This accessibility statement applies to northamptoncollege.ac.uk, run by Northampton College. The content on the College website is intended to be able to be accessible to all and any issues with accessibility or assistive technology are listed in this statement.
We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:
- Change colours, contrast levels and fonts
- Zoom in up to 400% without the text spilling off the screen
- Navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
- Navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
- Listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)
We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
How accessible this website is
We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:
- Some information is only available in PDF format and may not be accessible to screen readers.
Feedback and contact information
Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille.
We will consider your request and get back to you within 10 days, when we will confirm what we can do to help you and offer advice.
If you cannot view the map on our contact us page, alternatively you can call 01604 734567 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for directions.
Reporting accessibility problems with this website
We are always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems that are not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Enforcement procedure
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’).
If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, please contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).
Technical information about this website's accessibility
Northampton College is committed to making this website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
Compliance status
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version (WCAG) 2.1 AA standard, non compliance and exemptions are listed below.
Non-accessible content
The below list are known issues that we are aware need fixing, cannot fix or do not need to fix at the moment. If you find something that needs fixing, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations
Images without a description
Most of our images are provided with meaningful alternative text where appropriate. However, there may be some instances where images do not provide enough information about the image which may affect users with screen readers who require a description, or the image needs to be indicated as purely for decorative purposes (WCAG: 1.1.1). We aim to fix any images within 14 days of being made aware of any issues and when we publish new images, we will make sure they meet accessibility standards. Please contact us if you require help with a particular image description.
Contrast issues
There are some instances on our pages where the contrast between text and background may be low and hamper those with a vision impairment (WCAG: 1.4.3). We will look to try and rectify these issues in due course.
For the moment, users can change colours by using third party browser extensions, such as, ThinkAscend (for Microsoft Edge), Change Colors (for Chrome) and Color Changer (for Firefox).
Links without meaningful purpose
Some of our hyperlinks/link text are not labelled clearly, which means users with screen readers will not know where the hyperlink is taking them prior to clicking (WCAG: 2.4.4).
However, most of our hyperlinks/link text provides purposeful information. We will look to fix these issues within 14 days of being made aware of any instances where the text in the link is insufficient. If you have problems or spot something which hampers accessing content through hyperlink/link text, please contact us.
Focus visible
As users tab through our website some elements may not be instantly visible to users. For example, the colour which highlights the element does not have visible contrast differences to identify the element (WCAG: 2.4.7). We will look to fix any issues within 14 days of being made aware of them.
PDFs/Word documents
Some of our PDF and Word documents may not be accessible to a screen reader and are essential to providing our services (WCAG: 4.1.2).
We will try to make sure any new PDFs or Word documents we add to the web site are accessible. We will be carrying out an audit on our PDF/Word documents and look to remediate or replace these documents by January 2024.
Third-party tools
- Live Chat - Our website uses a third-party chat widget to speak to a college representative. The online chat features limited use of alternative text for its image tag as the chat icon. Whilst screen readers are able to read this text, the service provided by chat widget may not be clearly described within the image’s ALT-text (WCAG: 1.1.1 & 4.1.2). As a third-party tool, this is something the College is unable to change at this time. We will continue to monitor the issue and will make any reasonable adjustments to the College website if they become available. *
- Google ReCaptcha - Google ReCaptcha has a missing form label on a hidden field (WCAG: 3.3.2 / 4.1.2).
- Tracking Pixel - A tracking script inserts a 1x1 pixel image for browsers with JavaScript disabled. This image is added without alternative text (WCAG: 1.1.1).
- Google Maps - On our Event pages that feature a Google Map, there is missing alternative text (WCAG: 1.1.1).
The above are known issues with our website, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you need help accessing our web pages.
Disproportionate burden
In line with the requirements of the Government Digital Service, a benefit assessment was conducted in July 2023 in relation to the ‘Let’s Chat’ widget, a third-party tool provided by Tawk.to.
Following this, it was concluded that to fix the areas of non-compliance highlighted above* would pose a disproportionate burden to the College.
Tawk.to is not the only way of contacting the College for support or information. We are an inclusive organisation that offers a variety of accessible ways for customers to enquire (phone, email, online form, social media, text, in-person), and we are confident that the number of users negatively impacted by this issue is minimal.
We will continue to monitor the issue and will make any reasonable adjustments to the College website if they become available. The arrangement with Tawk.to will be reviewed in July 2024 as part of the College’s budget review.
Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations
Maps
Our events pages contain embedded Google Maps which do not include alternative text. We do not have control over this third-party element to correct this issue. Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you require an alternative format of directions to any of our campuses.
Third-party content
We are aware that some of the third-party content linked from our website is not accessible. The accessibility regulations do not apply to third party content that is not under our control, or which we have not funded or developed ourselves. Many of these sites have their own accessibility statements. We will work with our suppliers to make sure they know about any accessibility issues we find.
To help accessibility compliance across the sector, Northampton College supports searchBOX, a centralised, independent directory of third-party accessibility information.
searchBOX catalogues the contact information and accessibility statements of third-party suppliers, enables the sharing of community-generated accessibility statements, and allows users to map their supplier ecosystem.
Users can access third-party accessibility statements using the free searchBOX Finder service. Northampton College encourages all our partners and suppliers to support this effort by ensuring that their accessibility information is included in the searchBOX directory.
What we’re doing to improve accessibility
Our accessibility issues have been identified through our auditing/testing processes and we will endeavour to fix the majority of these issues within 14 days.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared on 22 September 2020. It was last reviewed on 24 April 2023.
This website was last tested from 10-15 April 2023. The test was carried out by qlue Limited and Northampton College.
We chose a sample of web pages that reflected the different layouts/templates the website incorporated throughout.
The sampled pages were tested using both automated and manual methods. Each tested page was scanned using a combination of Axe and WebAIM (WAVE) tools to identify any accessibility failures. In addition, each test page was:
- Zoomed to 400%.
- Navigated with only a keyboard.
- Navigated with only a screen reader.
- Used at a variety of screen sizes including mobile and tablet.
The findings of our most recent audit, including a list of known third-party issues, are outlined in a test report from April 2023 compiled by qlue Limited.
Guidance of staff creating accessible content
The College has compiled information for staff on creating accessible content and will continue to add to and amend information over time.
This includes simple accessibility checks, use of fonts, formatting, colours, alt text and training on document accessibility.