Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy explains how Columbus School (“we”, “us”, or “our”) collects, uses, stores, and protects information when you use the Columbus Lar mobile application on Android or iOS (the “App”) and related school management services. This document is provided to support Google Play Store and Apple App Store review and disclosure requirements.
1. Who This Policy Applies To
This policy applies to users of the App, including:
- Students
- Parents / guardians
- Teachers and school staff (where staff features are enabled)
The App is an official school companion for academic, administrative, communication, and fee-related services. Access is limited to authorized school accounts.
2. Information We Collect
We collect information that is necessary to operate the school platform and provide App features. Depending on your role and school settings, this may include:
2.1 Account and Identity Information
- Username / login credentials
- Name, admission or staff ID, class/section, and role (student, parent, staff)
- Profile photograph (if uploaded or provided by the school)
- Contact details such as email address and phone number
- Parent/guardian name, relation, email, and phone number
- Address and other enrollment details maintained by the school
2.2 Academic and School Records
- Attendance records
- Homework, assignments, syllabus, and lesson plans
- Examination schedules, online exam activity, and results
- Timetable, notices, timeline posts, and documents
- Library, hostel, transport, leave, visitor, and behaviour records (where enabled)
- Messages, ratings, or other communications submitted through the App
2.3 Payment and Fee Information
- Fee structures, invoices, discounts, fines, and payment history
- Payment status and transaction references
- Limited payment details processed through third-party payment gateways
We do not store full card numbers or complete banking passwords in the App. Payment card and bank details, if entered, are handled by the payment provider under their own terms and privacy practices.
2.4 Device and Technical Information
- Device type, operating system, and App version
- IP address and network status
- Push notification tokens (for Firebase Cloud Messaging)
- Crash, diagnostic, and usage logs needed to maintain service reliability
- School domain / API endpoint configured for your institution
2.5 Content You Upload
- Homework submissions, documents, images, and other files you choose to upload
- Photos or media captured or selected using device permissions, when you use related features
3. Children’s Privacy
The App may be used by students under 13 (or the equivalent minimum age in your jurisdiction). Student accounts and related data are created and managed by the school / parent or guardian for educational and administrative purposes.
- We do not knowingly sell children’s personal information.
- We do not use student data for targeted advertising.
- We do not build advertising profiles from App usage.
- Parents/guardians may request access, correction, or deletion of their child’s information by contacting the school using the details in Section 12.
Where required by applicable law (including COPPA, GDPR, or local education privacy rules), the school acts as the data controller for student records, and use of the App is based on school authorization and parental/guardian oversight.
4. How We Use Information
We use collected information to:
- Authenticate users and provide secure access to school services
- Display academic, attendance, fee, transport, hostel, and communication information
- Enable homework submission, document upload, leave applications, and related workflows
- Process fee payments and show payment history
- Send important school notifications and alerts
- Support live class integrations (such as Zoom or Google Meet links, where enabled)
- Improve App stability, security, and performance
- Comply with legal, regulatory, and school administrative obligations
5. App Permissions
Depending on your device platform and the features you use, the App may request the following permissions:
| Permission | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Internet / Network | Connect to the school server and load App data |
| Camera | Capture photos or documents for profile, homework, or uploads |
| Photos / Media / Storage | Select, upload, download, or save files and images |
| Notifications | Deliver school alerts, reminders, and important updates |
| Phone / Call | Allow calling school or contact numbers from relevant screens (optional) |
| Calendar | Read or write school events/tasks to the device calendar (where used) |
| Phone State | Support telephony-related device checks needed by certain OS features |
You may deny optional permissions. Some features may not work without the related permission.
6. How We Share Information
We do not sell personal information. We may share information only as needed with:
- School administrators and authorized staff for educational and operational purposes
- Parents/guardians linked to a student account, as configured by the school
- Service providers that help us operate the App, such as:
- Hosting and school management platform infrastructure
- Firebase / Google for push notifications
- Payment gateway providers for fee collection
- Video conferencing providers (Zoom, Google Meet) when live-class features are used
- Legal authorities when required by law, regulation, court order, or to protect rights, safety, and security
Third-party services process data under their own privacy policies when you use their platforms (for example, opening a Zoom/Meet link or completing a payment).
7. Data Retention
We retain personal and academic information for as long as needed to provide school services, meet institutional record-keeping requirements, resolve disputes, and comply with legal obligations. When an account is deactivated or data deletion is approved by the school, information is removed or anonymized according to school policy and applicable law, except where retention is legally required.
8. Data Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures to protect information, which may include:
- Authenticated access controls
- Encrypted transmission where supported (HTTPS)
- Role-based access within the school system
- Server-side storage of school records rather than unnecessary local retention
No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. Please keep your login credentials confidential and notify the school immediately if you suspect unauthorized access.
9. Your Rights and Choices
Subject to applicable law and school policy, you may request to:
- Access the personal information associated with your account
- Correct inaccurate information
- Request deletion of certain personal data
- Withdraw optional permissions from device settings
- Disable push notifications from device settings
- Request account deactivation through the school administration
Because student and academic records are managed by the school, many requests must be processed by Columbus School administrators. Contact details are listed in Section 12.
10. International Users and Transfers
The App and related services are operated for Columbus School. If you access the service from another region, your information may be processed in India or in other locations where our service providers operate. By using the App, you understand that your information may be transferred and stored in accordance with this policy and applicable law.
11. Third-Party Links and Services
The App may contain links or integrations to third-party websites or services (payment pages, video class platforms, downloadable resources). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those third parties. We encourage you to review their policies before providing information to them.
12. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, data access, correction, or deletion requests, please contact:
- Organization: Columbus School
- App / Service: Columbus Lar
- Website: https://lar.columbusschool.in/
- Privacy / Support Email: support@columbusschool.in
13. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the App, school practices, or legal requirements. The updated version will be posted at this URL with a revised “Last Updated” date. Continued use of the App after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised policy, to the extent permitted by law.
14. Google Play and Apple App Store Disclosures
For store compliance:
- The App collects account, academic, contact, device, and payment-related information as described above.
- Data is used to provide school services, not for selling or advertising profiling.
- Push notifications are delivered using Firebase Cloud Messaging.
- Camera, storage/media, phone, calendar, and notification permissions are requested only to support App features.
- Users (or parents/guardians) can request data access or deletion by contacting the school.
- This Privacy Policy is publicly available at a stable HTTPS URL for use in Google Play Console and App Store Connect.