Questions
What parents ask us
Plain answers about access, safety, marking and your child’s data.
Getting access
How do I get access?
Sign-up isn’t open yet. Join the waitlist and we’ll invite families to the beta as places open.
I already have an account. How do I get in?
Log in as usual — nothing changes for existing families.
Which subjects does Phoque cover?
Pearson Edexcel International GCSE French, Spanish and German. We only list a subject once it is live.
Do I need to sit with my child?
No. Sessions run on their own, and you can open a short brief any time: what changed, why it matters and what to do next.
The AI and safety
How is the AI kept safe for children?
Whatever your child writes or says — chat, lesson answers and exam practice — is checked before it reaches the AI, with tighter thresholds for children, and every AI reply is checked too. Child-facing AI can be paused instantly, and a fault pauses it rather than leaving it running.
What happens if my child writes something worrying?
Phoque shows a fixed message we wrote in advance, pointing to people trained to help — Childline, Samaritans, or 999 if someone is in danger. It never tries to counsel your child and never writes its own reply to a crisis. That check runs on our own systems, so it still works if an outside service is unavailable. Nothing is sent to anyone automatically, and safety records keep the category of a concern, never your child’s words. More about safety.
Where do the lessons come from?
From the exam board’s published specification. Every stage of building a course is bound to that source, so the model cannot invent a topic the specification doesn’t contain, and anything uncertain stays a draft learners never see.
How is work marked?
Marking is automatic. Answers it is unsure about are marked as needing review rather than given a score. Practice papers are labelled as AI-generated, not official exam-board papers.
Progress and grades
Do you predict grades?
Phoque shows estimated grades with their uncertainty. They are guidance, not a promise, and they are not official results.
Does Phoque include speaking practice?
Yes. Your child can practise speaking and get feedback on pronunciation. It is practice, not an administered speaking exam.
Data and privacy
Do you need my consent?
Yes. A child cannot start without a parent’s consent, and you can withdraw it at any time.
Can I get a copy of my child’s data, or have it deleted?
Yes — ask us and we’ll do it. Our GDPR page explains how, and our privacy policy sets out what we hold and why.