BECKENHAM BALLET ACADEMY
Terms & Conditions
1. Registration & Joining Fee
Registration is completed through our online booking system. All required information must be completed by the parent/guardian prior to the commencement of the first lesson.
There is a one-off joining fee of £25, which covers administrative costs for the duration of a student’s time at BBA. This fee is payable upon enrolment.
All personal information collected by BBA is treated as confidential and will not be shared with third parties except where required for the operation of the school or by law.
2. Monthly Fees & Subscriptions
BBA fees are paid by monthly subscription.
The annual cost of classes is calculated according to the number of teaching weeks in the BBA academic year and divided into 12 monthly payments, commencing in August.
Monthly payments are therefore instalments towards the annual cost of tuition and do not necessarily correspond to the number of classes taking place within that particular calendar month.
Where a student joins part-way through the subscription year, their fees will be calculated according to the number of teaching weeks remaining and divided equally across the remaining months of that subscription year. The monthly payment may therefore be higher than the standard monthly amount until the new subscription year begins in August.
Payments are due on the 1st of each month.
There are no refunds or reductions in fees where a student is absent from a class for any reason, including illness, holidays or other personal commitments.
If BBA needs to cancel a class, we will make every reasonable effort to arrange a replacement class. Where a replacement is offered, no refund or credit will be given if a student is unable to attend the new date. If BBA is unable to provide a replacement class, an appropriate credit will be applied to the student’s account.
If it is necessary to cancel classes due to adverse weather conditions, public health restrictions or circumstances beyond BBA’s reasonable control, fees will not normally be refunded.
3. Fee Changes
Fees are subject to change. BBA will provide reasonable notice of any changes to its fees and will endeavour to keep increases to a minimum.
4. Notice to Leave or Change Classes
BBA requires one calendar month’s written notice by email if a student wishes to:
leave BBA;
discontinue a particular class; or
make a permanent change to their classes.
Monthly fees remain payable throughout the notice period.
Failure to provide the required notice will result in one month’s fees being payable in lieu of notice.
5. Private Lessons & Coaching
Private lessons and coaching sessions must be paid for in advance and in full at the time of booking.
6. Uniform
Students are expected to attend all classes wearing the correct BBA uniform.
Female dancers: BBA leotard, convertible tights and Bloch canvas split-sole ballet shoes To be purchased at Reception. . Hair must be worn in a secure ballet bun from Grade 1 upwards. A BBA sweatshirt or tracksuit should be worn to and from classes.
Male dancers: BBA leotard, shorts, white ankle socks and white canvas split-sole ballet shoes. A BBA sweatshirt should be worn to and from classes.
For Jazz classes, dancers should wear black dance shorts or footless tights.
Students must always arrive appropriately groomed and dressed for their classes.
7. Jewellery
For safety reasons, only small stud earrings are permitted during classes.
Students in Advanced Ballet may wear a discreet necklace and drop earrings where appropriate.
8. Toilet Breaks
Please encourage younger children to use the toilet before their lesson begins. Leaving the studio during class can be disruptive and reduces valuable teaching time.
9. Personal Property
BBA cannot accept responsibility for the loss of or damage to personal belongings left on the premises. We will, however, endeavour to retain any lost property found at the studios.
10. Ballet Examinations & Attendance
BBA students work towards Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Graded and Vocational examinations.
Examinations are not compulsory. Entry for an examination will be at the discretion of the BBA Principal and teaching staff, taking into consideration each student’s technical standard, attendance and readiness.
All students from Grade 2 upwards must attend Ballet twice per week.
11. Pointe Work
The BBA Principal will determine when a student is physically ready to begin pointe work.
Readiness will be assessed according to factors including strength of the feet and ankles, strength and articulation of the metatarsals, technique, alignment and core stability.
Students may not commence pointe work without the approval of the BBA Principal.
12. Arrival for Classes
Children should arrive underchanged and ready for their lesson, with their dance uniform underneath a BBA hoodie, leggings or tracksuit.
This enables classes to begin promptly and avoids unnecessary changing time at the studios.
13. Leaving the Premises
Children under the age of 10 will not be permitted to leave the BBA premises without a parent, guardian or authorised adult.
14. Photography & Video
BBA may photograph or video students for promotional and publicity purposes, including BBA’s website and social media.
Parents/guardians who do not give permission for their child to be photographed or filmed must notify BBA in writing.
15. Physical Contact During Teaching
Dance teaching may occasionally require appropriate physical contact in order to assist a student with posture, alignment, positioning or movement, or to help them understand a correction.
Any physical contact will be appropriate to the teaching of dance and carried out with care, professionalism and discretion, in accordance with BBA’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy.
16. Class Changeovers
Classes run back-to-back according to the timetable. Students should therefore be dressed and ready to begin before entering the studio and should leave promptly at the end of their lesson.
17. Parent/Guardian Access to the Building
For safeguarding purposes, parents and guardians are not permitted to enter the BBA building unless specifically invited to do so by a member of staff.
Parents and guardians should not walk into the reception area unless invited.
Parents and guardians are not permitted to enter the changing rooms or student toilet areas at any time.
Children should be dropped off and collected at the designated entrance. These arrangements are in place to safeguard all children attending BBA and we ask all parents and guardians to respect them.
Where a parent or guardian needs to speak to a member of staff, please wait outside or contact BBA rather than entering the building without permission.
18. Collection of Children
Parents and guardians are responsible for collecting their child promptly at the end of each lesson. Parents, who repeatedly collect their children late will be charged a late collection fee.
19. Behaviour & Conduct
BBA expects students, parents and guardians to treat teachers, staff and other members of the BBA community with courtesy and respect.
Abusive, threatening, intimidating or seriously inappropriate behaviour towards members of staff or other students — whether in person, by telephone, text, email, social media or online — will not be tolerated.
Serious or repeated breaches of this requirement may result in a student’s immediate dismissal from BBA.
Fees already paid are non-refundable where a student is dismissed for serious misconduct or as a result of the conduct of their parent or guardian.
20. Refunds
Except where expressly stated within these Terms & Conditions, fees and payments made to BBA are non-refundable where a student chooses not to attend or withdraws from an activity after the relevant payment has become due.
This includes class fees and, where applicable, payments for shows, workshops, summer schools and other BBA activities.
Acceptance of Terms & Conditions
By registering for classes at Beckenham Ballet Academy and continuing to attend, parents/guardians and adult students confirm that they have read, understood and agree to abide by these Terms & Conditions.