Terms and conditions

Speaker's School Council Awards 2012

The awards

1. The Speaker's School Councils Awards are open to every educational institution in the UK serving young people aged 4 to 19.
2. For every school or institution entering the competition, a school council sponsor (member of school teaching staff) must authorise the application on behalf of their school by agreeing to these terms and conditions.
3. All applications must be submitted via the website: speakersschoolcouncil.org or by post. Postal applications must be sent to: Speaker’s School Council Awards, Parliament’s Education Service, Houses of Parliament, SW1A 2TT
4. The deadline for receipt of applications is midnight on 30 April 2012. Please note that proof of postage is not accepted as proof of receipt.
5. The decision of the judging panel is final in every situation, as is that of Parliament's Education Service in all matters affecting the awards, and no correspondence on this topic will be entered into.
6. School council showcase pages published by schools on the website will have no bearing on the judging process. Judges will consider the application form only when awarding the Speaker's School Council Awards.
7. Parliament's Education Service reserves the right to publish the applications and seek/issue publicity on behalf of all applicants.
8. Parliament's Education Service reserves the right to refuse any nomination for any reason.
9. No responsibility is accepted by Parliament's Education Service and the Speaker of the House of Commons in respect of the past or future activity of any individual or institution in receipt of an award.
10. Awards are non-transferable and there is no cash alternative.
11. An award will be given for each of the following age groups:
    • Infants (4-7)
    • Juniors (7-11)
    • Secondary (11-16)
    • Young adults (16-19)
12. Awards will be shortlisted in five categories:
    • Relationships in school
    • Relationships with the wider community
    • Environment
    • Democracy and engagement
    • Learning and teaching
13. Parliament's Education Service may, at its discretion, change the award category for which any nomination is made.
14. Parliament's Education Service may request to visit any school/college that it is considering for shortlisting or an award.
15. Parliament's Education Service may request additional evidence from any school/college that it is considering for short listing or an award.
16. Parliament's Education Service reserves the right to change these terms and conditions at any time by posting changes online.

Using this website

a. General

17. This website is maintained for your personal use and viewing. The access and use of www.speakersschoolcouncil.org constitutes your acceptance of these terms and conditions. They take effect from the date on which you first use this website.

18. You agree to use this site only for lawful purposes, and in a manner that does not infringe on the rights of, or restrict or inhibit the use and enjoyment of, this site by any third party. We will fully cooperate with any law enforcement authorities or court order lawfully requesting or directing us to disclose the identity of anyone posting or behaving in such a manner on this website.

b. Copyright

19. The material featured on this website is subject to copyright protection unless otherwise indicated. The material featured on the website is subject to Parliamentary copyright.
20. Nothing on our website or in these terms gives you any licence or right to use any trademark, patent, design right or copyright belonging to us or any third party.

c. Disclaimers and limitation of liability

21. This website and any material, information, products, or services (or third party information, products, or services), is provided 'as is', without any representation or endorsement made and without warranty of any kind whether express or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, compatibility, security, completeness and accuracy.
22. We do not warrant or represent that the functions contained on this site will be uninterrupted or error free, that defects will be corrected, or that this site or the server that makes it available are free of viruses or represent the full functionality, accuracy or reliability of the materials.
23. In no event will we be liable for any expenses, loss or damage including, without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any expense, loss or damage whatsoever arising from use, or loss of use, of data, or loss of profits, arising out of or in connection with the use of this site, or reliance on its content.
24. No data transmission over the internet can be guaranteed as totally secure. Whilst we strive to protect such information, we do not warrant and cannot ensure the security of any information which you transmit to us. Accordingly, any information which you transmit to us is transmitted at your own risk.
25. The material on this website may include the views or recommendations of third parties, which do not necessarily reflect the views of Parliament, or indicate its commitment to a particular course of action. We assume no responsibility or liability arising in respect of any such third party material.

d. User generated content and moderation

26. Surnames, addresses, telephone numbers or any other identifying information of any children under the age of 18 must not be published. Any personal information that could identify young people involved with the awards scheme will not be approved by our moderators.
27. School council sponsors are responsible for obtaining the signed consent of the parents or guardians of the students taking part in the project and any other children appearing on the web pages relating to the Speaker's School Council Awards.

e. Privacy

28. Parliament's Education Service will only ever use personal details for the purposes of administering this awards scheme and where consent is given to receive Parliament's Education Service e-newsletter. This will be subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998.
29. We may be required to disclose details of contractual processes, prices, performances and outcomes to meet legal, regulatory and public policy requirements, and also any other duty we may have to provide information to Parliament.
30. The House of Commons and the House of Lords are Public Authorities within the meaning of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ('the FOIA') and, as such users should be aware that all information received by them may be subject to a future request under the FOIA and will be dealt with accordingly.
31. When considering a request under the FOIA we will carefully consider releasing any information we hold, giving due protection where appropriate to information of a confidential nature. If you intend to send information which you regard as 'Confidential' you must clearly identify the confidential element(s) and explain why you consider each element to be of a confidential nature.
32. Primary responsibility for decisions to disclose in response to a request under the FOIA will rest with us. However, you should also be aware that decisions on disclosure under the FOIA are subject to the jurisdiction of the Information Commissioner, the Information Tribunal and ultimately the Courts.

f. Miscellaneous

33. This Agreement represents the entire understanding and agreement between us and supersedes all previous negotiations and understandings between us with respect to its subject matter. Further, this Agreement supersedes all previous agreements between the parties with regard to its subject matter and those agreements are now terminated and of no further effect.
34. This Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted in accordance with, the law of England and Wales and shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England.