Accessibility statement
This statement applies to content published on the www.sqa.org.uk domain. It does not apply to content on other Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) domains (for example www.understandingstandards.org.uk) This website is run by SQA.
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 300% without the text spilling off the screen
- navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
- listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)
Plain english - it is important what we write is clear, concise and relevant. This ensures all our audiences understand us.
We aim to use plain and accessible language in all our written communications and we are working on making the website text as simple as possible to understand.
Parts of this website are not fully accessible. For example:
- some pages and document attachments are not written in plain English
- some heading elements are not consistent
- some images do not have image descriptions
- many documents are in PDF format and are not accessible
- you can't modify the line height or spacing of text
- older PDF documents aren't fully accessible to screen reader software
- PDF graphics with missing ALT attributes
- metadata stream in the Catalog dictionary does not include the PDF/UA identifier
- some webinars do not provide information in an accessible way
- the FAQ section (www.sqa.org.uk/faqs) pose issues for assistive technologies
- concertinas pose issues for assistive technologies
- it's not always possible to change the device orientation from horizontal to vertical without making it more difficult to view the content
Non-accessible content
We are currently working on the following fixes to ensure our past papers (published from 2018) are fully accessible:
- Alternative text
- Tables
- Lists
- Manual reading order
- ReadAloud not working for some digital question papers
We are investigating fixes for our Urdu past papers and Mathtype usage as these are currently not accessible to screen readers.
Our modern languages and Gàidhlig past papers may not be accessible to screen readers in native language.
Reporting accessibility problems with this website
We're always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems that aren't listed on this page or think we're not meeting accessibility requirements, contact: the digital team
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).
Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person
- If you use British Sign Language (BSL), the Contact Scotland BSL service gives you access to an online interpreter enabling you to communicate with us using sign language.
- Our offices have audio induction loops
- We provide disabled parking on request.
Compliance status
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard.
Technical information about this website's accessibility
SQA is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.
Non-accessible content
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.
Interactive tools and transactions/ 3rd party applications
Flair website
Keyboard Functionality - when using the 'tab key' to navigate through the galleries. Once you have reached the gallery section you must use the left and right arrow keys to select between the different gallery thumbnails on the page.
Screen reader functionality -. If using Read Aloud, it will read out the whole gallery in full, even if you have filtered for a specific school or qualification level. We are working with our technical teams to come to a resolution on this issue as quickly as possible and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Recruitment application
Our recruitment sections are built and hosted through third party software and 'skinned' to look like our website. This doesn't meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 (information and relationships).
Our six-monthly check gives us a list of files which are not compliant, which we work through on a regular basis to fix.
The accessibility regulations don't require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they're not essential to providing our services.
Some documents published on our websites are created by other organisations and may not meet SQA's accessibility requirements.
Live video
Live video streams don't have captions. This doesn't meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.2.4 (captions - live).
We don't plan to add captions to live video streams because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.
How we test this website
This website (all pages) was last tested on 07/02/22. The test was carried out by the digital team
We tested: our main website available at https://www.sqa.org.uk/
We used: Commercially available product: https://www.powermapper.com/
What we're doing to improve accessibility
We test the website every six months and fix any accesibility errors we find.
We are training staff in accessibility awareness and clear and confident writing.
This statement was prepared on 20/09/19. It was last reviewed on 11/10/23.
Web and mobile apps
Our apps are compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard.
How we tested our mobile applications
- Manual checks/testing: to identify issues from a usability point of view.
- Testing with analysis tools: use of tools to discover opportunities to improve the mobile applications accessibility.
- Axe Accessibility checker’ for Android
- User testing: feedback from users who interact with the mobile applications
- Used mobile applications native screen readers. For iOS - ‘VoiceOver’. For Android, ‘TalkBack’
This mobile applications statement was prepared on 05/08/21. It was last reviewed on 11/10/23.
Feedback and contact information
We're always looking to improve accessibility, if you think we're not meeting accessibility requirements, contact: the digital team
If you have problems accessing pages or documents published on this website, please contact our Customer Support Team who will supply the page or document in an accessible format. Many of our publications can be produced in alternative formats, including large type, braille and community languages.
Screen reader setting recommendations
Users of screen readers should note that this site makes use of Title and Acronym, and so will gain more from the site if they configure their screen reader to pick up these attributes.
For users of JAWS we recommend the following sort order 'title|text|alt|href' as the best combination to set.
Access keys
Access keys provide a quick way to navigate round the site without using a mouse, and on this site they are based on the UK Government Access Keys system.
The keys are used in conjunction with Alt or Ctrl and Enter keys which vary depending on your browser.
Windows users can navigate with the accesskey feature by typing ALT+Accesskey. On the Mac, you would use CTRL+Accesskey. Internet Explorer users may also need to hit the “enter” key to activate a link.
Detailed instructions
- Hold down
- 'Alt' key if using Internet Explorer for Windows
- 'Alt' and 'Shift' key if using Mozilla/Firefox on Windows
- 'Ctrl' on Mac, or if using Safari on a Mac 'Alt' on Windows for Opera on Windows ('Alt' and 'Shift' are required in some circumstances)
- and simultaneously select a key from the list below
- 3. you may need to also press 'Enter' if using Internet Explorer for Windows on a PC - other browsers go to the page immediately.
- 0 - Accessibility and Access Key details
- 1 - Navigate back to Home Page
- 9 - Feedback to the SQA
- S - Skip to Section Navigation links
These keys have been selected so as not to conflict with those in use by Browsers, Word, Acrobat Reader and assistive technologies such as JAWS, Supernova and HomePageReader.
Get help
AbilityNet provides guidance about how to:
- make your mouse easier to use
- use your keyboard instead of a mouse
- talk to your device
- make your device talk to you
- make text larger
- change your colours
- magnify the screen