Secondary School Licence Terms and Conditions
1. Definitions
In this Agreement, words and phrases have the meaning given to them in this clause 1:
“Additional Newsletters” means any email newsletters, other than the FT Schools Digest, that FT makes available to Named Readers as part of the FT Service from time to time.
“Agreement” means the online registration form submitted by the School to apply for participation in the Programme and these Terms and Conditions.
“AI Output” means any output, response, summary or other content generated by Ask FT or any other FT artificial intelligence tool in response to a query or prompt submitted by a Reader or Named Reader.
“Ask FT” means the artificial-intelligence powered tool made available by FT as part of the FT Service which generates AI Outputs in response to queries or prompts submitted by Readers and Named Readers.
“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in England.
“Content” means any content provided or made available by FT to the School under this Agreement in any form and media, including without limitation any literary work (text, tables and computations) and artistic work (including graphic works such as drawings, diagrams, maps, charts, plans, videos and photographs).
“Copyright Policy” means FT’s current copyright policy, as made available at https://help.ft.com/legal-privacy/copyright-policy/.
“FT” means The Financial Times Limited (company number 00227590), whose registered office is at Bracken House, 1 Friday Street, London EC4M 9BT.
“FT Digital Edition App” means FT’s digital edition application, as made available by FT from time to time.
“FT Schools Digest” means FT’s email newsletter for the Programme known as the FT Schools Digest (or such other name as FT may give it from time to time).
“FT Service” means FT’s website at www.ft.com (including the equivalent Financial Times application for access on mobile devices), the FT Digital Edition App, Ask FT, the Newsletters and any related content, features and functionality which FT makes available to Readers and Named Readers under the Programme from time to time.
“IPRs” means all present and future copyright, moral rights, database rights, trade mark rights, trade secrets and all related rights and neighbouring rights and any other
intellectual property rights of whatsoever nature throughout the world whether or not registered or capable of registration including all renewals and/or extensions thereof.
“Marks” means all trade marks, service marks, trade names, logos and other branding (whether registered or not) of FT or its licensors, including but not limited to “FT” and “The Financial Times”.
“Named Reader” means a student or staff member of the School with a login to the FT Service.
“Newsletters” means, collectively, the FT Schools Digest and the Additional Newsletters.
“Privacy Policy” means FT’s current privacy policy, as made available at https://help.ft.com/legal-privacy/privacy-policy/.
“Programme” means FT’s secondary schools access programme making Content available free of charge to schools providing full-time education for students aged 16 to 19.
“Reader” means a student or staff member of the School who accesses the FT Service without a login to the FT Service.
“Reader Charter” means FT’s current reader charter, as made available at https://aboutus.ft.com/company/our-standards/reader-charter.
“Reader Data” means any personal data relating to a Named Reader.
“Responsible Steps” means to take all practical steps that a world leading provider of education might reasonably be expected to take to act responsibly and protect third party intellectual property used by that provider in the course of providing its education services, with the aim of ensuring that such intellectual property is not used by the provider’s employees, contractors and students other than for the purposes for which it is licensed to the provider.
“School” means the school or other educational establishment which enters into this Agreement.
“Start Date” means the date of FT’s confirmatory email (or other written confirmation) under Clause 2.3.
“Terms and Conditions” means these terms and conditions.
The headings in this Agreement do not affect its interpretation. Unless the context otherwise requires the words “include” and “including” will be construed without limitation; and any reference in this Agreement to any statute or statutory provision will be deemed to include any subsequent re-enactment or amending provision. If there is any conflict between the online registration form and these Terms and Conditions, these Terms and Conditions will prevail.
2. Agreement
2.1. The School must meet the eligibility criteria for the Programme from time to time. FT will have sole discretion in determining whether the School is eligible for the Programme. FT reserves the right to decline any application for a School to participate in the Programme without stating any reasons.
2.2. By submitting an application for the School to participate in the Programme, the person making the submission confirms that they are authorised to enter into this Agreement on behalf of the School.
2.3. No agreement exists between the School and FT until FT has issued a confirmatory email (or other written confirmation) that the School has been accepted to participate in the Programme.
3. FT Service Access
3.1. FT will provide Named Readers with access to the FT Service in accordance with this Agreement.
3.2. Named Readers must be aged 16 or over. FT will provide a sign-up link for the School to circulate to students and staff members of the School who are entitled to be Named Readers.
3.3. It is for the School to ensure that all Named Readers meet the eligibility criteria, namely that each Named Reader is:
• 3.3.1. a staff member of the School; or
• 3.3.2. a student of the School aged 16 to 19.
3.4. The School will use the administration interface provided by FT in order to check the eligibility of Named Readers and to remove promptly any Named Reader who is not entitled to be a Named Reader.
3.5. Named Readers must access their account using a personal email address (not a generic address such as “office@school.ac.uk”) within the School’s email domain.
3.6. FT will remove access to the FT Service for any Named Reader who completes or graduates from their studies at the School. The School will use best endeavours to notify FT promptly (or remove the Named Reader using the administration interface referred to in Clause 3.4) if any Named Reader ceases to be a student or employee of the School and to cooperate with FT to ensure that the Named Reader’s access to the FT Service is terminated. The School acknowledges that the purpose of this Clause is to
ensure that Named Readers can no longer access the FT Service under this Agreement once they cease to be students or employees of the School.
3.7. Readers will be able to access Content only by devices accessing the internet from IP addresses or ranges specified by the School and agreed by FT at its sole discretion. The School warrants and represents that each such IP address or range will be unique to the School and usable only by students and staff members of the School.
3.8. The Content is only for Readers’ and Named Readers’ general information and educational purposes and is not intended to address any particular requirements. The Content does not constitute any form of advice, recommendation, representation, endorsement or arrangement by FT. It is not intended to be used, and should not be relied upon by the School or its Readers and Named Readers, in making (or refraining from making) any specific investment, purchase, sale or other decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision.
4. FT Schools Newsletter
4.1. FT may make the Newsletters available to Named Readers as part of the FT Service. As the Newsletters are sent by email, they are available only to Named Readers. The purpose of the Newsletters is to highlight editorial content that FT believes will be of interest to Named Readers.
4.2. Named Readers are automatically enrolled to receive the FT Schools Digest at the email address used for their account and may opt out at any time in accordance with the applicable unsubscribe process. Named Readers may opt in to receive any Additional Newsletters and may unsubscribe from any Additional Newsletter in accordance with the applicable unsubscribe process. FT does not guarantee that a Named Reader will be able to resubscribe to any of the Newsletters.
4.3. FT may add to, change, withdraw or suspend any of the Newsletters at any time, with or without notice.
5. Use of Content and IPRs
5.1. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, FT grants to the School a non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable licence to allow Readers and Named Readers to: (a) read Content for personal use, and for the purposes of historical and archival research, education, teaching and current awareness; and (b) use the Content in accordance with the Copyright Policy.
5.2. Except as expressly permitted by this Agreement, the School will not, and will take Responsible Steps with the aim of ensuring that its Readers and Named Readers do not:
5.2.1. share access to the FT Service with any other person (including any family member of a Reader or Named Reader);
5.2.2. copy, cut and paste, email, reproduce, publish, distribute, redistribute, broadcast, transmit, modify, adapt, edit, abstract, create derivative works of, store, archive, publicly display, sell or in any way commercially exploit any Content (whether received from FT under this Agreement or otherwise); or
5.2.3. use the Content for the purposes of endorsement of a business, product or service.
5.3. The School agrees and acknowledges that:
5.3.1. password access to the FT Service is on the basis of one password for use by one specific Named Reader only. Sharing of passwords is not permitted either simultaneously or on a rotational basis;
5.3.2. no Reader or Named Reader may forward full-text FT articles internally or externally by email or any other distribution method, save as permitted by any tools made available on the FT Service from time to time. No full-text FT articles will be hosted on any internal or external School websites; and
5.3.3. FT headline links cannot be forwarded externally outside of the School as part of a charged “paid for” service to external companies, organisations or institutions or third party clients, or used for commercial gain.
5.4. FT reserves complete editorial freedom in the form and content of the Content and may add to, remove or edit Content at any time on a permanent or temporary basis, with or without notice.
5.5. FT reserves the right to monitor Content usage by all Readers and Named Readers (in terms of volume and frequency) for the duration of this Agreement.
5.6. The School acknowledges that the FT Service contains third party advertising as an integral element of the FT Service. FT endeavours to be a responsible publisher of advertising in accordance with the Reader Charter, but the School acknowledges that FT cannot make any guarantees as to the specific nature of any advertiser or advertising that will appear to Readers and Named Readers.
5.7. This Agreement does not constitute a sale of the Content. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, no rights or licences in the Content are granted to the School, its Readers or its Named Readers. The School acknowledges that as between itself and FT, FT (or its licensors) is, throughout the world, the owner of all IPRs in the Content.
5.8. The School acknowledges and agrees that: (a) all use of FT’s Marks under this Agreement inures to the benefit of FT; (b) FT’s Marks will remain the exclusive property
of FT; (c) nothing in this Agreement will confer upon the School any right of ownership in FT’s Marks; and (d) the School will not, now or in the future, contest the validity of FT’s Marks or take any action impairing the rights of FT in its Marks.
5.9. The School will not remove, shrink or otherwise modify the copyright or any other proprietary notice or any branding or logo of FT (or its licensors) contained in any Content.
5.10. Any additional use of Content outside the scope of the rights granted in this Agreement will require express permission from FT and may incur additional costs.
5.11. The School will take Responsible Steps with the aim of ensuring that: (a) its Readers and Named Readers will only use the Content in accordance with the Copyright Policy; and (b) its Readers and Named Readers will not infringe any of FT’s IPRs in, or otherwise misuse, the Content. As a minimum the School will: (i) ensure that all Readers and Named Readers are made aware of their obligation to comply with the Copyright Policy, in addition to maintaining a permanent notice on the School intranet (or similar) or other portal used by Readers and Named Readers to access the Content; and (ii) maintain appropriate processes and policies designed to ensure that Readers and Named Readers are aware of the importance of respecting IPRs and which enable the School to take prompt remedial action in relation to any non-compliance.
6. Reader Data
6.1. The School acknowledges that elements of the FT Service that require personalisation are available only to Named Readers.
6.2. The School acknowledges that both during and after the term of this Agreement, FT may use and process any Reader Data provided to it by the School or a Named Reader in accordance with: (a) that Named Reader’s preferences; and (b) the Privacy Policy. FT will not be restricted from using any non-identifying data it may receive as a result of Readers and Named Readers using the Content.
6.3. In relation to Reader Data, FT acts as an independent controller. FT will comply with all applicable data protection laws and regulations and the Privacy Policy. The School will provide FT with reasonable assistance in complying with its obligations under applicable data protection and privacy laws insofar as necessary to facilitate compliance with FT’s obligations under this Agreement.
6.4. The Programme is not aimed at under 16s. FT does not intentionally collect personal data from children under 16 years of age and will delete any such details on request by the School or by a child’s parent or guardian.
7. Ask FT and AI Outputs
7.1. As part of the FT Service, FT may make Ask FT available. AI Outputs are automatically generated and are not FT journalism or FT editorial content.
7.2. As between FT and the School, FT owns all IPRs in the AI Outputs. AI Outputs are treated as Content for the purposes of the licence granted under Clause 5.1, the restrictions in Clause 5.2 and the deletion obligation in Clause 9.2.
7.3. The School will take Responsible Steps with the aim of ensuring that its Readers and Named Readers:
(a) use Ask FT and the AI Outputs in accordance with the licence granted at Clause 5.1; and
(b) do not use any AI Output to train, develop or improve any third-party artificial intelligence system, or otherwise commercially exploit any AI Output.
7.4. AI Outputs are provided on an “as is” basis and are for general information and educational purposes only. AI Outputs may be inaccurate, incomplete or not up to date, are not checked by FT before they appear, and do not constitute any form of advice, recommendation, representation, endorsement or arrangement by FT. Readers and Named Readers should check the linked FT articles and should not rely on any AI Output without independent verification. FT may make additional guidance relating to Ask FT available from time to time.
7.5. FT may process information submitted to Ask FT, and related usage information, in accordance with the Privacy Policy. FT’s third-party artificial intelligence provider is contractually prohibited from using queries submitted by Readers and Named Readers or the AI Outputs to train, develop or improve its artificial intelligence models.
7.6. FT may add to, change, suspend, withdraw or limit Ask FT and any other artificial intelligence feature at any time, on a permanent or temporary basis, with or without notice.
8. Warranties and Liability
8.1. Each party warrants and represents to the other that it has the full power and authority to enter into this Agreement.
8.2. The School warrants and represents to FT that: (a) it is entitled to provide any Reader Data that may be provided by the School to FT; (b) it will take Responsible Steps with the aim of ensuring that its Readers and Named Readers will only use the Content in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and will not infringe any of FT’s IPRs in the Content; and (c) it has obtained, and will maintain, all consents required under applicable law from a parent or guardian of any Reader or Named Reader (in particular any such person under the age of 18) that are necessary for that Reader’s or Named Reader's participation in the Programme and use of the FT Service (including Ask FT).
8.3. Subject to Clauses 6.2 and 6.3, each party warrants and represents to the other that: (a) it has and will continue to have full legal authority to control and process data; (b) it will only control and process data: (i) in accordance with all applicable data protection laws now existing or hereinafter enacted (and will not cause the other party to breach the same); (ii) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and (iii) for the purposes of performing its obligations under this Agreement; and (c) it has in place and undertakes to maintain throughout the term of this Agreement appropriate technical and organisational measures against the accidental, unauthorised or unlawful processing, destruction, loss, damage or disclosure of data and adequate security programs and procedures to ensure that unauthorised persons do not have access to any equipment used to process data.
8.4. Except as expressly set out in this Agreement, and to the extent permissible by law, all warranties, conditions, representations, terms or undertakings, express or implied, statutory or otherwise are hereby excluded.
8.5. FT will not have any liability to the School to the extent such liability arises as a result of a breach of this Agreement by the School or a breach of the Copyright Policy by a Reader or Named Reader.
8.6. Subject to Clause 8.8, neither party will have any liability to the other for: (a) any indirect, special, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever; or (b) any loss of profits, loss of revenue, anticipated savings, loss of business or loss of data, arising directly or indirectly from this Agreement whether such damages were reasonably foreseeable or actually foreseen.
8.7. Subject to Clause 8.8, the aggregate liability of FT arising out of or in connection with this Agreement (whether for breach of contract, negligence or otherwise) will be limited to direct damages which in no event will exceed £5,000 (five thousand pounds sterling).
8.8. Nothing in this Agreement will operate to exclude or restrict either party’s liability for: (a) death or personal injury caused by its negligence; (b) fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; (c) wilful default or for any liability which cannot be limited or excluded by law; or (d) any losses, damages, costs or other liabilities incurred by FT as a result of any infringement of FT’s IPRs (including any use of the Content outside of the scope of this Agreement) by the School.
9. Term and Termination
9.1. This Agreement will commence on the Start Date and, subject to the terms of this Agreement, will continue until terminated at any time by either party giving notice to the other in writing. On termination, FT will remove access to the FT Service for all Named Readers within approximately forty-eight (48) hours.
9.2. Within 30 days of termination of this Agreement, the School will delete or destroy, in accordance with the directions of FT, all materials relating to the Content in the School’s possession or control, whether held electronically or otherwise. For the avoidance of doubt, this will not require the deletion of articles downloaded by a Reader or Named Reader in accordance with the Copyright Policy which are only accessible by that Reader or Named Reader for their personal use.
9.3. Any termination of this Agreement or part of it is without prejudice to any other rights or remedies a party may be entitled to under this Agreement or at law and will not affect any accrued rights or liabilities of either party.
9.4. This Agreement will terminate automatically, without requirement for notice, in the event that FT withdraws the Programme or changes the eligibility criteria for the Programme such that the School no longer qualifies for it.
10. Announcements
10.1. FT is permitted to identify the School as a participant in the Programme, including on FT’s website relating to the Programme and in any other publicity material relating to the Programme.
10.2. The School is permitted to announce to its students and staff members that it is a participant in the Programme and that access to Content is available to Readers and Named Readers, but the School will not make any external announcement regarding this Agreement or its participation in the Programme without the prior written consent of FT.
11. Fore Majeure
11.1. Neither party will be liable for any failure to perform its obligations under this Agreement if such performance is hindered or prevented by any matter beyond the reasonable control of such party (including, without limitation, by reason of any failure, interruption, or degradation of any third party telecommunications network or system or hardware or the Internet or any part of it).
12. General
12.1. No failure or delay by either party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or by law will constitute a waiver of that right or remedy. Nor will it preclude or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy. No single or partial exercise of such right or remedy will prevent or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy.
12.2. Any notice, consent or other communication required under this Agreement will be made in writing and delivered by hand, recorded delivery, courier or email to the other party and will be deemed to have been received: if delivered by hand, at the time
and date of delivery; if sent by recorded delivery or courier, upon the date of receipt (as evidenced by signature); and if sent by email, at the time of transmission or, if transmission occurs outside 09:00 to 17:00 on a Business Day, at 09:00 on the next Business Day. Any such communication made by FT will be sent to the postal or email address of the School as provided by the School to FT. Any such communication made by the School will be sent to General Counsel, The Financial Times Limited, Bracken House, 1 Friday Street, London EC4M 9BT (copied to company.secretary@ft.com) or, if sent by email, to company.secretary@ft.com.
12.3. This Agreement constitutes the whole agreement between the parties and supersedes all previous agreements relating to its subject matter. Each party acknowledges that, in entering into this Agreement, it has not relied on, and will have no right or remedy in respect of, any statement, representation, assurance or warranty (whether made negligently or innocently) other than as expressly set out in this Agreement. Nothing in this Clause will limit or exclude any liability for fraud.
12.4. If a provision of this Agreement (or part of any provision) is found by any court or other authority of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that provision or part-provision will, to the extent required, be deemed not to form part of this Agreement, and the validity and enforceability of the other terms of this Agreement will not be affected. If a provision of this Agreement (or part of any provision) is found to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, the provision will apply with the minimum modification necessary to make it legal, valid and enforceable.
12.5. This Agreement may not be assigned, licensed, sub-licensed or otherwise transferred without the prior written consent of FT.
12.6. Anyone who is not a direct party to this Agreement will not have any rights to enforce its terms. The rights of the parties to terminate, rescind or agree any variation, waiver or settlement under this Agreement are not subject to the consent of any other person.
13. Disputes and Governing Law
13.1. All contractual and non-contractual claims arising out of or in connection with this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales and the parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts, provided that for the exclusive benefit of FT, FT retains the right to bring proceedings against the School in the applicable courts of the School’s place of business.
14. Application of these terms
14.1. This version of these Terms and Conditions was posted on 3 November 2026.
14.2. FT may at any time and at its sole discretion change, update or amend these Terms and Conditions by posting a new version of these Terms and Conditions at https://help.ft.com/legal-privacy/legacy-pages/secondary-school-licence-terms and-conditions/. Any such change to these Terms and Conditions will take effect as soon as FT posts them. The School is responsible for ensuring it checks these Terms and Conditions regularly for any changes to them.