Q: How quickly will my order be despatched?

For orders placed on our UK website:

Stage 1: Processing and Despatch 
We aim to process your order within two working days. Please note that our working days are Monday to Friday, 9.00am-5.00pm, and we do not process orders on weekends or UK Bank Holidays. So for instance, an order placed on our website over the weekend or on a Monday, should be despatched by Wednesday.

Stage 2: Delivery
UK orders are sent using Royal Mail 1st class packet post which can take between 1 and 3 days to reach you after it is despatched. Orders to Europe and Rest of the World are delivered using the standard airmail service. The time taken for delivery will be dependent on the destination and the delivery service within that country.

Please see our Postage & Delivery page for postage prices and alternative delivery options.

For orders placed on our Australia and New Zealand websites:
We will process your order as swiftly as possible. Our standard service is via post however small orders can be shipped express upon your request at an additional charge.

Q: How many schools use Out of the Ark Music's material?

Approximately two thirds of all primary schools in the UK use our music as well as countless schools around the world. In addition our 'early years' publications are used by many thousands of pre-schools and nurseries.

Q: What is the format / size of each songbook?

All of our books are A4 format (11.7" x 8.2"), except the following:
 

• 'DIY Nativity' & 'Sunday's Cool' - 254 x 176mm / 10" x 7"
• 'Pictures, Poems & Percussion' - 380 x 280mm / 15" x 11"
• The Song & Story series & ' Essentials - Christmas Carols' - 254 x 176mm / 10" x 7"
• 'A Combined Harvest', 'A Cracking Christmas', A Spring Thing' & 'Here Comes Summer!' - 254 x 176mm / 10" x 7"

Most of the primary years songbooks and musicals are wiro-bound whilst the nursery / reception books are stitched. All of our books are supplied with an accompanying CD. All of the songs on the CD are sung by a children's choir and professionally arranged backing tracks are provided for use with practice or performances.

Q: What type of music scores are provided?

Piano music scores, the melody and chords are included in all of our songbooks and musicals.

Q: Can the song lyrics or the music scores be photocopied or reproduced?

We convey the right to copy the song lyric sheets provided in each songbook for teaching purposes.

Photocopying the lyrics or making OHP transparencies for assemblies or public worship requires a CCL or MRL licence from CCLI.

Photocopying the music scores requires an MRL licence from CCLI.

See more comprehensive information about copyright and licencing here.

Q: Are performance licences required?

If you are using our music for classroom teaching or for school assemblies where members of the public are not present you do not need to obtain a licence from us. Please note that schools should log the use of our songs for assemblies as required by their CCLI licences.

See more comprehensive information about copyright and licencing here.

A licence is required by law for the performance of any work involving drama, movement or spoken dialogue. For convenience we issue affordable licences. An easy-to-complete licence form is provided with each of our musicals.

PRS licenses the extra-curricular use of copyright music on school premises, however a PRS Licence does not cover the performance of musicals.

PPL licenses the extra-curricular use of sound recordings on school premises.

Q: Are inspection copies available?

Due to copyright laws we are unable to offer inspection copies.

Q: Do you have a returns policy?

Please refer to our full Returns Policy here.

Q: How can I pay for my order?

UK & Europe Website:

Payments made at the time of ordering can be made by debit or credit card securely on our website or by telephoning our Customer Services department. Where an invoice or pro-forma invoice has been issued, or you are sending payment with order, we accept payments by:

BACS - Send payment to: Account Number 00044040, Sort Code 20-90-56, using your Customer Code as the reference. For international payments: IBAN - GB89 BARC 2090 5600 0440 40; SWIFTBIC - BARCGB22.

Cheques (Pounds Stirling ONLY) made payable to 'Out of the Ark Music' and sent to: Out of the Ark Music, Units F1 & F2, Kingsway Business Park, Oldfield Road, Hampton, Middlesex, TW12 2HD. Please quote your Customer Code on the back of the cheque.

Eurocheques made payable to 'Out of the Ark Music' and sent to the above address.

Australia & New Zealand Website: Payment is required with all orders except if placed by organisations or schools which are registered. Customer number and order number must be used in order to receive an invoice with the order.

Q: Do you supply music to private customers as well as schools?

Yes, we supply our music to private customers. We do require payment with each order.

UK / Europe: Payment can be made by credit card or debit card, or if ordering by mail we can also accept cheques (pounds sterling or, if ordering from the Euro zone we can accept cheques in Euro - please call +44 20 8481 7200 for prices in Euro).

Australia / New Zealand: Payment can be made by credit card or cheque (Australian or New Zealand dollars only)

Q: Can we alter the music or the scripts?

The scripts can easily be adapted to suit your particular school or nursery - you do not need to obtain permission from Out of the Ark Music to make minor changes to the scripts. However song lyrics must not be changed without our written permission.

Q: Do we need special permission to use the backing tracks?

The CD backing tracks may be used in class for teaching purposes or in assemblies. We also issue licences for the performance of our musicals or nativities which include permission to use our backing tracks for performances.

Q: Can we make recordings of our performances?

Sound or video recording is permitted by Out of the Ark Music, however the school or organisation wishing to record the performance for distribution to the public (including parents) must obtain a licence to do so.

If recordings of our backing tracks are used a licence is also required. Please contact our copyright department - copyright@outoftheark.com

Please telephone our Royalty Department on 020 8481 7200 for further information.

Q: Are Out of the Ark Music products available internationally?

Yes, we ship our music to schools, pre-schools, churches and private customers around the world.

Customers in Australia can order from our associate office  KI Entertainment in Smithfield NSW either on-line or by calling Tel: 1 800 850 777.

Customers in New Zealand can order from our associate office in Australia, KI Entertainment  either on-line or by calling Tel: 0800 850 777.

Customers in other countries can order on-line or by fax +44 20 8941 5548. Payment is required with each order. Payment can be made by credit card or debit card; all charges are made in pounds sterling (the credit card issuer will convert to the local currency). If ordering by mail we can also accept cheques, made payable in pounds sterling, to Out of the Ark Music. We can also accept payment by cheque in Euro - please enquire about Euro prices on +44 20 8481 7200.

Q: Is VAT (or GST) charged?

UK and EU customers: VAT at standard rate (20%) will be charged on performance licences and replacement CDs.

Australian & New Zealand customers: GST will be charged on all orders at the standard rate.

Other regions: We do not apply sales tax to goods supplied from the UK to countries outside the EU.

Q: Are schools exempt from VAT?

Although UK schools are 'exempt' from VAT it is a legal requirement for suppliers to charge VAT on goods supplied to schools. It is the responsibility of the schools to claim back the VAT from HM Customs & Excise.

Q: Are scripts provided with all of the musicals and nativity plays?

Yes, all of the musicals and nativity plays that we produce include a script that is provided free of charge, with the exception of 'Off to Bethlehem' and 'DIY Nativity' which do not have scripts.

We convey the right to photocopy the scripts of all our musicals and nativity plays for learning and rehearsal purposes only.

For larger productions, such as 'Moving On' and 'Alice - The Musical' we can also provide additional scripts at a cost-effective price.

Q: Can we use OHP transparencies?

Lyric sheets may be copied onto overhead transparencies for classroom teaching purposes. Where overhead transparencies are used for assemblies, public worship or performances this should be logged (as appropriate) on the school's / church's CCL or MRL returns form.

Q: Can I buy CDs separately?

CDs are sold together with the songbooks as a package. However if your CD is missing or damaged we are able to provide replacements as a special order - please telephone our customer services team:

UK:            020 8481 7200
Australia:   1 800 850 777
NZ:             0800 850 777

Q: Do I need special permission to photocopy the script of the musicals?

No. We convey the right to photocopy the scripts of all our musicals and nativity plays for learning and rehearsal purposes only.

For larger productions, such as 'Moving On' and 'Alice - The Musical' we can also provide additional scripts at a cost-effective price.

Q: Can I submit my own manuscripts for review?

Yes absolutely. Please download and read our submission guidelines here for more details.

Q: Why can I not hear the song clips when I "click to listen"?

Our songs have been developed for flash, so your computer will need to have the most recent version of flash to work. Flash software updates are free and can be found at http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/