diff --git a/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/edit/AssignmentEdit.spec.tsx b/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/edit/AssignmentEdit.spec.tsx
index ccbe012ff..833aee90b 100644
--- a/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/edit/AssignmentEdit.spec.tsx
+++ b/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/edit/AssignmentEdit.spec.tsx
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ describe("AssignmentEdit", () => {
   it("renders the assignment name and the section papers for a Regular assignment", () => {
     renderWithMantine(<Harness kind="Regular" />);
 
-    expect(screen.getByRole("heading", { name: "Homework 3" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("heading", { level: 1, name: "Homework 3" })).toHaveFocus();
     expect(screen.getByRole("heading", { name: "Details" })).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(screen.getByRole("heading", { name: "Schedule" })).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(screen.getByRole("heading", { name: "Scoring" })).toBeInTheDocument();
diff --git a/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/edit/AssignmentEdit.tsx b/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/edit/AssignmentEdit.tsx
index 0e03e9e69..227cb9538 100644
--- a/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/edit/AssignmentEdit.tsx
+++ b/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/edit/AssignmentEdit.tsx
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import classNames from "classnames";
 import { Control, Controller, UseFormSetValue } from "react-hook-form";
 
 import { useExercisesSelector } from "@/hooks/useExercisesSelector";
+import { useRouteHeadingFocus } from "@/hooks/useRouteHeadingFocus";
 import { Assignment, KindOfAssignment } from "@/types/assignment";
 
 import { DateTimePicker } from "../../../../ui/DateTimePicker";
@@ -70,6 +71,9 @@ export const AssignmentEdit = ({
   setValue
 }: AssignmentEditProps) => {
   const { isExercisesError, isExercisesLoading } = useExercisesSelector();
+  const headingRef = useRouteHeadingFocus(
+    `${window.location.pathname}:${isExercisesLoading ? "loading" : "ready"}`
+  );
   // The study setting is meaningless outside a course set up to run one, so it should not confuse instructors
   const { data: { asyncConditionsEnabled = false } = {} } = useHasApiKeyQuery();
 
@@ -433,7 +437,9 @@ export const AssignmentEdit = ({
               >
                 <Icon name="arrow-left" />
               </ActionIcon>
-              <h1 className={styles.assignmentName}>{selectedAssignment?.name}</h1>
+              <h1 ref={headingRef} className={styles.assignmentName} tabIndex={-1}>
+                {selectedAssignment?.name}
+              </h1>
             </Group>
             <Tooltip label="Preview as student" position="bottom">
               <ActionIcon
diff --git a/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/list/AssignmentList.spec.tsx b/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/list/AssignmentList.spec.tsx
index 7197af0b9..2c0d6ee8c 100644
--- a/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/list/AssignmentList.spec.tsx
+++ b/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/list/AssignmentList.spec.tsx
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ describe("AssignmentList", () => {
   it("renders the page title with the assignment count", () => {
     renderWithMantine(<AssignmentList {...baseProps()} />);
 
-    expect(screen.getByRole("heading", { name: "Assignments" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("heading", { level: 1, name: "Assignments" })).toHaveFocus();
     expect(screen.getByText("3")).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
diff --git a/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/list/AssignmentList.tsx b/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/list/AssignmentList.tsx
index 09d701732..6c6fbc4c9 100644
--- a/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/list/AssignmentList.tsx
+++ b/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/list/AssignmentList.tsx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import classNames from "classnames";
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from "react";
 
 import { usePersistedPagination } from "@/hooks/usePersistedPagination";
+import { useRouteHeadingFocus } from "@/hooks/useRouteHeadingFocus";
 import { Assignment } from "@/types/assignment";
 import { formatUTCDateForDisplay } from "@/utils/date";
 
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ export const AssignmentList = ({
   onBulkEnforceDueChange,
   onBulkRemove
 }: AssignmentListProps) => {
+  const headingRef = useRouteHeadingFocus(window.location.pathname);
   const [rowSelection, setRowSelection] = useState<RowSelectionState>({});
 
   const [sortField, setSortField] = useState<string>(
@@ -390,7 +392,9 @@ export const AssignmentList = ({
     <div className={styles.page}>
       <div className={styles.pageHeader}>
         <div className={styles.titleGroup}>
-          <h1 className={styles.pageTitle}>Assignments</h1>
+          <h1 ref={headingRef} className={styles.pageTitle} tabIndex={-1}>
+            Assignments
+          </h1>
           {!loading && <span className={styles.countBadge}>{assignments.length}</span>}
         </div>
         <div className={styles.headerActions}>
diff --git a/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/wizard/AssignmentWizard.spec.tsx b/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/wizard/AssignmentWizard.spec.tsx
index 93387af87..0c5e418ca 100644
--- a/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/wizard/AssignmentWizard.spec.tsx
+++ b/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/wizard/AssignmentWizard.spec.tsx
@@ -130,9 +130,7 @@ describe("AssignmentWizard", () => {
   it("renders the active step title as the page h1", () => {
     renderWithMantine(<Harness wizardStep="basic" />);
 
-    expect(
-      screen.getByRole("heading", { level: 1, name: "Basic information" })
-    ).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("heading", { level: 1, name: "Basic information" })).toHaveFocus();
   });
 
   it("disables Create assignment while the creation request is pending", () => {
diff --git a/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/wizard/AssignmentWizard.tsx b/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/wizard/AssignmentWizard.tsx
index 27b541c8d..5bbc04432 100644
--- a/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/wizard/AssignmentWizard.tsx
+++ b/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/AssignmentBuilder/components/wizard/AssignmentWizard.tsx
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import classNames from "classnames";
 import { Control, Controller, UseFormSetValue, UseFormWatch } from "react-hook-form";
 
 import stepperStyles from "@/components/ui/WizardStepper.module.css";
+import { useRouteHeadingFocus } from "@/hooks/useRouteHeadingFocus";
 import { Assignment, KindOfAssignment } from "@/types/assignment";
 
 import { DateTimePicker } from "../../../../ui/DateTimePicker";
@@ -96,9 +97,13 @@ export const AssignmentWizard = ({
   watch,
   setValue
 }: AssignmentWizardProps) => {
+  const headingRef = useRouteHeadingFocus(window.location.pathname);
+
   const renderBasicInfo = () => (
     <>
-      <h1 className={styles.stepTitle}>Basic information</h1>
+      <h1 ref={headingRef} className={styles.stepTitle} tabIndex={-1}>
+        Basic information
+      </h1>
       <div className={styles.fields}>
         <div className={styles.field}>
           <label htmlFor="wizard-assignment-name">Assignment name</label>
@@ -172,7 +177,9 @@ export const AssignmentWizard = ({
 
   const renderTypeSelection = () => (
     <>
-      <h1 className={styles.stepTitle}>Select assignment type</h1>
+      <h1 ref={headingRef} className={styles.stepTitle} tabIndex={-1}>
+        Select assignment type
+      </h1>
       <div className={styles.typeCards}>
         {assignmentTypeCards.map((card) => {
           const isSelected = watch("kind") === card.type;
@@ -318,7 +325,9 @@ export const AssignmentWizard = ({
 
   const renderVisibility = () => (
     <>
-      <h1 className={styles.stepTitle}>Visibility</h1>
+      <h1 ref={headingRef} className={styles.stepTitle} tabIndex={-1}>
+        Visibility
+      </h1>
       <p className={styles.visibilityIntro}>
         Control when this assignment becomes visible to students. You can make it visible
         immediately, schedule it for a future date, or set it to hide automatically.
diff --git a/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/Grader/components/GraderPageSection.tsx b/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/Grader/components/GraderPageSection.tsx
index 8da9e4749..212c93a12 100644
--- a/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/Grader/components/GraderPageSection.tsx
+++ b/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/components/routes/Grader/components/GraderPageSection.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-import React, { PropsWithChildren, useEffect, useRef } from "react";
+import React, { PropsWithChildren } from "react";
+
+import { useRouteHeadingFocus } from "@/hooks/useRouteHeadingFocus";
 
 import styles from "../Grader.module.css";
 
@@ -12,12 +14,8 @@ export const GraderPageSection: React.FC<GraderPageSectionProps> = ({
   heading,
   pathname
 }) => {
-  const headingRef = useRef<HTMLHeadingElement>(null);
   const pagePathname = pathname.replace(/\/students\/[^/]+\/?$/, "");
-
-  useEffect(() => {
-    headingRef.current?.focus();
-  }, [pagePathname]);
+  const headingRef = useRouteHeadingFocus(pagePathname);
 
   return (
     <section className={styles.body} aria-labelledby="grader-page-heading">
diff --git a/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/hooks/useRouteHeadingFocus.spec.tsx b/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/hooks/useRouteHeadingFocus.spec.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f3a67e30c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/hooks/useRouteHeadingFocus.spec.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+import { render, screen } from "@testing-library/react";
+import userEvent from "@testing-library/user-event";
+import { Link, MemoryRouter, useLocation } from "react-router-dom";
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+import { useRouteHeadingFocus } from "./useRouteHeadingFocus";
+
+const TestPage = () => {
+  const location = useLocation();
+  const headingRef = useRouteHeadingFocus(location.pathname);
+
+  return (
+    <>
+      <h1 ref={headingRef} tabIndex={-1}>
+        {location.pathname}
+      </h1>
+      <Link to="/next">Next page</Link>
+      <button type="button">Unrelated action</button>
+    </>
+  );
+};
+
+describe("useRouteHeadingFocus", () => {
+  it("focuses the heading on initial render and after navigation", async () => {
+    const user = userEvent.setup();
+
+    render(
+      <MemoryRouter initialEntries={["/start"]}>
+        <TestPage />
+      </MemoryRouter>
+    );
+
+    expect(screen.getByRole("heading", { level: 1, name: "/start" })).toHaveFocus();
+
+    await user.click(screen.getByRole("link", { name: "Next page" }));
+
+    expect(screen.getByRole("heading", { level: 1, name: "/next" })).toHaveFocus();
+  });
+
+  it("does not steal focus when the route is unchanged", async () => {
+    const user = userEvent.setup();
+
+    render(
+      <MemoryRouter initialEntries={["/start"]}>
+        <TestPage />
+      </MemoryRouter>
+    );
+
+    const button = screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Unrelated action" });
+
+    await user.click(button);
+
+    expect(button).toHaveFocus();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/hooks/useRouteHeadingFocus.ts b/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/hooks/useRouteHeadingFocus.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..93d231519
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/assignment_builder/src/hooks/useRouteHeadingFocus.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+import { RefObject, useEffect, useRef } from "react";
+
+/**
+ * Moves focus to a page heading when its route changes so assistive
+ * technology announces the newly rendered page context.
+ */
+export const useRouteHeadingFocus = (routeKey: string): RefObject<HTMLHeadingElement> => {
+  const headingRef = useRef<HTMLHeadingElement>(null);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    headingRef.current?.focus();
+  }, [routeKey]);
+
+  return headingRef;
+};