For example, that means you should be able to:

• Change colours, contrast levels and fonts using browser or device settings.

• Zoom in up to 400% without the text spilling off the screen.

• Navigate most of the website using a keyboard or 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.

Accessibility Features

• Responsive Design: The site is designed to function across various devices and screen sizes, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

• Keyboard Navigation: Users can navigate the website using a keyboard, facilitating access for those who cannot use a mouse.

• Text Readability: We employ clear and legible fonts, maintain sufficient colour contrast, and allow text size adjustments to enhance readability.

• Captioning and Transcripts: Multimedia content, such as videos, includes captions or transcripts where applicable.

• SOCS Sport and SOCS Calendar: The SOCS Sport and SOCS Calendar platforms are fully keyboard-navigable, screen reader compatible, and designed to meet visual accessibility standards, ensuring compliance with colour contrast and text readability guidelines.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

School exemption

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

Primary and secondary schools are partially exempt from some accessibility requirements under the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018. However, this exemption applies only to content that is not essential for accessing the school’s services, such as historical documents.

Non-compliant content

While we strive for full compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standard, certain aspects of our website may not fully meet these criteria:

• PDF Documents: Some older PDFs may not be fully accessible to screen reader software.

• Embedded Google Maps: These may not be fully accessible to all users.

• Forms with Custom Styling: Some forms with custom designs may present accessibility challenges.

Additionally, some specific elements may not meet WCAG 2.2 AA success criteria:

• Videos: We aim to ensure that videos include frame titles, captions, and transcriptions where required. If any videos lack these features, we will address this if notified.

• Links: We aim to ensure that all links are descriptive. If any links are not descriptive enough for users relying on assistive technologies, we will rectify this if notified.

• Tables: We ensure tables have appropriate headings. If any tables lack properly defined headers, making them difficult to navigate with screen readers or keyboard navigation, we will correct this if notified.

• Brand Colours: We work to ensure our brand colours meet contrast ratio requirements for readability. If any text fails to meet the required contrast, we will rectify this if notified.

Ongoing Efforts

We are continually working to improve the accessibility of our website by:

• Regular Audits: Conducting annual accessibility audits to identify and address potential issues.

• User Feedback: Encouraging and incorporating feedback from users to enhance accessibility.

• Staying Informed: Keeping abreast of evolving accessibility standards and best practices to ensure ongoing compliance.

Third-Party Content

While we aim to ensure all content on our website is accessible, some third-party materials or linked resources may not fully meet accessibility standards. We encourage users to contact us if they encounter difficulties accessing external content.

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, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Technical information about this website's accessibility

Papplewick 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 partially complies with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standard due to the exemptions and non-compliances listed above.

Need Assistance?

If you encounter any accessibility barriers or have suggestions to improve your experience, please contact us:

Email: schoolsec@papplewick.org.uk

When reporting an issue, please include:

• The webpage or feature where you encountered the issue.

• A description of the problem (e.g., “The menu is not accessible with a keyboard”).

• Your contact information (optional, if you would like a response).

Commitment to Improvement

Papplewick School values diversity and inclusion and is committed to providing an accessible online experience for all members of our community. Your feedback is essential in helping us achieve this goal.

This statement was prepared on 14 March 2025 and will be reviewed annually to ensure ongoing compliance with accessibility standards.