Privacy Policy

How we collect, use, and protect your information

Last updated: 13 January 2026

Introduction

Fledge ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application ("App") and website at fledgeapp.online ("Website").

By using our App or Website, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our services.

Information We Collect

Information You Provide

We may collect the following information that you voluntarily provide:

  • Account Information: Email address when you create an account or sign up for updates
  • Contact Information: Name and email address when you contact us for support
  • User Preferences: Your saved schools, filter preferences, and app settings
  • Feedback: Any information you provide when submitting feedback or reporting issues

Information Collected Automatically

When you use our App or Website, we may automatically collect:

  • Location Data: With your permission, we collect your device's location to show schools near you. This data is processed locally on your device and is not stored on our servers.
  • Device Information: Device type, operating system version, unique device identifiers, and mobile network information
  • Usage Data: How you interact with our App and Website, including pages visited, features used, and time spent
  • Log Data: IP address, browser type, referring/exit pages, and date/time stamps

Information from Third Parties

We receive school data from the UK Department for Education's Get Information About Schools (GIAS) database and Ofsted. This is publicly available information about schools and does not include personal data.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

  • Provide Our Services: To display schools near your location, save your preferences, and enable school comparisons
  • Improve Our Services: To understand how users interact with our App and Website and make improvements
  • Communication: To respond to your enquiries, provide support, and send important updates about our services
  • Notifications: To send push notifications about open days for your saved schools (if you enable this feature)
  • Security: To detect, prevent, and address technical issues and protect against fraudulent or illegal activity
  • Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes

Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA) or United Kingdom, we process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:

  • Consent: Where you have given us explicit consent to process your data (e.g., for marketing communications or analytics cookies)
  • Contract Performance: Where processing is necessary to provide you with our services
  • Legitimate Interests: Where processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests, such as improving our services and ensuring security
  • Legal Obligation: Where we need to process your data to comply with a legal obligation

Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

Service Providers

We work with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our services:

  • Firebase (Google): Authentication, database, and analytics services. Privacy Policy
  • Google Analytics: Website analytics (if you consent to analytics cookies). Privacy Policy
  • Apple: App distribution via the App Store. Privacy Policy

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court or government agency).

Business Transfers

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any change in ownership or uses of your personal information.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

  • Encryption of data in transit using HTTPS/TLS
  • Secure cloud infrastructure with Firebase
  • Regular security assessments and updates
  • Limited access to personal data on a need-to-know basis

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

  • Account Data: Retained until you delete your account
  • Saved Schools: Retained until you remove them or delete your account
  • Analytics Data: Aggregated and anonymised data may be retained indefinitely for statistical purposes
  • Support Communications: Retained for up to 2 years after resolution

Your Rights

Under the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

  • Right of Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
  • Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
  • Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten")
  • Right to Restrict Processing: Request that we limit how we use your data
  • Right to Data Portability: Request your data in a structured, commonly used format
  • Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing
  • Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time where we rely on consent for processing

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@fledgeapp.online. We will respond to your request within one month.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe we have not handled your data appropriately. Visit ico.org.uk for more information.

Children's Privacy

Fledge is designed to help parents and guardians find schools for their children. Our services are not directed at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately at privacy@fledgeapp.online. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without verification of parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information.

International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than the United Kingdom, including the United States (where Firebase/Google services are hosted). These countries may have different data protection laws than your country of residence.

When we transfer your data outside the UK/EEA, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:

  • Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission
  • Adequacy decisions by the UK government or European Commission
  • Binding corporate rules or other legally recognised mechanisms

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our Website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies. For detailed information about the cookies we use and how to manage your preferences, please see our Cookie Policy.

Our App uses similar technologies such as local storage to remember your preferences and saved schools. These are stored locally on your device.

Third-Party Links

Our App and Website may contain links to third-party websites, such as school websites or government resources. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by:

  • Posting the updated policy on this page with a new "Last updated" date
  • Sending you a notification through the App (for significant changes)

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of our services after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

We aim to respond to all enquiries within 48 hours.