Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Forest Hill Driving School ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

By using our services or website, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

2. Data Controller

Forest Hill Driving School is the data controller responsible for your personal data.

3. Information We Collect

We may collect and process the following types of personal data:

3.1 Information You Provide

• Full name and contact details (email address, phone number, postal address)
• Date of birth and provisional driving licence details
• Payment information for lesson bookings
• Lesson preferences and scheduling information
• Any correspondence or communications with us

3.2 Information Collected Automatically

• IP address and browser type
• Device information and operating system
• Pages visited and time spent on our website
• Referral source and navigation patterns

4. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

• Service Delivery: To provide driving lessons and related services
• Communication: To contact you about bookings, schedule changes, and lesson updates
• Administration: To manage your account and process payments
• Legal Compliance: To comply with DVSA requirements and legal obligations
• Marketing: To send promotional materials (only with your consent)
• Improvement: To improve our services and website experience

5. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data under the following legal bases:

• Contract: Processing necessary to fulfil our contract with you for driving lessons
• Consent: Where you have given explicit consent for marketing communications
• Legal Obligation: Processing required to comply with legal requirements
• Legitimate Interests: Processing necessary for our legitimate business interests, such as improving our services

6. Data Sharing

We may share your personal data with:

• DVSA: As required for practical test bookings and instructor records
• Payment Processors: To process secure payments for lessons
• Service Providers: Third parties who assist in operating our business (under strict data protection agreements)
• Legal Authorities: When required by law or to protect our legal rights

We will never sell your personal data to third parties for marketing purposes.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected:

• Student records: 7 years after your last lesson (as required by DVSA)
• Financial records: 6 years (as required by HMRC)
• Marketing preferences: Until you withdraw consent
• Website analytics: 26 months

8. Your Rights Under GDPR

Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights:

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@drivinglessonsforesthill.co.uk. We will respond within one month.

9. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data, including:

• Secure encrypted connections (HTTPS) for all data transmission
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Limited access to personal data on a need-to-know basis
• Secure storage of physical and digital records

10. Cookies

Our website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us:

• Remember your preferences
• Understand how you use our website
• Improve our services

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect some website functionality.

11. Children's Privacy

Our services are intended for individuals aged 17 and over (the legal age to hold a provisional driving licence in the UK). We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 17. If you are under 17, please do not submit any personal information through our website.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your data.

13. Complaints

If you have concerns about how we handle your personal data, please contact us first at info@drivinglessonsforesthill.co.uk.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK supervisory authority for data protection: