuition and travel
In-person tuition is available only where specifically agreed.
The location, timing and any travel-related charges will be agreed in advance.
Where tuition takes place in a client's home, the client is responsible for providing a safe and suitable environment for teaching.
For younger pupils, a parent, guardian or other responsible adult should normally be present at the property unless an alternative arrangement has been expressly agreed and is considered appropriate.
13. Ending an ongoing tuition arrangement
Either the client or Rothwell Education may end an ongoing tuition arrangement.
Clients are asked to provide reasonable notice where possible, particularly where a regular weekly time has been reserved.
Rothwell Education will similarly aim to provide reasonable notice before ending an ongoing arrangement, except where there is a serious reason requiring services to end sooner.
Such circumstances may include persistent non-payment, inappropriate or abusive behaviour, serious safeguarding concerns, or circumstances in which continuing the arrangement would be unsafe or inappropriate.
Any fees properly due for services already provided remain payable when an arrangement ends.
14. Consumer cancellation rights
Where a client enters into a contract for services online, by telephone or otherwise at a distance, the client may have a statutory right to cancel the contract during a 14-day cancellation period, subject to the applicable consumer law and any relevant exceptions.
Where you ask Rothwell Education to begin providing a service during a statutory cancellation period, you expressly request that the service begins before that period has expired.
If you subsequently exercise a statutory right to cancel after services have begun at your request, you may be required to pay a reasonable amount for services already provided up to the point at which you cancel, where permitted by law.
Nothing in these Terms of Service is intended to restrict or exclude any statutory rights to which you are entitled.
To cancel an arrangement, please contact hello@rothwelleducation.co.uk.
15. Educational outcomes
Rothwell Education will provide services with reasonable care and skill and will work to support each pupil's learning, preparation and academic development.
Educational outcomes, however, depend on many factors outside the control of a tutor or consultant, including a pupil's own work, attendance, school performance, examination conditions and admissions decisions.
Rothwell Education therefore cannot guarantee particular examination grades, school offers, scholarships, university offers or other academic outcomes.
Any examples, testimonials or case studies on the website describe individual experiences and should not be understood as guarantees that another pupil will achieve the same result.
16. School admissions and independent advice
Advice concerning schools and admissions is based on professional judgement, experience and the information available at the time.
Admissions requirements, deadlines, examination formats and school policies may change. While reasonable care is taken to provide accurate guidance, clients should verify important requirements and deadlines with the relevant school or organisation.
Any references on the Rothwell Education website to particular schools indicate experience or familiarity relevant to the services offered. They do not imply endorsement, partnership or a formal relationship with those schools unless expressly stated.
Final decisions concerning school applications and other educational choices remain the responsibility of the client.
17. Safeguarding and pupil welfare
The welfare and safety of pupils are taken seriously.
Rothwell Education may take appropriate action where a safeguarding concern arises, including sharing relevant information with a parent or guardian, safeguarding professional, relevant authority or emergency service where this is reasonably considered necessary or required by law.
Nothing in these terms requires Rothwell Education to keep information confidential where doing so would conflict with safeguarding responsibilities or legal obligations.
Rothwell Education's handling of personal information is explained separately in the Privacy Policy.
18. Communication
Rothwell Education may communicate with clients by email, telephone or WhatsApp as appropriate.
Communication directly with pupils may also take place where appropriate to their age and the educational arrangement, for example concerning lesson times, homework or academic work.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to raise any questions or concerns about communication arrangements.
Reasonable efforts will be made to respond to messages promptly, but immediate or out-of-hours responses cannot be guaranteed.
19. Materials and intellectual property
Lesson materials, worksheets, notes, resources and other original materials supplied by Rothwell Education are provided for the pupil's personal educational use unless otherwise stated.
They should not be reproduced commercially, published, sold, distributed publicly or used to provide services to others without prior permission.
Pupils may retain and use materials supplied to them for their own private study.
Third-party materials remain subject to the rights of their respective owners.
20. Privacy
Personal information is handled in accordance with the Rothwell Education Privacy Policy, available on the website.
Clients should avoid sending unnecessary sensitive personal information by email, WhatsApp or website enquiry forms.
Where information concerning a pupil's health, disability, additional learning needs or personal circumstances is relevant to the educational support required, clients are encouraged to provide only the information reasonably necessary for that purpose.
21. Complaints and concerns
Rothwell Education aims to provide a high standard of service and encourages clients to raise concerns promptly so that they can be addressed.
In the first instance, complaints should be sent to:
Rothwell Education will consider the concern fairly and aim to respond within a reasonable period.
Nothing in this section affects any legal rights or remedies available to the client.
22. Liability
Nothing in these Terms of Service excludes or limits liability where doing so would be unlawful, including liability that cannot lawfully be excluded under applicable consumer protection law.
Rothwell Education is not responsible for losses arising from matters outside its reasonable control or for educational outcomes that have not been guaranteed.
Where third-party services or platforms are used, Rothwell Education is not responsible for failures of those services that are outside its reasonable control, although reasonable steps will be taken to minimise disruption to the educational service.
Nothing in these terms affects a client's statutory rights, including the right for services to be provided with reasonable care and skill.
23. Events outside our reasonable control
Rothwell Education will not be responsible for delay or failure to provide a service where this results from circumstances genuinely outside reasonable control.
Where such circumstances affect an agreed lesson or service, reasonable efforts will be made to communicate with the client and, where appropriate, rearrange the service or provide a credit or refund for services that cannot be delivered.
24. Changes to these terms
These Terms of Service may be updated from time to time to reflect changes to Rothwell Education's services, working practices or legal obligations.
The current version will be published on the website with the date of the latest update.
Changes will not retrospectively alter the terms applying to services already provided.
Where a material change affects an ongoing client arrangement, reasonable notice will be provided.
25. Governing law
These Terms of Service and any dispute or claim arising from them are governed by the applicable laws of Scotland, subject to any mandatory consumer rights or protections that apply to a client living elsewhere.
Nothing in these terms deprives a consumer of protections or rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.
26. Contact
Questions about these Terms of Service can be sent to:
Michael Rothwell
Rothwell Education
New Town, Edinburgh
hello@rothwelleducation.co.uk