The school website accessibility regulations affecting school websites have been in place since September 2018, with a final compliance deadline of 23 September 2020. These regulations require all public sector bodies, including schools, to ensure their websites are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all users. This is not part of the statutory school website requirements but is important for all schools to consider.

However, please note – this is NOT something for schools to be worried about if they receive any communications that sound heavy-handed. This is an easy requirement to meet and your school website provider should provide everything you need. This should be done at no additional cost. There are also tools you can use to make this much easier, and these come at zero cost as well.

This is not a DfE-specific requirement, but it is a government-mandated obligation that applies to all public sector organisations. Schools must also publish and maintain an accessibility statement, making it clear how their website complies with these regulations.

Understanding the Legal Obligations

The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018 build on existing legal obligations under:

• The Equality Act 2010 (or the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in Northern Ireland).
• The requirement for public websites to meet the WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standard.

Every school website should:
✅ Meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards (or provide legally justifiable reasons for any gaps).
✅ Include a publicly available accessibility statement, outlining compliance efforts.

Clarifying the Exemption for Schools

There is often confusion around exemptions, but the reality is that the majority of school website content must be accessible. The regulations state that primary and secondary schools are partially exempt, but this only applies to content that is not essential for accessing services.

What must be accessible?

• Forms (e.g., admissions, permissions, trip sign-ups).
• Letters and documents issued to parents.
• Online payment systems for school meals or activities.
• Booking systems for parents’ evenings.

Since this is most of the content schools publish, the partial exemption is largely irrelevant in practice. Schools should assume their websites need to be fully accessible.

Who Enforces Accessibility Compliance?

Schools must be aware that compliance is actively monitored and enforced.

• The Government Digital Service (GDS) monitors compliance on behalf of the Minister for the Cabinet Office. It regularly reviews school websites and mobile apps, requesting statements and accessibility reports.
• The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) can take legal action against organisations that fail to make reasonable accessibility adjustments, including issuing unlawful act notices and initiating court proceedings.

If a school does not meet accessibility requirements and fails to provide accessible versions of content upon request, it may be in breach of the Equality Act 2010.

Avoiding Unnecessary Costs for Accessibility Compliance

Meeting accessibility standards should be a standard part of your school website, not an additional service you need to pay extra for.

While some website providers charge additional fees for:

• Any Accessibility audits.
• Various Accessibility compliance reports.
• TemplateAccessibility statements.

These requirements should already be factored into the design and maintenance of a website. Schools should carefully review what is included in their website package and ensure they are not being charged extra for something that is a fundamental legal obligation.

How Schudio Ensures Compliance at No Extra Cost

At Schudio, accessibility is not an add-on—it’s built into every website we create. Every school website we provide includes:

• Full WCAG 2.1 AA compliance built into the design.
• Integration with the UserWay Accessibility Widget to support users with additional needs.
• A built-in Accessibility Checker in our CMS.
• Editable Alt Tags and other accessibility tools.
• A free, ready-to-use Accessibility Statement Template, available to all schools.

We believe that accessibility should be simple, effective, and included as standard—not something schools have to budget extra for.

Adding an Accessibility Statement to Your School Website

Every school website must have an accessibility statement, confirming:

• The level of compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA.
• Any known accessibility issues and plans to address them.
• How users can report problems.

To make this easier, here’s a full accessibility statement template that can be used on any school website. Simply update it to match your website’s specific features.

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Template Accessibility Statement

Accessibility Statement for [School Name]

[School Name] is committed to ensuring our website is accessible to all users, regardless of technology or ability. We strive to provide an inclusive and user-friendly experience for everyone visiting our site.

Accessibility Standards

Our website is designed to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, at Level AA. These guidelines ensure that digital content is:

• Perceivable: Information and user interface components are presented in ways that all users can perceive.
• Operable: Interface and navigation are operable by all users.
• Understandable: Information and operation of the interface are understandable.
• Robust: Content can be reliably interpreted by a wide range of user agents, including assistive technologies.

Accessibility Features and Tools

To improve accessibility, our website includes:

• Text alternatives for non-text content (e.g., images, videos).
• Logical and consistent navigation structures.
• Keyboard navigation support.
• Adjustable font sizes for improved readability.
• Proper use of headings and landmarks to structure content.
• Contrast ratios that enhance readability for users with visual impairments.

We also use the UserWay accessibility widget, a tool designed to enhance accessibility across our website. The widget provides features such as:

• Screen reader enhancements.
• Keyboard navigation adjustments.
• Color contrast adjustments.
• Text size and spacing options.
• Focus and highlight tools.

You can activate the UserWay widget by clicking on the accessibility icon in the corner of any page. This tool allows visitors to customize their experience to suit their individual needs.

Ongoing Improvement

We are dedicated to continuously improving the accessibility of our website. We regularly review and update content and features to address evolving standards and user feedback.

Reporting Accessibility Issues

If you experience any difficulty accessing any part of our website, or if you have suggestions for improving accessibility, please contact us:

Email: [school email address] Phone: [school phone number] Postal Address: [school address]

We aim to respond to accessibility issues and provide solutions promptly.

Third-Party Content

Our website may contain links to third-party content or services. While we strive to ensure external content is accessible, we cannot guarantee compliance with accessibility standards for these resources.

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Final Thoughts

Accessibility should be a priority for every school, not just to meet legal requirements but to ensure that all students, parents, and visitors can engage with the website without barriers.

If you’re unsure about whether your website meets accessibility standards—or if you’d like to explore a more inclusive, fully compliant solution—our team is here to help.

📞 Contact us today to find out how we can support your school in achieving full accessibility compliance.

Links & References

Below are some links that may provide some more information:

• Making your service accessible: an introduction – Service Manual – GOV.UK
• Meeting digital and technology standards in schools and colleges – Digital accessibility standards – Guidance – GOV.UK
• Sample Accessibility Statement
• Understanding accessibility requirements for public sector bodies – GOV.UK