Cookie Usage

We ask that you read this cookie policy carefully as it contains important information on and our use of cookies on our website.

What are cookies?

Cookies are small data files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. Cookies are widely used by online service providers to help build a profile of users. Some of this data will be aggregated or statistical, which means that we will not be able to identify you individually.

You can set your browser not to accept cookies and the websites below explain how to remove cookies from your browser. However, some of our website features may not function as a result.

Types of cookies

The cookies we place on your device fall into the following categories:

Session cookies—these allow our website to link your actions during a particular browser session. These expire each time you close your browser and do not remain on your device afterwards
Persistent cookies—these are stored on your device in between browser sessions. These allow your preferences or actions across our website to be remembered. These will remain on your device until they expire, or you delete them from your cache
Strictly necessary cookies—these cookies are essential for you to be able to navigate our website and use its features. Without these cookies, the services you have asked for could not be provided
Performance cookies—these cookies collect information about how you use our website, eg which pages you go to most often. These cookies do not collect personally identifiable information about you. All information collected by these cookies is aggregated and anonymous, and is only used to improve how our website works
Functionality cookies—these cookies allow our website to remember the choices you make (such as your user name, language, last action and search preferences) and provide enhanced, more personal features. The information collected by these cookies is anonymous and cannot track your browsing activity on other websites
Targeting cookies—also known as advertising cookies, these cookies are used to deliver adverts more relevant to you and your interests. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement on our website and help measure the effectiveness of the advertising campaign. They are usually placed by advertising networks with the website operator’s permission. They remember that you have visited a website and this information is shared with other organisations such as advertisers.

The list below provides more information about the cookies we use and why:

The cookies we use

First Party Cookies
These are necessary Cookies that are set by this website directly. These Cookies are essential to the running of our website and are kept for the duration of a user’s visit. These keep track of things such as the session ID itself and whether the visitor has chosen to view the site in high visibility mode.

First Party Cookies set by this website
Name Purpose Expires
auth_user Records when a user has logged in to the website (e.g. protected pages that require a user login). End of session
cms_user Identifies a session that should not retrieve pages from cache (e.g. when a user is logged in to the CMS). End of session
highvis Records if the user has switched to high visibility mode. End of session
PHPSESSID Default identifier that PHP uses for Cookies which are generated during a session. End of session
popup_seen_today Indicates whether pop-up announcements have been viewed or not At midnight

Third Party Cookies
These are Cookies set by other suppliers which we may be using to enhance our site and which are controlled by them. The following section details third party Cookies you might encounter through this site. For more information on these Cookies or to opt-out of third parties collecting any data regarding your interaction on our website, please refer to their websites for further information.

Google Analytics
Like many websites, we use Google Analytics to collect information about visitor behaviour, such as the number of visitors to the various parts of our website. We do this to compile reports that help us improve our site. Google Analytics stores information about what pages you visit, how long you are on the site, how you got here, what documents you download and what you click on. This analytics data is not tied to personally identifiable information (e.g. your name or address) so this information cannot be used to identify who you are.

Below is a description of the Google Analytics Cookies we may use on this site and what they are used for:

Name Purpose Expires
_utm.gif Logs details about visitor’s browser and computer End of session
_utma Used to distinguish users and sessions 2 years
_utmb Used to determine new sessions/visits 30 mins
_utmc Used to determine the duration of a visit End of session
_utmv Use to determine visitor behaviour during a session End of session
_utmz Stores the traffic source that explains how the user reached the site 6 months
_utmt Used to throttle request rate 10 minutes
_utmt_masterTracker Updates the total number of page visits in anonymous form End of session
_ga Used to distinguish users 2 years
_gid Used to distinguish users 24 hours
You can find more detailed information about the Google Analytics Cookies we use at https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/collection/analyticsjs/cookie-usage

You can find out more about Google’s position on data privacy as regards to its analytics service, including information about the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on in the Privacy Controls section at support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245

Other Third Party Cookies
We may use third party plugins or integrate with other websites or services (for example: Issuu PayPal, ParentPay, WisePay, facebook, twitter, Linkedin, YouTube, Instagram, vimeo).

How we use your cookies

Ocean Academy may request cookies to be set on your computer or device. Cookies are used to let us know when you visit our website, how you interact with us and to make your experience using the school website better for you. The cookies we collect will differ depending on what you are looking at on our website. You are able to adapt your cookie preferences, but by blocking certain types of cookie it may mean that your experience on the website is impacted.

Consent to use cookies

We will ask for your permission (consent) to place cookies or other similar technologies on your device, except where these are essential for us to provide you with a service that you have requested (eg to enable you to put items in your shopping basket and use our check-out process).

There is a notice on our home page which describes how we use cookies and requests your consent to place cookies on your device.

How to turn off cookies

If you do not want to accept cookies, you can change your browser settings so that cookies are not accepted. If you do this, please be aware that you may lose some of the functionality of this website. For further information about cookies and how to disable them please go to the Information Commissioner’s webpage on cookies: https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/online/cookies/.

How to contact us

Please contact us, if you have any questions about this cookie policy.

If you wish to contact us, please send an email to office@ocean-aspirations.org, write to Ocean Academy, Constitution Hill Road, Poole, Dorset, BH14 0PZ or call 01202 606888.

Changes to this policy

This policy was last updated January 2021.

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