Accessibility
St Helens College is committed to making our website accessible to everyone. If you feel that we could do more to improve our accessibility, please contact us with your suggestions. Below you will find information on the steps we have taken to make our website as accessible as possible.
Browser Compatibility
Our website has been built using the latest technology and all pages on this site feature CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). It has been tested across many of the leading internet browsers and is best viewed using Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera or Safari. Other browsers may not display the pages correctly. Users are advised to upgrade to the latest browser version for optimum user experience.
Changing the text size
If you feel that the text is difficult to read, and would like to make it bigger, there are a number of different ways you can control the text size.
If you are using Windows XP, Vista or 7, you can also control the font size using a mouse with a control wheel on top. Simply hold Ctrl on your keyboard, and then move the mouse wheel. Forward will increase the size and backwards will decrease the size.
If you are using Internet Explorer and Firefox, you can also use keyboard shortcuts to control the font size. By holding the Ctrl key and pressing + will increase the font size, and by holding Ctrl key and pressing – this will decrease the font size.
Images
All the images within our website have a description provided. This is either in the alternative text tag or on the page itself.
RSS
Internet Explorer , does not officially support RSS. Any user wishing to access our RSS features are advised to upgrade their Internet Explorer browser to version 7 or above.
Word documents, PDFs and Downloads
To ensure that all materials on our website are as accessible as possible, we aim to limit the number of downloadable documents, such as word documents and PDFs (Portable Document Format), this is due to these type of documents sometimes causing problems for disabled users. Where information is to be published on the website, we will endeavour to ensure it is published as an accessible HTML website page. Our prospectuses are available upon request to be posted out to any user who would prefer this method.
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read PDF files. Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded free of charge from the Adobe website. Later versions of this software provide a number of features that improve access for users.
Problem?
If you do spot a problem with our website, please do let us know by contacting us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and we will do our best to resolve the issue straight away.
Cookies
Visitiors to our Websites
When someone visits www.sthelens.ac.uk we collect standard internet log information and details of visitor behaviour patterns. We do this to find out things such as the number of visitors to the various parts of the site. We collect this information in a way which does not identify anyone. We do not make any attempt to find out the identities of those visiting either of our websites (www.sthelens.ac.uk). We will not associate any data gathered from this site with any personally identifying information from any source. If we do want to collect personally identifiable information through our website, we will be up front about this. We will make it clear when we collect personal information and will explain what we intend to do with it.
Use of cookies by St Helens College
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer by websites that you visit. They are widely used in order to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the owners of the site.
The table below explains the cookies we use and why.
| COOKIE | NAME | PURPOSE | MORE INFORMATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics | _utma _utmb _utmc _utmz |
These cookies are used to collect information about how visitors use our site. We use the information to compile reports and to help us improve the site. The cookies collect information in an anonymous form, including the number of visitors to the site, where visitors have come to the site from and the pages they visited. | Click here for an overview of privacy at Google |
Most web browsers allow some control of most cookies through the browser settings. To find out more about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set and how to manage and delete them, visit www.allaboutcookies.org.
To opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites visit http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
YouTube cookies
Videos
We embed videos from our official YouTube channel using YouTube’s privacy-enhanced mode. This mode may set cookies on your computer once you click on the YouTube video player, but YouTube will not store personally-identifiable cookie information for playbacks of embedded videos using the privacy-enhanced mode. To find out more please visit YouTube’s embedding videos information page.
Search engine
The search engine on our website is designed to be as powerful and easy to use as the popular search engine Google. The search is made possible by a piece of hardware (a search ‘appliance’) supplied by Google that is plugged into our server and continuously indexes the content on our site. All search requests are handled by the appliance and the information is not passed on to any third party, including Google.
What is a cookie?
A cookie, other than being a delicious treat, is a simple text file that is stored on your computer or mobile device, by a website's server. Only that websites server is able to retired or read the contents. All cookies are unique to your web browser, and usually contains a unique identifier, the site's name and some digits. It allows websites to remember what you have put in your shopping basket or your website preferences.
Cookies used by this website?
By using the website www.sthelens.ac.uk, you agree that we can store and access cookies, IP addresses and use other methods in order to collect website usage data, and improve your online experience. This can include information about your use of the website, the browser and device type you are accessing it from and where you are in the world.
When do we use cookies?
St Helens College and University Centre St Helens uses cookies on sthelens.ac.uk and uc.sthelens.ac.uk for the following purposes:
Technical
Cookies are used for technical reasons to enable the efficient working of sthelens.ac.uk. For example, to:
- balance website traffic to ensure our customers receive a consistent and reliable service
- limit traffic to key parts of the website in order to maintain performance levels
Tracking
Cookies are used to gather statistics on how visitors use our site. For example, to:- gather feedback on customer satisfaction through our website survey
- gain insight into how visitors use the website so that we can make improvements to its usability
Marketing
Cookies are used to enable us to present appropriate messages to you. For example, to:
- allow third parties to display appropriate advertising and to track its effectiveness
- display messages which offer a selection of products based on what you're viewing on sthelens.ac.uk, which are presented to you by our agency when you visit other selected websites. This is known as online behavioural advertising. For more information please see 'What is online behavioural advertising'?
You can choose to opt out of this type of advertising permanently by going to this website.
Please note though, that if you delete your cookies too, we'll no longer know that you've opted out, so the banners from our third-party will reappear when you visit other selected websites.
What to do if you don't want cookies to be set
If you feel that the idea of a website storing information on your computer or mobile device a bit intrusive, it is possible to block some or all cookies, or even delete cookies that have already been set. However, you may lose some function sof the website you are deleting them from.
What is online behavioural advertising/interest based advertising?
Online behavioural advertising (also known as interest-based advertising) is a way of serving advertisements on the websites you visit and making them more relevant to you and your interests.
Shared interests are grouped together based upon previous web browsing activity and web users are then served advertising which matches their shared interests. In this way, advertising can be made as relevant and useful as possible. Relevant ads can also be delivered based upon the website content you have just been viewing. This is known as ‘retargeting’. For more information refer to this website.
Website Disclaimer
To the fullest extent permitted at law, St Helens College is providing this website and its contents on an "as is" basis and makes no (and expressly disclaims all) representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, with respect to this website or the information, content, products or services included in this site.
Whilst every effort has been taken by St Helens College and its subsidiaries to ensure that the course information provided on course sheets and on this website is accurate the content is naturally subject to change. In no event will St Helens College be held liable for any direct, indirect, special incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of the information held on this server.
Every effort is made to ensure downloadable content is free from viruses. St Helens College can accept no liability for damages resulting from virus infection.
