Community Guidelines

1. Our Values

Everything at Studia is guided by five values:

• Kindness— We treat others with respect, patience, and empathy.
• Safety— We protect ourselves and each other, especially the youngest members of our community.
• Growth— We ask questions, make mistakes, learn from them, and try our best.
• Integrity— We are honest and take responsibility for our actions.
• Inclusion— Everyone is welcome. We celebrate difference and do not tolerate discrimination.

2. How Learning Works on Studia

Understanding how the Platform works helps you understand where these Guidelines apply.

2.1 Livestream Lessons

Livestream lessons are live group sessions hosted by a Tutor. Students participate using text chat, polls, and typed answers only. Students do not broadcast video or audio during Livestreams. AI tools may help check answers and provide hints during the lesson, guided by the Tutor.

2.2 1-to-1 Sessions

1-to-1 Sessions are private video tutoring sessions between one Student and one Tutor. Both the Student and Tutor may use video and audio. Sessions also include an interactive whiteboard and screen sharing. All 1-to-1 Sessions are recorded for safety (see Section 3 below).

2.3 AI Assistant

During Livestreams, Studia's AI Assistant provides real-time educational support, including answer checking, hints, and Q&A. It is trained on individual Tutors' teaching materials and style.

2.4 Direct Messages

Text messaging is available between Tutors and Students or Parents for scheduling, lesson queries, and educational support. All messages are subject to these Guidelines and our safety monitoring.

2.5 Reviews

Students and Parents may leave public ratings and written reviews of Tutors. Reviews must be honest, constructive, and respectful.

3. Session Recording Policy

Studia records sessions to keep everyone safe, maintain teaching quality, and comply with our safeguarding obligations.

3.1 Livestream Lessons

• Livestream lessons are recorded.
• Students and Parents with an active Subscription can watch replays through the Tutor's Content Library.
• If a Subscription ends, replay access ends.
• Livestream recordings are currently retained indefinitely to support lesson review, revision, and community continuity. We reserve the right to change this policy with reasonable notice.

3.2 1-to-1 Sessions

• 1-to-1 Sessions are recorded (video, audio, and chat).
• Recordings are stored securely and are not available to view by Students, Parents, or Tutors.
• Recordings may only be accessed by the Studia Safety Team if:
  • a safeguarding concern is reported,
  • our monitoring systems detect risk behaviour, or
  • a legal or regulatory request is made.
• 1-to-1 Session recordings are retained for 90 days from the session date, then permanently deleted (unless subject to a safeguarding or legal hold).

3.3 What You Do Receive

For Livestream lessons, Students and Parents receive:

• AI-generated text transcripts
• Lesson summaries
• Key learning points
• Q&As (if applicable)

3.4 Important

You cannot opt out of session recording. Recording is required for safeguarding compliance and the safety of all users. For full details about how recordings are stored and processed, please see our Privacy Policy.

4. Conduct Expectations

These expectations apply to all users across all parts of the Platform.

4.1 Do

• Use respectful language in all communications — chat, messages, reviews, and during video sessions.
• Participate thoughtfully — contribute constructively to lessons and discussions.
• Stay focused on learning — the Platform is an educational environment.
• Report anything that concerns you — no matter how small it seems (see Section 11).
• Keep personal information private — yours and other people's.
• Follow Tutor instructions during lessons and sessions.

4.2 Don't

• Bully, mock, or harass anyone.
• Share personal contact details — phone numbers, social media accounts, email addresses, home or school addresses.
• Try to move communication off the Platform — all contact must stay on Studia.
• Spam messages or disrupt lessons — including flooding chat, excessive emoji use, or off-topic interruptions.
• Share sexual, hateful, violent, or illegal content of any kind.
• Share photos or videos from outside Studia — do not share personal images within the Platform.
• Impersonate another user or create fake accounts.
• Cheat or submit work that is not your own in a way that misrepresents your understanding.

5. Livestream Chat Rules

In addition to the general conduct expectations above, the following rules apply specifically to Livestream chat:

• Stay on topic— chat should relate to the lesson or be constructively supportive.
• No spam or flooding— do not repeatedly post the same message, fill the chat with emojis, or send meaningless content.
• No personal information— never share phone numbers, social media handles, email addresses, or any other personal details in chat.
• Respect other viewers— everyone is here to learn. Do not mock questions or make other students feel unwelcome.
• Follow the Tutor's instructions— if a Tutor asks chat to focus on a topic or pause, please do so.
• Chat is monitored— our safety systems monitor Livestream chat in real time to keep everyone safe.

6. 1-to-1 Session Rules

In addition to the general conduct expectations, the following rules apply specifically to 1-to-1 Sessions:

• Maintain a learning-focused environment— treat the session as you would a lesson with a teacher.
• Camera and audio— both Student and Tutor may use video and audio. Please ensure your environment is appropriate and reasonably quiet.
• All communication must stay on the Platform— do not exchange personal contact details, social media accounts, or agree to communicate outside Studia.
• Report any uncomfortable behaviour immediately — if anything during a session makes you feel uneasy, uncomfortable, or unsafe, end the session and report it straight away (see Section 11). You will never be penalised for doing this.
• Sessions are recorded— remember that all 1-to-1 Sessions are recorded for safety. The recording is not viewable by you, your parent, or the Tutor — it can only be accessed by the Safety Team if needed.

7. Direct Messages and Reviews

7.1 Direct Messages

• Messages between Tutors and Students or Parents must remain professional and educational.
• Do not share personal contact details or attempt to arrange communication outside the Platform.
• Messages are subject to our safety monitoring systems.

7.2 Reviews

• Reviews must be honest and based on your genuine experience.
• Use respectful language — criticism should be constructive, not personal or abusive.
• Do not include personal information about yourself or the Tutor in a review.
• Reviews that contain harassment, hate speech, or inappropriate content will be removed.

8. Privacy and Personal Safety

Your safety is our highest priority. Follow these rules to protect yourself and others.

8.1 Never Share

• Phone numbers
• Social media accounts (Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, WhatsApp, or any other platform)
• Email addresses
• Your home address, school name, or school location
• Photos or videos from outside Studia

8.2 Stay on the Platform

All communication must stay on Studia. If someone — whether a Tutor, another Student, or anyone else — tries to move the conversation to another platform or arrange contact outside Studia, report it immediately (see Section 11).

This rule exists to protect you. Our safety systems can only protect you while you are on the Platform.

8.3 If Someone Asks for Personal Information

If anyone on the Platform asks you for personal details or tries to get you to share information you should not, do not respond. Report it using the Report button or email [email protected]. You will never get in trouble for reporting.

9. Zero-Tolerance Harm and Abuse Policy

The following behaviours will result in immediate account removal and, where appropriate, referral to safeguarding authorities or law enforcement:

• Grooming or sexual communication— any communication of a sexual nature directed at a minor, or any behaviour designed to build an inappropriate relationship with a child.
• Sharing or requesting sexual images— sharing, requesting, or possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or any sexual imagery involving a minor.
• Encouraging self-harm or suicide— any content that encourages, promotes, or instructs self-harm, suicide, or eating disorders.
• Hate speech or serious harassment— targeted abuse based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic, or sustained and severe harassment of any kind.
• Violence, threats, or criminal activity— threats of violence, promotion of terrorism, or discussion of criminal activity.
• Attempting to meet off-platform— any attempt by any user to arrange a meeting with a Student outside of the Platform.

There is no appeal for removal resulting from grooming, CSAM, or criminal conduct. These matters will be referred to the relevant authorities.

10. Content Moderation

10.1 How We Keep the Platform Safe

Studia uses a combination of technology and people to maintain a safe learning environment:

• Automated monitoring— AI-powered tools monitor text chat, audio (via transcription), and behaviour across the Platform in real time, looking for safety risks including inappropriate content, grooming indicators, bullying, and self-harm.
• Human review— Our trained Safety Team reviews flagged content and investigates concerns. Significant actions (such as account suspension or termination) always involve a human decision.
• Proactive and reactive— We do not wait for reports. Our systems actively monitor interactions. However, your reports are invaluable and help us act quickly.

10.2 What We Do Not Disclose

To maintain the effectiveness of our safety systems, we do not publicly share specific details about how our monitoring technology works, what triggers a review, or our internal escalation processes. This is standard practice for child safety systems and helps prevent people from attempting to circumvent our protections.

11. Consequences

Studia takes a progressive approach to enforcement. The action we take depends on the severity of the behaviour.

11.1 Consequences Framework

11.2 Strike System

For medium-severity violations — those more serious than a warning but not severe enough for immediate suspension — we apply a strike system:

• Students: 5 strikes result in permanent removal from the Platform. Strikes expire after 6 months of good behaviour.
• Tutors: 4 strikes result in termination of the Tutor Agreement. Strikes expire after 12 months of good behaviour. Tutors are held to a higher standard because of their Position of Trust.
• Minor issues (off-topic messages, first-time mild language) receive warnings without a strike.
• Zero-tolerance violations (see Section 9) result in immediate removal without the strike system.

11.3 Important Points

• Parents are notified of any action above a warning involving their child's account.
• Safeguarding disclosures are not punished — if a Student discloses self-harm, abuse, or another safeguarding concern, we will provide support, not discipline. Studia follows the principle that disclosures are always treated as a call for help.
• Tutors are held to a higher standard — as adults in a Position of Trust (under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, sections 16–24), Tutors receive fewer strikes before termination and face additional professional obligations (see Section 14).

12. How to Report Concerns

If something does not feel right — whether it happens to you or you witness it happening to someone else — please report it. You do not need proof. You do not need to be certain something wrong is happening. If it feels off, tell us.

12.1 How to Report

• Report button— Click the “Report” button available within any session, on any Tutor profile, or in any message thread.
• Email — Contact our Safety Team at [email protected].
• “Something doesn't feel right” button — If you are unsure whether something is a problem but it made you uncomfortable, you can use this option. We take low-level concerns seriously and will look into them.

12.2 What Happens When You Report

• Every report is reviewed by a member of our Safety Team.
• Urgent safety risks (including any zero-tolerance matter) are reviewed within 1 hour.
• Other concerns are reviewed within 24 hours.
• We will take appropriate action and, where possible, let you know the outcome.

12.3 No Penalty for Reporting

You will never be penalised for making a good-faith report. Reporting is safe, and we encourage it. False or malicious reporting (deliberately making up allegations to harm someone) is itself a violation of these Guidelines and may result in consequences — but genuine concern, even if it turns out to be a misunderstanding, will never be punished.

13. Appeals

If you disagree with an action taken against your account, you have the right to appeal.

13.1 How to Appeal

• Submit an appeal through the Support portal within 7 days of the action being taken.
• Explain why you believe the decision was incorrect or unfair.

13.2 What Happens Next

• Your appeal will be reviewed by a different member of our team from the person who made the original decision.
• We will communicate our decision within 48 hours (working days).

13.3 Final Appeal

For permanent bans, you may request a final appeal to senior management. This must be submitted within 14 days of the original decision. A final decision will be communicated within a reasonable timeframe.

13.4 No Appeal for Zero-Tolerance Violations

Appeals are not available for account removals resulting from zero-tolerance violations (grooming, CSAM, or criminal conduct), as described in Section 9. These matters are referred to the relevant authorities.

14. Tutor Additional Obligations

Tutors occupy a Position of Trust under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (sections 16–24). This means Tutors have heightened legal and professional responsibilities when working with Students. In addition to all the conduct expectations above, Tutors must:

14.1 Safeguarding

• Hold a valid Enhanced DBS with Children's Barred List check before teaching on the Platform.
• Complete Studia safeguarding training before any contact with Students.
• Report any safeguarding concern immediately to [email protected] — including concerns about a Student's welfare, disclosures made by a Student, or concerns about another Tutor.
• Notify Studia immediately of any change in criminal record status or any conduct that may affect suitability to work with children.

14.2 Professional Boundaries

• Maintain professional boundaries at all times — communication with Students must be age-appropriate, educational, and professional.
• Keep all communication on the Platform — never share personal contact details (phone number, personal email, home address) with Students or Parents.
• Do not engage with Students on social media — do not follow, friend, message, or interact with Students on any social media platform.
• Do not attempt to arrange meetings or contact outside the Platform — all tutoring and communication must take place through Studia.

14.3 Professional Conduct

• Prepare adequately for all lessons and sessions.
• Attend on time for all scheduled Livestreams, 1-to-1 Sessions, and free trial bookings.
• Respond to messages from Students and Parents within 24 hours.
• Maintain a professional environment and appearance during video sessions.

14.4 Consequences for Tutors

Because Tutors are in a Position of Trust, they are held to a higher standard:

• Tutors receive 4 strikes before termination (compared to 5 for Students).
• Strikes expire after 12 months (compared to 6 months for Students).
• Immediate termination (without the strike process) applies for any zero-tolerance violation, failure to maintain a valid DBS, or any conduct that threatens child safety.
• Tutor violations may also result in referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service, the Teaching Regulation Agency, or other relevant authorities.

For full details of Tutor obligations, see the Tutor Agreement.

15. Parent and Guardian Role

Parents and Guardians are essential partners in keeping Studia safe and supporting their child's learning.

15.1 What Parents Can Do

• View Livestream recordings— watch replays of your child's Livestream lessons (while the relevant Subscription is active).
• Access Livestream transcripts and summaries— receive AI-generated transcripts, lesson summaries, and key learning points from your child's Livestream lessons.
• Track session history— see your child's attendance, session schedule, and Tutor interactions via the parental dashboard.
• Control Subscriptions and spending— manage, pause, or cancel Subscriptions on your child's behalf.
• Report concerns— submit safeguarding concerns to our Safety Team at any time via the Report button or by emailing [email protected].

15.2 What We Ask of Parents

• Talk to your child about online safety and responsible behaviour on learning platforms.
• Review these Guidelines with your child, particularly younger students.
• Monitor your child's engagement using the parental dashboard.
• Report any concerns — if your child tells you something that worries you, or if you notice anything unusual, please let us know.

16. Changes to These Guidelines

We may update these Community Guidelines from time to time to reflect changes in our services, legal requirements, or best practice in online safety. When we make material changes:

• We will notify you by email and/or a prominent notice on the Platform at least 30 days before the changes take effect.
• The updated Guidelines will show a new “Last Updated” date at the top of this page.
• Continued use of the Platform after changes take effect means you accept the updated Guidelines.

17. Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Guidelines, need to report a concern, or want to discuss anything at all:

• General support: [email protected]
• Safeguarding concerns: [email protected]
• Privacy enquiries: [email protected]
• Legal matters: [email protected]
• Postal address: Studia (SOPHOS EDUCATION LTD), 10 St. Edmunds Square, London, England, SW13 8SA

For detailed information about how we handle your personal data, including session recordings, please see our Privacy Policy. For the legal terms that govern your use of the Platform, please see our Terms of Service.

These Community Guidelines are part of your agreement with Studia. Please read them alongside our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.