When we provide services, we want to make them easy, useful and reliable. Where services are delivered on the internet, this sometimes involves placing small amounts of information on your device, for example, computer or mobile phone. These include small files known as cookies. They cannot be used to identify you personally.
For Cookie Policy specific to UK visit Cookie Policy (UK).
These pieces of information are used to improve services for you through, for example:
- enabling a service to recognise your device so you don’t have to give the same information several times during one task
- recognising that you may already have given a username and password so you don’t need to do it for every web page requested
- measuring how many people are using services, so they can be made easier to use and there’s enough capacity to ensure they are fast.
You can manage these small files yourself and learn more about them through Internet browser cookies – what they are and how to manage them on the DirectGov website. However please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website.
Instructions for blocking cookies using browser settings can be found at How to control cookies on the AboutCookies.org website.
We use Google Analytics to analyse the use of our website and help us create a more useful and easy to use site. See our privacy statement for more information.
Our use of cookies
Performance cookies
| Cookie key | Domain | Path | Cookie type | Expiration | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| _gat More info |
.www.bristolcourses.com | / | First-party | 1 minute | This cookie name is associated with Google Universal Analytics, according to documentation it is used to throttle the request rate – limiting the collection of data on high traffic sites. |
| _ga More info |
.bristolcourses.com | / | First-party | 2 years | This cookie name is associated with Google Universal Analytics – which is a significant update to Google’s more commonly used analytics service. This cookie is used to distinguish unique users by assigning a randomly generated number as a client identifier. It is included in each page request in a site and used to calculate visitor, session and campaign data for the sites analytics reports. |
| _gid More info |
.bristolcourses.com | / | First-party | 1 day | This cookie is set by Google Analytics. It stores and update a unique value for each page visited and is used to count and track pageviews. |
| _ga More info |
.www.bristolcourses.com | / | First-party | 2 years | This cookie name is associated with Google Universal Analytics – which is a significant update to Google’s more commonly used analytics service. This cookie is used to distinguish unique users by assigning a randomly generated number as a client identifier. It is included in each page request in a site and used to calculate visitor, session and campaign data for the sites analytics reports. |
| _gid More info |
.www.bristolcourses.com | / | First-party | 1 day | This cookie is set by Google Analytics. It stores and update a unique value for each page visited and is used to count and track pageviews. |
| _ga_390RFM1D3D More info |
.bristolcourses.com | / | First-party | 2 years | This cookie is used by Google Analytics to persist session state. |
Targeting cookies
| Cookie key | Domain | Path | Cookie type | Expiration | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| _gat_gtag_UA_4500835_37 More info |
.bristolcourses.com | / | First-party | 1 minute | This cookie is part of Google Analytics and is used to limit requests (throttle request rate). |
Session cookies set by www.bristolcourses.com
These are cookies that are deleted when you close your browser.
Application |
Cookie name |
Purpose |
More information |
| Abandoned Vehicle Reporting System | ASPSESSIONID QARBQCBR | These cookies are used to maintain your user session. It is deleted when you close your browser.If you disallow these cookies it may cause the application to fail. | Typical content: a randomly generated number. |
| Javascript | has_js | This cookie checks whether you have javascript enabled. It is deleted when you close your browser. | Typical content: the value 1 |
Persistent cookies set by www.bristolcourses.com
Application |
Cookie name |
Purpose |
More information |
| Google analytics | _utma _utmb _utmc _utmz |
These cookies are used to collect information about how visitors use our site, but not to identify an individual. We use the information to compile reports and to help us improve the site content and usability. The cookies collect information such as the number of visitors to the site, where visitors have come to the site from and the pages they visited.If you disallow this cookie we won’t know what you like to visit most, so will not be able to improve this website as a result of your preferences. | Typical content: randomly generated numbers and in the case of _utmz the addition of information about how the page was reached (for example directly or via a link, organic search or paid search).An overview of privacy at Google and how these cookies are used by Google (external links). |
| Mobile redirect | mobile_redirect | If you have chosen the mobile or desktop links, to use that version of the website, this stores your preference. If you disallow or delete the cookie, you will see the view of the site chosen by our device detection system and not your own choice. | None |
Session cookies set by third party organisations
These are cookies that are deleted when you close your browser.
Application |
Cookie name |
Purpose |
More information |
| Web availability statistics | .ASPXAUTH ASP.NET_SessionId |
We report on the availability of our website using a service run by www.siteimprove.com.These cookies are used to maintain your user session. They are deleted when you close your browser.If you disallow these cookies the table of web statistics will display as normal but you will not be able to see a graphical representation | Typical content: randomly generated letters and numbers. |
| Sign Video | PHPSESSID | These cookies are used to maintain your user session. This cookie is deleted when you close your browser.If you disallow this cookie you may be prevented from fully accessing the sign video service. See their privacy policy for more information. | Typical content: randomly generated letters and numbers.Sign Video privacy policy (external link) |
| Web casting (for example Council meetings) | PHPSESSID | We use www.public-i.tv to publish our webcasts. These cookies are used to maintain your user session. This cookie is deleted when you close your browser.If you disallow this cookie you may be prevented from fully accessing this service. | Typical content: randomly generated letters and numbers |
Persistent cookies set by third party organisations
Application |
Cookie name |
Purpose |
More information |
| Google maps | MPRF NID PREF SNID |
These cookies are used by Google to store user preferences and information when viewing pages with Google maps on them.If you disallow these cookies you may not be able to access all the features of this site. | Typical content: randomly generated numbers and letters.An overview of privacy at Google (external link). |
| User satisfaction survey | Socitm_include_me[x] Socitm_exclude_me[x] Socitm_include_alt[x] |
These cookies are used to prevent customers being invited to participate multiple times in the same survey. They contain no personally identifiable data.If you disallow these cookies you will not be invited to participate in this survey. | Typical content: randomly generated numbers.SOCITM insight privacy policy (external link). |
| Education jobs site (teaching jobs) | ASP.NET_SessionId LoggedIn .DBANON LastLoginDate |
These cookies are used to maintain your user session. Two of these cookies (ASP.NET_SessionId and LoggedIn) are deleted when you close your browser.If you disallow these cookies you may not be able to access all the features of this site. | Typical content: either randomly generated letters and numbers or in the case of LoggedIn the words true or false, and in the case of LastLoginDate the date and time of your last login.Eteach privacy policy(external link). |
| YouTube | VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE PREF use_hitbox |
Sets the default state for any user of YouTube and to store user preferences. Use_hitbox is deleted when you close your browser.If you disallow this cookie you may not be able to access all features of YouTube | Typical content: randomly generated numbers and letters.An overview of privacy at Google (external link). |
| k Guest_id |
Sets the default state for any user of Twitter.The service will work as normal for functions such as searching or looking at public user profiles | Typical content: randomly generated numbers and letters.Twitter’s privacy policy(external link). | |
| Add This | psc ssc ssh sshs uid uit uvc loc dt di |
These cookies are used to to provide you with a more personal and interactive experience. They are also used to improve the quality of their site; to keep track of your login name, passwords, and pages you have visited on their site; and to tailor content to your interests and to personalize the site on your behalf.If you disallow cookies you may not be able to access certain personalized sections of their services such as publisher reports. | Typical content: either constant numbers, randomly generated letters and numbers or information about how you chose to share (for example by email, facebook).An overview of Add This privacy policy (external link). |
If you find any other cookies on this site that are not listed above, please let us know at communications.marketing@bristol.gov.uk