Accessibility
Statement

We are continually working to improve the accessibility and usability of this website.

We know that some parts of the website may not be fully accessible. For example:

• some older PDF documents may not be fully accessible to screen reader software;
• some images may not have sufficiently descriptive alternative text;
• some embedded videos may not include captions, transcripts or audio descriptions;
• some third party systems, forms or embedded content may not meet the same accessibility standards as the main website;
• some colour combinations may not provide sufficient contrast;
• some interactive elements may not be fully accessible using a keyboard; and
• the purpose of some links may not be clear when read outside the surrounding text.

We are reviewing these areas and will make improvements wherever reasonably possible.

Please contact us if you:

• experience difficulty accessing any part of this website;
• need information from the website in a different format, such as an accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille; or
• have suggestions about how we could improve the website’s accessibility.

You can contact the College by:

• Telephone: 01782 848 736
• Online: Use the contact form on our Get in Touch page.

We will consider your request and aim to respond within 10 working days.

The College is committed to supporting students, staff and visitors with disabilities or additional needs.

Please contact us before your visit if you require information about disabled access, accessible parking, hearing support, assistance within the building or any other reasonable adjustment.

We are always looking to improve the accessibility of this website.

Please contact us using the details above if you find an accessibility problem that is not included in this statement or believe that we are not meeting accessibility requirements.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

If you are not satisfied with how we respond to your accessibility request or complaint, you can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service for further advice and assistance.

The City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College is committed to making its website accessible in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.

UK public sector websites are expected to meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA and publish an accurate, regularly reviewed accessibility statement. (GOV.UK)

Non accessible content
The content described below may not be fully accessible.

Non compliance with the accessibility regulations
The following issues may be present and should be confirmed through accessibility testing:

• Images and alternative text
  Some images may have missing, duplicated or insufficiently descriptive alternative text. This may not meet WCAG 2.2 success criterion 1.1.1: Non-text Content.
  We are reviewing images across the website and will add or improve alternative text where necessary.
• Colour contrast
  Some text, buttons or graphical elements may not have sufficient contrast against their backgrounds. This may not meet WCAG 2.2 success criteria 1.4.3: Contrast (Minimum) and 1.4.11: Non-text Contrast.
  We will review the website’s colour combinations and update those that do not meet the required contrast levels.
• Keyboard navigation and focus
  Some menus, forms, controls or embedded elements may be difficult to operate using only a keyboard. Keyboard focus may not always be sufficiently visible. This may not meet WCAG 2.2 success criteria 2.1.1: Keyboard and 2.4.7: Focus Visible.
  We will review interactive elements and make improvements to keyboard access and focus indicators.
• Links and headings
• Some links may not clearly describe their destination when read independently. Some pages may not use headings in a logical order. This may not meet WCAG 2.2 success criteria 2.4.4: Link Purpose and 2.4.6: Headings and Labels.
  We will review link wording and page-heading structures as content is updated.
• Forms
  Some online forms may contain fields without clear labels, instructions or accessible error messages. This may not meet WCAG 2.2 success criteria 1.3.1: Info and Relationships, 3.3.1: Error Identification and 3.3.2: Labels or Instructions.
  We will work with our website and third-party system providers to improve the accessibility of online forms.
• Video and audio content
  Some prerecorded video content may not have captions, transcripts or audio descriptions. This may not meet WCAG 2.2 success criteria 1.2.2: Captions (Prerecorded), 1.2.3: Audio Description or Media Alternative, and 1.2.5: Audio Description (Prerecorded).
  We will aim to provide captions and suitable alternatives for new video content and prioritised existing content.

Disproportionate burden
At the time of publication, we have not made a disproportionate burden assessment. Any future assessment will be carried out in accordance with the accessibility regulations and recorded within this statement.

• Older PDF documents
  Some PDF documents published before 23 September 2018 may not be fully accessible. These documents may be exempt from the accessibility regulations unless they are required to access an active administrative process or essential College service. We will aim to provide an accessible alternative when requested.
• Third-party content
  Some content, systems and applications may be supplied or controlled by third parties. Where the College does not fund, develop or control this content, it may be outside the scope of the accessibility regulations. We will nevertheless encourage third-party suppliers to improve the accessibility of their services.
• Archived content
  Archived content that is not needed for active administrative processes and has not been updated since 23 September 2019 may be outside the scope of the regulations.

We are working to improve the website by:

• reviewing new content before it is published;
• improving alternative text and page structures;
• reviewing colour contrast and text legibility;
• improving keyboard navigation and visible focus states;
• producing more accessible documents;
• adding captions or transcripts to video content where possible;
• reviewing third-party systems and embedded content;
• providing accessibility guidance to staff who create website content; and
• undertaking periodic accessibility testing.

The College already states that it is committed to ensuring students with disabilities and learning difficulties can access its courses and services, with reasonable adjustments made where required.

This statement was prepared on 16.06.2026.

It was last reviewed on 16.06.2026.

This website was last tested on 16.06.2026 against the WCAG 2.2 AA standard.

The testing included:

• a representative selection of website pages;
• automated accessibility testing;
• manual keyboard testing;
• screen-reader checks;
• colour-contrast testing;
• page-structure and heading checks; and
• checks of forms, documents and multimedia content.

The sample included the homepage, course pages, application information, contact pages, news and events, policy pages, forms and other commonly used areas of the website.