AI Science Tutor
Cookie and Similar Technologies Policy
Version 1.0 | Last updated: 27 August 2026
This Policy explains how Mr Mark Scates, a sole trader trading as Online Science Tuition, uses cookies and similar technologies in connection with the AI Science Tutor, its account functions and its subscription and billing flows.
For this Policy, “cookies and similar technologies” includes cookies, browser web storage such as sessionStorage, and comparable technologies that store information on, or access information from, a user’s device.
1. Who we are
The AI Science Tutor is operated by Mr Mark Scates trading as Online Science Tuition.
Our contact details are set out in section 10.
2. What cookies and similar technologies are
Cookies are small pieces of information stored by a website or service in a web browser. They can be used for purposes such as keeping a user signed in, protecting an account, remembering a necessary service state or helping to prevent fraud.
Browser web storage performs a similar role but is not technically a traditional cookie. The AI Science Tutor uses sessionStorage so that the current Tutor session can survive a normal page refresh in the same browser tab.
3. The technologies used by the AI Science Tutor
The table below describes the cookies and browser-storage technologies used or expected to be used by the current AI Science Tutor setup. Some cookie names contain a unique hash or other variable element, so the exact name shown in a browser may differ slightly.
Technology | Provider | Purpose | Typical duration | Status
wordpress_test_cookie | WordPress | Checks whether the browser can accept cookies and supports normal WordPress login/session operation. | Session | Strictly necessary
wordpress_logged_in_[hash] | WordPress | Keeps a signed-in user recognised as logged in. | Normally 2 days; up to 14 days if a ‘Remember me’ option is used | Strictly necessary
wordpress_sec_[hash] / related WordPress authentication cookies | WordPress | Supports secure authentication where WordPress requires an additional authentication cookie. | Depends on the WordPress login/session settings | Strictly necessary
wfwaf-authcookie-* | Wordfence | Allows the Wordfence firewall to recognise the role/capability of a logged-in WordPress user before WordPress has fully loaded. | Approximately 12 hours and may be renewed while the user remains logged in | Strictly necessary for security
ai_science_tutor_client | Online Science Tuition / AI Science Tutor | Stores a random browser token used to remember a recent attempt to use a protected Science Worksheets resource, so immediate follow-up attempts can be restricted without storing the worksheet or student message in the cookie. | 30 days | Strictly necessary for service protection and enforcement of Tutor safeguards
aiScienceTutorSessionV4:[page path] | Browser sessionStorage | Stores the current AI Tutor session in the browser so a normal refresh in the same tab can restore the session. | Normally until the browser tab is closed or the Tutor session is cleared | Strictly necessary for the requested session-recovery function
Stripe-hosted cookies and similar technologies | Stripe | Used on Stripe Checkout or the Stripe billing portal for payment, authentication, security and fraud prevention. Exact names vary according to Stripe’s current configuration. | Varies by Stripe cookie | Controlled by Stripe; necessary payment/security technologies may be used without consent where permitted
4. Why these technologies are used without a consent choice
The technologies listed as strictly necessary are used only for purposes needed to provide, authenticate, secure or protect the online service requested by the user, or to carry out the requested payment and subscription functions.
Under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations, consent is not required where storage or access is strictly necessary to provide the online service requested by the user. Current UK rules also recognise purposes such as authentication, security, fraud prevention and fault detection as examples that may fall within this exception when the use is necessary and proportionate.
We still provide information about these technologies so that users and parents understand what is happening.
5. AI Tutor browser session storage
The AI Science Tutor uses a sessionStorage item whose key begins “aiScienceTutorSessionV4:”. It is specific to the Tutor page path.
It can contain the current Tutor selections and session state, including Tutor or student text within an active Teach Me, Practice Questions, Test Me or Help with a Question session, drafts, question progress and response identifiers.
This storage is used only to recover the current session after a normal page refresh. It is specific to the browser tab and is normally cleared when the tab is closed or when the Tutor session is reset.
The Tutor can continue to operate if sessionStorage is unavailable, although refresh recovery may not work.
6. Stripe Checkout and billing portal
Paid subscriptions are handled using Stripe. When a customer chooses to subscribe or manage a subscription, the customer is redirected to a Stripe-hosted page, such as checkout.stripe.com or billing.stripe.com.
Stripe may use cookies and similar technologies on those pages for payment processing, authentication, fraud prevention, security and other functions described in Stripe’s own Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
Stripe controls the cookies used on its hosted pages. The particular Stripe cookies and their duration can change as Stripe updates its services. Customers can review Stripe’s current information at stripe.com/legal/cookies-policy and stripe.com/privacy.
We do not receive or store a customer’s full payment-card number through the AI Science Tutor website.
7. Analytics, advertising and non-essential tracking
The AI Science Tutor itself is not currently designed to set analytics, behavioural-advertising or targeted-advertising cookies, and Tutor conversations are not used for targeted advertising.
If we introduce a non-essential cookie or similar technology that requires consent, we will provide an appropriate consent choice before using it where UK law requires this. Refusing a non-essential technology will not prevent access to the core AI Science Tutor merely because consent has been refused.
We will update this Policy if the technologies used by the AI Science Tutor materially change.
8. How users can control cookies and storage
Users can delete website cookies through their browser settings. Blocking strictly necessary login or security cookies may prevent account login, subscription functions or other parts of the AI Science Tutor from working correctly.
Closing the AI Tutor browser tab normally clears the Tutor’s sessionStorage. Users can also clear site data through their browser settings.
Cookies used by Stripe on Stripe-hosted pages are controlled through Stripe and the user’s browser or Stripe cookie choices where available.
9. Children and privacy
The AI Science Tutor is likely to be used by children and teenagers. We therefore aim to keep device storage limited to what is needed for login, security, subscription functions, safety protections and the operation of the current Tutor session.
We do not use the AI Tutor’s cookies or sessionStorage to build advertising profiles of students.
10. Contact details and changes to this Policy
If you have a question about cookies or similar technologies used by the AI Science Tutor, please contact us:
Mr Mark Scates trading as Online Science Tuition
Sole trader
155 Ford Lane, Rainham, Essex, RM13 7BA, United Kingdom
Email: markscates486@yahoo.com
Telephone: 07722 510681
We may update this Policy when the AI Science Tutor, WordPress, security tools, payment services or applicable law changes. The latest version will be published on the website with an updated date or version number.
AI-Science-Tutor-Cookie-and-Similar-Technologies-Policy-v1.0