Most of the students using Chemistry Coach are under 18. This page explains, in a few minutes' reading, how we look out for them. The full detail is in section 6 of our Privacy policy.
If you need help now
Chemistry Coach is not an emergency service and is not monitored around the clock.
- If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999.
- Childline: 0800 1111, free, any time, for anyone under 19.
- Samaritans: 116 123, free, any time.
Dexter will always point you towards a real person rather than trying to handle a crisis itself.
What we check
Conversations with Dexter are checked automatically, in the background, for signs that a student might be at risk: self-harm, abuse, an eating disorder, or serious distress. The check does not interrupt the conversation.
The check is a safety net, not a guarantee. It will sometimes flag innocent messages, and it will sometimes miss things.
Who reads a concern
If something is picked up, Rich is told by email and reads the conversation himself. Rich Warburton is our Designated Safeguarding Lead and holds an enhanced DBS check (the background check for people who work with young people). Alerts are reviewed by one person during normal waking hours.
Safeguarding records are kept separately from a student's learning record. Only the person responding to them can see them, and they are never used to shape a student's tutoring or progress view.
What might happen next
Depending on what is disclosed, we may need to contact a parent or carer, the student's school, or an outside agency such as social services or the police. Where it is safe and appropriate, we tell the student first. Where a child is at risk of serious harm, we may have to act without their agreement.
For parents and carers
There is no parent login, by design. A student's conversations with Dexter are their own. We do not share them with parents or schools, except where we have a safeguarding concern as described above.
If you are worried about a student who uses Chemistry Coach, email rich@chemistrycoach.co.uk.
Reporting a problem
If Dexter says something that worries you, or someone behaves inappropriately in a live session, use the thumbs down or feedback button in the app, or email us. We read every report.