Help, safety & privacy
Answers to common questions, how we protect you, and where to find support.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an account?
No. You can learn without signing up. Your progress is saved in your browser. Optional accounts exist only for features that need a server, such as emailed certificates and syncing between devices.
Is it really free?
Yes. There are no fees, paywalls or advertisements for learners.
How do I use it with a slow or expensive connection?
Turn on Data saver in the top bar, install the app, and use “Save for offline” on course pages while on a good connection. Pages you have opened before also keep working offline.
How do I change the language?
Use the language menu in the top bar for the interface (10 languages). Lessons are written in English; press “Translate this page” for optional machine translation. It is provided by Google Translate and loads only if you ask; it may not work where Google is blocked, and it can be inaccurate for maths and science.
I moved to a new device — how do I keep my progress?
On the old device open My learning and download a backup. On the new device choose “Restore from backup”.
Which pathway should I choose?
Choose the one closest to the exams or curriculum you follow in school. If none fits, the IB/AP global track is a strong general choice. See Pathways.
Are certificates official?
No. Alpha School is not an accredited school. A certificate records that you completed a course; it is not a recognised qualification.
I found a mistake in a lesson.
Thank you! Use the “Report an issue” button on the lesson, or email admin@unb.college.
Safety & wellbeing
- Alpha School has no chat, comments or messaging. You cannot be contacted by other users through the site.
- Never share personal details (home address, phone number, passwords) with anyone online, including in the Writing coach or issue reports.
- Videos are click-to-play. They are hosted by YouTube; once you press play, YouTube's own privacy terms apply.
- If something online makes you feel unsafe or upset, tell a parent, teacher or another adult you trust.
Privacy at a glance
| Tracking & ads | No advertising, tracking cookies or profiles. We count learners anonymously by country (see below). |
|---|---|
| Learner counter | Once a day your browser sends only a 2-letter country code (no name, email, ID or IP). The server counts each device once per day with a one-way hash whose daily salt is deleted after two days, and publishes country totals on the live map (small numbers hidden). Not sent if your browser has Do-Not-Track or Global Privacy Control on, or if you tick “Don’t count my device” on that page. |
| Your region | Guessed on your device from your browser language and time zone. Your IP address is not used or logged for this. |
| Progress, settings, notes | Saved in your browser's local storage on your device. You can export or erase them any time in My learning. |
| Issue reports | If you choose to send one, the text and your IP address are stored to stop abuse (rate-limiting). Don't include personal information. |
| Optional accounts | If you create one, we store the details you enter (name, email, grade and, for younger learners, a parent or guardian email) to run the account. See the full Privacy Policy. |
| Third parties | None load automatically. Only if you press them: Google Translate (“Translate this page”), YouTube (video play). |
Accessibility statement
We want every learner to be able to use Alpha School. We aim to meet WCAG 2.2 level AA. Features include keyboard navigation, a skip link, visible focus, screen-reader landmarks, adjustable text size, dyslexia-friendly mode, high contrast, dark mode, reduced motion, read-aloud, and a right-to-left layout for Arabic. The site has not yet had a formal external accessibility audit; some interactive visualisations may be hard to use with a keyboard or screen reader. If you hit a barrier, tell us at admin@unb.college and we will help you and fix it.