The parties to this contract are as follows:

Each respective party will henceforth be referred to by their shorthand title (Educator, Student, Agent).

The Client's scheduling platform is Acuity Scheduling Client, otherwise known as Squarespace Scheduling Client. The Educator's website for this platform is https://circleinstitute.as.me or https://circle.institute/schedule-my-class.

It can also be accessed through the

and entering the circleinstitute.as.me in the Business selection window.

The Educator's scheduling platform is Acuity Scheduling Admin, otherwise known as Squarespace Scheduling Admin. The website for this platform is https://prism-pike-p3s6.squarespace.com/config/scheduling-service/appointments.php.

It can also be accessed through the:

Zoom.us is the cloud videoconferencing provider of choice. It is available online via the

In circumstances where Zoom cannot be used, preference will be given to alternatives such as Microsoft Teams or Zhumu (瞩目).

A class is defined as an online videoconferencing meeting scheduled via the Scheduling platform and held via Zoom or another videoconferencing platform and held with the presence of the Student and a teacher chosen by the Educator. The duration of the class is determined by the Educator on the basis of the Student's educational needs, goals, and current level.

A class package is a time-limited fixed-term number of classes paid for by the Student to the Educator or the Agent. The package is reflected via a code redeemable on the Educator's website and in the Scheduling platform, sent to the Student's email after signing the present Contract and successful payment.

A class schedule for group classes is arranged a year in advance and is split into four parts: autumn term (September to December), winter term (January to February), spring term (March to June), summer term (July to August).

Group classes are offered at a set time each Frinday, Saturday, or Sunday during autumn and spring terms and can only be rearranged if ≥ 50% of the students in the group inform the Educator of their absence.

Groups classes are only arranged if the number of students who have signed the present contract and successfully paid the first installment in each group is ≥ 4.

Group classes are arranged during winter and summer in one 18-class period (20 days) with one rest day after every 6 classes.

Group classes are distributed as follows:

A cancellation is seen as a class that has been cancelled by the Student on the Scheduling platform at least 24 hours before the start of the class. The cancellation (请假) button is available in the confirmation email sent to the Student, or in the Acuity Scheduling app on their phone.

A cancellation is not valid if it has been communicated via WeChat to the Educator or the Agent. In case the Student uses WeChat or other communication channels, the Student will be considered to have taken the class which they do not attend and will be charged for it as if they were there.

In case of a force majeur as defined on https://www.trans-lex.org/944000/_/force-majeure/, the cancellation may be communicated via email to info@circle.institute stating the reason for their absence and a preferred time for rebooking. It is the Student's responsibility to make sure they understand how to use the Scheduling platform for cancellations.

An absence is defined as the Student not being in a scheduled class without having previously informed the Educator about their upcoming absence at least 24 hours in advance via the Scheduling platform (not WeChat, email, or any other channel of communication).

An absence that is not communicated by the Student to the Educator at least 24 hours in advance may be considered a cancellation if it is due to a compelling medical or compassionate reason as evidenced by a doctor's note. Compassionate reasons may include bereavement and force majeur as defined on https://www.trans-lex.org/944000/_/force-majeure/. Compassionate reasons do not include going on holiday.

A rearranged class is a class that has previously been cancelled by the Student through the Scheduling platform and has been rebooked for another group class during the same week or the week after. It is also a class that has been cancelled as outlined above and rebooked for a one-on-one class with a duration of 40% of the original group class on the same week during weekdays.

Classes cannot be rearranged for a time further than one week after they were scheduled to take place. In this case a cancellation will be taken as an absence and charged for as if the student had taken the originally scheduled class.

The Educator is obliged to make a suitably qualified teacher available to teach the classes according to the agreed curriculum and timetable.

If the teacher is late to class for any reason, they will make up for lost time on the same day or during the next class.

In case the Educator needs to cancel a class for whatever reason, such a decision will be communicated to the Student via the Scheduling platform and email at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled class. The Educator will then make themselves available on a date suitable to the Students for a make-up class or for individual weekday classes whose duration is 40% of the originally scheduled group class.

The Educator must create a curriculum suitable for the Student's level based on materials from internationally recognised publishing houses and the students' learning needs as attested to by the Student's performance during the interview and placement tests.

The Educator must ensure sufficient time is allocated to compete the slated curriculum in good time.

The teacher provided by the Educator must be in time for classes on Zoom arranged via the Scheduling platform.

The teacher should give ample time for students to aswer questions and practice in class and outside, taking into account their level and abilities.

The Educator will arrange appropriate unit tests, midterm tests, and final tests to gauge the Student's progress. After each class the Educator will give the Student a mark for their performance and explain what they can do to improve.

The Educator will provide ongoing feedback appropriate to the Student on Notion and in class. The Educator will provide a feedback summary after each term. The Educator will be available to answer specific questions about specific students via email at info@circle.institute. The Educator will be available for three 15-minute one-on-one consultations per term free of charge, such consultations are to be booked via the Scheduling platform.

The Educator will ensure, to the best of their ability, that the Student progresses at least one CEFR level in the English language after the completion of 4 terms under Schedule A, given that the Student has attended at least 95% of the class hours provided for in the present contract, completed at least 95% of the coursework, homework, and tests, and achieved a average mark of at least 85%. Schedule B implies slower progress and milder increases in fluency, vocabulary, and grammar.

The Student must ensure complete timely prepayment of class packages for each term at least 14 days before the start of each term for the upcoming number of classes (16 or 18, depending on the upcoming term) or before they have used up all the classes in their class package, whichever comes earlier.

Any extra classes the Student requests from the Educator can either be counted against their class package or paid for separately.

The Student must arrange to be present during all classes arranged for them by the Educator via the Scheduling platform.

If, for any reason, the Student cannot attend a scheduled class, they must inform the Educator of this by cancelling (请假) their attendance for the specified class via the Scheduling platform at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled class and rebooking for a suitable time during the same week or next week as set out in Paragraph II:g (Rearranged Classes) of the present contract.

The Student must make all reasonable effort to complete assigned homework published in their class notes on the circle.institute Notion page.

The Student must make time for and make all reasonable effort to complete all the tests assigned to them by the Educator in order to ensure proper feedback and appropriate progress.

The Agent must collect timely termly payments from the Student and forwards them on a termly basis to the Educator.

The Agent must ensure the Students are able to use the Scheduling system and are fully aware of the implications the present Contract has on their Class package, attendance, and fee payment.

The Agent ensures the Student possesses all the requisite technological know-how to be able to take part in the classes, inform the Educator of any updates to their attendance via the Scheduling platform.

Thee Agent must ensure the Student has access to all of the following: the Scheduling platform, a working VPN, Notion, Baidu Netdisk, and Otter.ai.

The Educator has the right to rearrange classes if ≥ 50% of the students in the class are absent or have cancelled their attendance. The rearranged classes will then be counted against the Student's Class package.

The Educator reserves the right to set weekly assessment and homework that together take no longer than the duration of one class to complete.

The Educator reserves the right not to allow the Student to take part in a class if they have not prepaid the classes for the upcoming term.

The termly class package paid for by the Student expires on the last date of the term for which the Student has made prepayment. If the Student has not used up all of the classes within the term, the Educator will not carry the unused classes over to the next term.

The Educator has the right to cancel the present contract by giving formal written notice to the Student and the Agent at least 2 (two) calendar months before the intended date of cancellation.

In case the Educator cancels the present contract, any unused classes from the class package will be refunded to the Student.

The Student has the right to request feedback on their learning progress by writing to info@circle.institute and quoting their name, group, and contract number.

The Student has the rigth to expect to progress at least one CEFR level in the English language after the completion of the present contract.

The Student has the right to cancel the present contract by giving formal written notice to the Educator at info@circle.institute and the Agent at least 2 (two) calendar months before the intended date of cancellation.

In case no formal written notice is given or it is given via a channel other than the one agreed above, the Educator and the Agent withhold the fees for the unused classes.

During the notice period the Student must attend any scheduled classes. If they do not, it is counted as an absence and the Student is charged as if they had taken the class.

The Agent has the right to withdraw from the present contract by giving formal written notice to the Educator at info@circle.institute and the Student at least 2 (two) calendar months in advance. Any prepayment for unused classes will be refunded to the Student and the Educator.

In case the Agent withdraws from the present contract, the contract does not cease and the Educator and the Student are able to continue their prior teaching arrangements.

The hourly rate for group classes is £25 (GBP) per hour.

The Student has chosen Fee and Group Class Schedule [A / B → choose one] and understands its implications on their academic progress. Schedule B does not guarantee progress as set out in Paragraph

The payment date is 14 days before the beginning of each term.

The payment is collected via WeChat, Alipay, or bank transfer using the QR code provided by the Educator or the Agent.

The present contract is valid for one year from the date of signing, any unused classes from this contract cease to be valid beyond this date.

This is a binding and legal contract which stands under common law used in Hong Kong SAR (China) and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Each party has to have one copy of the Contract.

The present Contract may be stored electronically by all parties.

A physical copy of this legal contract can be requested by the Client 14 days after the date of purchase by emailing sales@circle.institute. The physical copy contains the company seal and should be physically signed by the Client in triplicate and one copy should be sent off to CIRCLE EDUCATION UK, LIMITED at the address specified by the company.