Terms & Conditions for Accreditation Services
1. Accreditation (General)
1.1 Voluntary and Non-Statutory
Accreditation awarded by ISTAS is a voluntary, non-statutory quality assurance status. It confirms that the School meets the ISTAS Standards but does not represent or guarantee the School’s compliance with any specific legal, governmental, or regulatory requirements in the UK or any overseas jurisdiction.
1.2 Standards and Criteria
The School agrees to be assessed against the current ISTAS Accreditation Standards and Criteria (the "Standard"), which may be updated by ISTAS from time to time. The School is responsible for obtaining and understanding the ISTAS Standard prior to application.
1.3 Scope of Service
ISTAS will provide the agreed-upon services, which typically include:
Review of the application and supporting documentation.
The accreditation review (which may be virtual or physical).
The generation of the review report.
A formal accreditation decision
1.4 Changes to the Terms
ISTAS reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to modify or replace these Terms and Conditions at any time.
For Material Changes: If a revision is material (i.e., significantly alters your rights or obligations), we will provide you with at least [30] days’ notice before the new terms take effect. What constitutes a "material change" will be determined at our sole discretion. We will provide notice of such changes by posting the updated Terms on this page and/or by sending notification to the email address associated with your account.
For Minor Changes: We may make non-material changes (such as minor corrections or additions) at any time without prior notice.
Acceptance: Your continued use of the ISTAS Service after the effective date of the revised Terms constitutes your full acceptance of the new Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree to the new terms, you must stop using the Service.
2. Application Process
2.1 Application Form
If you would like to apply to become an ISTAS accredited school you must first register, by completing the ISTAS application form. Once you have completed and submitted the ISTAS application form, you will be bound by these Terms and Conditions. It can be accessed online at istas.school.
At registration the school will pay the registration fee, details of which are available on istas.school.
2.2 Progression to Review
The review must be undertaken within 30 calendar days of the application unless agreed by both parties in writing. calendar days of your registration.
2.3 Progression from Review to Accreditation
Schools are required (where appropriate) to complete any outstanding recommendations detailed in the review report. On successful completion of the recommendations (and submission of any required documentation).
Schools are not obliged to continue to Accreditation after receipt of the review report. Schools that wish to proceed to ISTAS accreditation are required to pay the accreditation fee prior to a decision being made by the accreditation panel.
2.4 ISTAS Review
The review will take online via Zoom or Teams. An on-site visit may be requested subject to the costs detailed at istas.school.
The relevant fee for the review will be charged at this stage and payable prior to the commencement of the review.
You agree to comply with all reasonable requests relating to the review. This will include the provision of evidence enabling the ISTAS to verify that you have implemented a management system, together with applicable policies, processes and procedures and undertaken risk assessments and can demonstrate that you manage risks to your operations.
You will also be expected to (a) demonstrate that you have the mechanisms to monitor the basic measures that impact your operations and (b) collect data and initiate actions to meet the requirements of the ISTAS Standard.
Full details of these measures can be found in the ISTAS Standard.
3. Fee structure
3.1 Payment
The registration fee and initial review fee for the ISTAS service are immediately payable at the time of registration. Any additional fees incurred, including but not limited to the accreditation panel fee, are payable upon completion of the relevant service phase and must be settled within 30 calendar days of the invoice date.
3.2 Travel and Subsistence Costs
Travel and subsistence costs required for the provision of the ISTAS service will be charged to the client at cost. For rail travel, charges will be calculated at the first-class rate. For domestic air travel (flights within the country where the service is being delivered), charges will be calculated at the standard coach rate.
3.3 International Air Travel
For air travel required for international assignments: Flights of three (3) hours or less will be charged at the standard coach rate. Air travel exceeding three (3) hours in duration will be charged at the Business Class rate.
3.4 Late Payment and Penalties
Any fees and charges not paid within the stipulated 30 calendar days of the invoice date shall be deemed overdue. In the event of a late payment, ISTAS reserves the right to charge the Client both a fixed administration fee and statutory interest as below:
Fixed Administration Fee: A fixed penalty fee of £75 will be immediately applied to the outstanding balance on the 31st day following the invoice date.
Statutory Interest: Interest will accrue daily on the overdue balance at a rate of 4% per annum above the Bank of England Base Rate from the due date until the date of full and cleared payment.
Service Suspension: Furthermore, ISTAS reserves the right to suspend any ongoing services, accreditation processes, until all overdue sums, including accrued interest and penalties, are paid in full.
4. Accreditation Obligations
4.1 General Obligations
The school shall ensure that you and your staff, at all times, act in accordance with these Terms and Conditions and shall:
Meet the requirements of the ISTAS Standard behave in an orderly manner and act with the utmost good faith towards the ISTAS
Not commit any act or omission, or make any statement or otherwise behave in any manner, which may result in any harm or damage to the reputation or the operation of ISTAS
Pay all invoices on time and in full. Failure to do so will mean that ISTAS has the right to withdraw ISTAS accreditation from the ISTAS accredited school
Notify ISTAS in writing as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event within five business days, if any member of staff has been found guilty and convicted of committing an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 Notwithstanding any other provision of these Terms and Conditions, you will automatically cease to be an ISTAS accredited school from the date of conviction, irrespective of when notification is given to the ISTAS.
Notify the ISTAS in writing as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event within five business days, if your company or employees are called to attend a Traffic Commissioner Public Inquiry.
5. Accreditation, Suspension, and Withdrawal
5.1 Accreditation Term
If granted, accreditation is valid for the term specified in the Decision Letter (typically two years), subject to the School's continuous compliance with the Standards and the payment of fees.
5.2 Notification of Changes
An accredited School must promptly notify ISTAS in writing of any material changes to its structure, ownership, name, or core educational offering. ISTAS reserves the right to review the accreditation status following any such material change.
5.3 Suspension and Withdrawal
ISTAS reserves the right to suspend or withdraw accreditation immediately if the School:
Ceases to comply with the ISTAS Standards.
Breaches any of these Terms.
Fails to comply with any statutory or regulatory requirement.
Fails to notify ISTAS of a material change.
Brings the reputation of ISTAS or its accreditation into disrepute.
5.4 Re-Accreditation
It is the School’s sole responsibility to apply for re-accreditation in good time prior to the expiry of the current accreditation term.
6. Use of the ISTAS Mark and Branding
6.1 Licence
Upon being granted accreditation, the School is granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use the ISTAS Accreditation Mark and Logo (the "Mark") solely in relation to the accredited educational provision and for the duration of the accreditation term.
6.2 Usage Guidelines
Use of the Mark must strictly comply with the current ISTAS Branding and Usage Guidelines. The Mark must not be used in a manner that is misleading, ambiguous, or suggests ISTAS accreditation extends to services not covered by the assessment.
6.3 Cessation of Use
Upon suspension, withdrawal, or expiry of the accreditation, the school must immediately cease all use of the Mark and remove it from all electronic, print, vehicles and promotional materials.
7. Records, Audit and Inspection (General)
7.1 Records
You will maintain a complete and accurate set of records pertaining to all activities relating to ISTAS, including your application, the review, information required pursuant to these Terms and Conditions, and evidence of your conformity to the ISTAS Standard and your obligations under these Terms and Conditions (‘records’).
7.2 Retention
You will retain all records during the period of your accreditation and for a period of not less than two years (or such longer period as may be required by law) following termination or withdrawal of your accreditation (‘retention period’). ISTAS or any person nominated by ISTAS has the right to audit any and all records at any time during the retention period on giving to you what istas considers to be reasonable notice (whether in writing or verbally) and at any reasonable time to inspect any aspect of your compliance with these Terms and Conditions. You will give all reasonable assistance to ISTAS,or any person nominated by ISTAS in conducting such inspection, including making available documents for review and staff for interview.
7.3 No Guarantee
ISTAS accreditation is an assessment of quality at a point in time. It is not a guarantee or warranty of a school's ongoing performance, financial stability, or the quality of its educational outcomes.
8. Limitation of Liability
8.1 Exclusions
Nothing in these Terms and Conditions shall limit or exclude the liability of either party for any liability which cannot be excluded or limited by law.
8.2 Liability Limit
ISTAS’ entire liability for all amounts payable under these Terms and Conditions including all losses suffered by the school arising out of or in connection with the provision of the Services and/or the Terms and Conditions (including any liability for the acts or omissions of its employees, agents and subcontractors) shall be limited as follows : ISTAS shall not be liable for any of the following losses suffered by the school: loss of profit; loss of revenue; loss of anticipated savings; loss of business opportunity; loss of goodwill; loss of and/or corruption of data; and/or any indirect or consequential losses.
9. Appeals and Complaints
9.1 Appeals
A School may appeal a formal accreditation decision (e.g., denial or withdrawal). An appeal must be submitted in writing within the specified timeframe and may incur a separate fee. The outcome of the Appeals process is final.
9.2 Complaints
Complaints regarding the conduct of the assessment team or the administration of the scheme must be made in accordance with the ISTAS Complaints Procedure.
10. General and Governing Law
10.1 Confidentiality
Both parties shall keep confidential all non-public information received from the other party, including but not limited to reports and application details, unless disclosure is required by law or necessary for the performance of the service.
10.2 Data Protection
Both parties shall comply with all applicable data protection legislation in the UK, including the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
10.3 Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with the relevant application form and Fee Schedule, constitute the entire agreement between the parties and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.
10.4 Governing Law
These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Law of England and Wales. The parties irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
11 Disclaimer
11.1 Guidance Only
Any information whether verbal or written, including information contained in newsletters, presentations or materials, provided to you in connection with ISTAS (including the application and audit process) is for guidance purposes only and should not be relied upon as it does not constitute formal legal or professional advice. ISTAS excludes to the fullest extent lawfully permitted all liability whatsoever for any loss or damage howsoever caused arising out or in connection with the use of and/or reliance on any information given to you.
11.2 Risk
Any investment or expenditure that you incur in connection with ISTAS is undertaken entirely at your own risk and ISTAS will have no liability to you in respect thereof.
12. Force Majeure
12.1 Neither party will be deemed to be in breach of these Terms and Conditions, the ISTAS Standard or the ISTAS benefits or otherwise liable to the other party in any manner whatsoever, for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under these Terms and Conditions, the ISTAS Standard or the ISTAS benefits to the extent that such failure or delay is due to any cause preventing either party from performing any or all of its obligations which arises from or is attributable to acts, events, omissions or accidents beyond the reasonable control of that party, including without limitation, riot, civil unrest, war, act of terrorism, threat or perceived threat of act of terrorism, fire, earthquake, storm, flood, abnormal weather conditions or other natural catastrophe, malicious damage, compliance with any law or governmental order, default of suppliers or strikes, lock-outs or other industrial disputes.
13. Non-Waiver of Rights
13.1 No waiver of any of the provisions of these Terms and Conditions is effective unless it is expressly stated to be a waiver and communicated to the other party in writing. The single or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy under these Terms and Conditions will not in any circumstances preclude any other or further exercise of it or the exercise of any other such right, power or remedy.
14. Illegality and Severability
14.1 If any provision of these Terms and Conditions (in whole or in part) is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason by any court of competent jurisdiction, such provision will be severed from these Terms and Conditions and the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect as if these Terms and Conditions had been executed without the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision.
15. Notices
15.1 Any notice, demand or communication in connection with these Terms and Conditions will be in writing and may be delivered by hand, pre-paid post, or e-mail addressed to the recipient at the address notified to the other party in writing in accordance with this condition as an address to which notices, invoices and other documents may be sent.
15.2 The notice, demand or communication will be deemed to have been duly served:
· If delivered by hand, at the time of delivery; or
· if delivered by pre-paid post, two business days after being posted or in the case of airmail 10 business days after being posted; or
· If delivered by e-mail, at the time of transmission/sending, provided that a confirming copy is sent by first class post to the other party within one business day of transmission/sending.
16. Relationship of the Parties
16.1 Nothing in these Terms and Conditions constitutes, or will be deemed to constitute, a partnership or joint venture between the parties nor, except as expressly provided, will either party be deemed to be, or hold itself out as being, the agent of the other.
16.2 Subject to any express provisions to the contrary in these Terms and Conditions, you have no right or authority to and will not do any act, enter into any contract, make any representation, give any warranty, incur any liability, assume any obligation, whether express or implied, of any kind on behalf of ISTAS or bind the ISTAS in any way.
17. Use of ISTAS Reports and Communications
17.1 ISTAS accreditation means a school has demonstrated it has met the requirements of the ISTAS Standard. It is not a guarantee that all ISTAS requirements or legal obligations will be met between reviews.
17.2 ISTAS accreditation and reports are not to be used as defence in a court of law, at public inquiry or during any enforcement investigation.
18.Contact Information
If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at: info@istas.school
19. Effective Date
20 November 2025
