Accessibility Statement

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Accessibility Statement

This accessibility statement applies to the website iwcollege.ac.uk

This website is run by the Isle of Wight College. 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.

Summary of Key Accessibility Commitments

  • We are committed to making our website and digital information accessible to as many people as possible, including users of assistive technologies.
  • We aim to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.2 AA standard wherever possible.
  • We will provide information in alternative accessible formats on request, including accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille.
  • We will respond to accessibility requests and feedback within 10 working days.
  • We will work with our website provider and third-party suppliers to address known accessibility issues and improve the user experience.
  • We will review this statement at least twice a year, or sooner if significant changes are made to the website.

How accessible this website is

We know some parts of this website are not yet fully accessible:

  • some older PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software
  • some PDF documents may not have the correct language specified
  • live video streams do not contain captions
  • some third-party content may not fully meet accessibility standards

We are continually working to improve the accessibility of our website and digital content.

Feedback and Contact Information

If you need information on this website in a different format, such as:

  • accessible PDF
  • large print
  • easy read
  • audio recording
  • braille

please contact us:

Email: info@iwcollege.ac.uk
Telephone: 01983 526631

We will consider your request and respond as quickly as possible, normally within 10 working days.

We will provide information in an accessible format where reasonably practicable and at no additional cost.

Reporting Accessibility Problems with This Website

We are always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page, or believe we are not meeting accessibility requirements, please contact us directly:
Email: info@iwcollege.ac.uk
Telephone: 01983 526631
Contact Form: Contact Us - Isle of Wight College

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.

If you are not satisfied with how we respond to your complaint, you can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Technical Information About This Website's Accessibility

The Isle of Wight College is committed to making its 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 (WCAG) version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below. We aim to meet the WCAG version 2.2 AA standard across our website and digital content wherever possible.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons. Non-Compliance with the Accessibility Regulations Known accessibility issues We know that some parts of our website are not fully accessible. We are working to improve these areas as part of our ongoing accessibility improvement programme. These issues are planned to be resolved by December 2026.

Some users may experience difficulties with the following:

  • Some images do not currently have suitable alternative text descriptions. This means that users who rely on screen readers may not be able to access all of the information conveyed by images. (WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.1.1: Non-text Content). To be fixed by December 2026
  • Some images, charts and visual content may not provide sufficient descriptive information for users who cannot see them. (WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.1.1: Non-text Content). To be fixed by December 2026
  • Some links do not clearly describe their destination or purpose. This may make navigation more difficult for users of assistive technologies such as screen readers. (WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 2.4.4: Link Purpose (In Context)). To be fixed by December 2026
  • Some text and user interface elements do not meet recommended colour contrast requirements. This may make content more difficult to read for users with visual impairments or colour vision deficiencies. (WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.4.3: Contrast (Minimum)). To be fixed by December 2026
  • Some forms do not provide sufficient labels, instructions or error messages. This may make it more difficult for users of assistive technologies to complete forms successfully. (WCAG 2.2 Success Criteria 1.3.1: Info and Relationships, 3.3.2: Labels or Instructions, and 4.1.2: Name, Role, Value). To be fixed by December 2026
  • Some pages may not display correctly when viewed at high zoom levels or on smaller screens. In some cases, content may require additional scrolling or may not reflow as expected. (WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.4.10: Reflow). To be fixed by December 2026
  • Some form validation messages and required fields may not always be clearly identified. This may make it harder for users to understand and correct errors when submitting information. (WCAG 2.2 Success Criteria 3.3.1: Error Identification and 3.3.3: Error Suggestion). To be fixed by December 2026
  • Some interactive elements do not currently provide sufficient keyboard focus indicators. This may make navigation more difficult for users who rely on a keyboard rather than a mouse. (WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 2.4.7: Focus Visible). To be fixed by December 2026
  • Some content generated through website styling may not be available to assistive technologies, resulting in users missing information that is presented visually. (WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.3.1: Info and Relationships). To be fixed by December 2026
  • Some content may become difficult to read when users apply custom text spacing, line spacing or display settings designed to improve readability. (WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.4.12: Text Spacing). To be fixed by December 2026

PDFs

  • Some images in documents do not have appropriate text alternatives, meaning screen reader users may not be able to access all information (WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.1.1 Non-text Content); To be fixed by December 2026
  • Some documents do not have a properly defined structure, making navigation difficult for screen reader users (WCAG 1.3.1 Info and Relationships); To be fixed by December 2026
  • Some tables are not marked up correctly and may not be interpreted accurately by assistive technologies (WCAG 1.3.1 Info and Relationships); To be fixed by December 2026
  • Some scanned PDF documents do not contain machine-readable text and cannot be accessed by screen reader software (WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content); To be fixed by December 2026
  • Some documents do not have a defined language, which may result in content being pronounced incorrectly by screen readers (WCAG 3.1.1 Language of Page); To be fixed by December 2026
  • Some longer documents do not include bookmarks to aid navigation (WCAG 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks or best practice); To be fixed by December 2026
  • Some PDF documents do not contain an appropriate title, making them harder to identify and navigate (WCAG 2.4.2 Page Titled). To be fixed by December 2026

We are actively reviewing and improving the accessibility of our website. This includes:

  • Adding appropriate alternative text to images and other non-text content.
  • Improving colour contrast across website templates and navigation elements.
  • Reviewing forms to ensure labels, instructions and validation messages are accessible.
  • Improving keyboard navigation and visible focus indicators.
  • Improving page layouts so content remains accessible on smaller screens and at high zoom levels.
  • Reviewing link text to ensure it clearly communicates purpose and destination.
  • Continuing to test and remediate accessibility issues identified through regular audits and user feedback.

Some accessibility testing tools may identify issues relating to the image slider controls. The slider images can be controlled using keyboard arrow keys and remain operable via keyboard navigation. We continue to review this functionality as part of our ongoing accessibility improvements.

Content Not Within the Scope of the Accessibility Regulations

PDFs and Other Documents

PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 are exempt from the accessibility regulations unless they are essential to providing a service.

Live Video

Live video streams are exempt from the accessibility regulations and therefore may not include captions.

Online Maps

Online maps and mapping services are exempt provided that essential information is available in an accessible format.

Pre-Recorded Video

Pre-recorded time-based media published before 23 September 2020 is exempt from the accessibility regulations.

What We're Doing to Improve Accessibility

The Isle of Wight College is committed to improving accessibility across its website and digital services. We:

  • review accessibility issues identified through testing
  • monitor website content to improve compliance with WCAG guidelines
  • consider accessibility requirements when developing new content and functionality
  • encourage feedback from users to help identify and resolve barriers

Our accessibility journey is ongoing. We regularly scan our website using the Recite Me Accessibility Checker to confirm fixes of known issues and to schedule updates for any new findings. Beyond automated testing, our efforts include continuous staff training and raising internal awareness of accessibility best practice.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was originally prepared on 1 February 2023.

Statement Metadata

The statement was last reviewed on 24 July 2026.

This accessibility statement is formally reviewed and updated twice a year, or sooner where significant website changes, accessibility improvements, or legislative updates require a review.


Testing Methodology

The assessment of this website's conformity with WCAG 2.2 Level AA was carried out using a combination of:

  • automated testing using the Recite Me Accessibility Checker
  • manual testing conducted by the College's internal accessibility team
  • keyboard navigation testing
  • screen reader compatibility checks
  • ongoing monitoring and verification of known accessibility issues

The website was last tested on 21 July 2026 with Recite me Software.

Testing was carried out by The Isle of Wight College. Previous assessments have also included the use of accessibility auditing tools such as Google Lighthouse and Axe DevTools, alongside manual review and inspection.

Accessibility statement version: 3.0.

Disproportionate burden

We are not currently claiming that any accessibility issues would be a disproportionate burden to fix.