Accessibility Statement
Blackpool and The Fylde 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 accessibility statement applies to the main Blackpool and The Fylde College website (www.blackpool.ac.uk).
We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website.
The text should be clear and simple to understand. You should be able to:
- zoom in up to 300% without problems
- navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
- navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
- use most of the website using a screen reader.
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
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.
Non-accessible Content
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons:
1. Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations:
Colour contrast issues:
Some components and content areas do not currently meet minimum colour contrast requirements. These include certain promotional content, carousels, footer content, application forms and some homepage imagery where text overlays are used. We are working to improve these areas as part of our ongoing website development strategy. This does not meet WCAG 2.2 success criterion 1.4.3 (Contrast (Minimum)).
Heading structure:
Some pages contain skipped heading levels or empty headings. This can affect navigation for users of assistive technologies. Resolving these issues across legacy content and website components forms part of our ongoing accessibility improvements. This does not meet WCAG 2.2 success criteria 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships) and 2.4.6 (Headings and Labels).
Alternative text:
Some images either contain overly long alternative text, insufficiently descriptive alternative text or alternative text that is not consistently exposed through certain website components. We are reviewing image descriptions and component functionality to improve the experience for users of screen readers. This does not meet WCAG 2.2 success criterion 1.1.1 (Non-text Content).
Embedded maps:
Some pages include embedded Google Maps which may not be fully accessible to users of assistive technology. In some cases, text-based alternatives are not available. This does not meet WCAG 2.2 success criterion 1.1.1 (Non-text Content).
Forms and interactive elements:
Some forms and interactive functionality contain accessibility issues, including empty form fields and elements that may be difficult to navigate using assistive technology. We are working with internal teams and third-party providers to address these issues. This does not meet WCAG 2.2 success criteria 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships) and 2.1.1 (Keyboard).
Video content:
Some videos may not include captions, and some automated captions may contain inaccuracies. Where issues are identified, we will seek to replace, update or remove content where appropriate. This does not meet WCAG 2.2 success criteria 1.2.1 (Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)) and 1.2.2 (Captions (Prerecorded)).
Links and link descriptions
Some pages may contain links that are not sufficiently descriptive, duplicate links to the same destination, broken links or link descriptions that do not provide enough contextual information for assistive technology users. We are reviewing these as part of our ongoing content administrative processes. This does not meet WCAG 2.2 success criterion 2.4.4 (Link Purpose).
2. What we are doing to improve accessibility
In January 2026, we carried out an internal accessibility audit of both the Blackpool and The Fylde College and Fleetwood Nautical Campus websites following an external accessibility inspection in October 2024. The audit reviewed a representative sample of webpages using the WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool alongside manual assessment.
The audit identified priority improvements relating to colour contrast, heading structure, alternative text, forms, links and component accessibility. Since the audit, accessibility considerations have continued to be incorporated into our content publishing, website development and quality assurance processes.
As part of our ongoing commitment to accessibility, we will continue to perform regular audits and reviews of accessibility for new and existing content.
Preparation of this Accessibility Statement
This statement was prepared on 19 September 2019. It was last reviewed on 29 July 2026.
This website was last tested in January 2026 as part of an internal accessibility audit undertaken following an external accessibility inspection conducted in October 2024.
The audit assessed a representative sample of webpages using the WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool and manual review methods. The audit identified an average Accessibility Impact (AIM) score of 7.5/10 across sampled Blackpool and The Fylde College webpages.
Feedback and Contact Information
If you encounter any accessibility issues on our website or require information in an alternative format, please contact us via:
Email: info@blackpool.ac.uk
We welcome your feedback and aim to respond to all inquiries within 5 working days.
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).