The long-awaited introduction of a British Sign Language GCSE has moved one step closer to reality after the government launched a consultation on course content.
Ministers said the qualification, which they hope will be taught from 2025, will help students “communicate effectively with other signers for use in work, social and academic settings, providing them with valuable life skills welcomed by employers”.
Deaf charities and other campaigners have been calling for a BSL GCSE for years, and the government has been planning to introduce one for around five years, but with little progress.
Education secretary Gillian Keegan said it was ” fantastic that British Sign Language will soon be taught in schools up and down the country”
“Good communication is essential both inside and outside the workplace and this historic GCSE will give students a vital life skill valued by employers.
“This new qualification will break down barriers, advance equality of opportunity, and celebrate the history and rich culture of British Sign Language.”
The Department for Education said it had been “working closely with subject experts, stakeholders and schools to develop proposed content to ensure that this new GCSE is internationally recognised and accepted in school and college performance tables”.
“In line with our expectations for all qualifications, the GCSE will be knowledge-rich, diverse and as challenging as any other GCSE.”
Views on the new qualification, “including the language skills to be studied and the role of history, are being sought from teachers, employers and the deaf and hearing communities”.
The government is aiming to introduce the qualification for first teaching from September 2025.
‘Tell us what you think’
Dr Jo Saxton, chief regulator at Ofqual, said qualifications were meant to “increase opportunities and break down barriers”.
“This GCSE in British Sign Language will do that by encouraging more people to study the language, so I’m delighted to be launching our consultation on how students should be assessed in this exciting new GCSE.
“We want anyone with an interest in this new GCSE subject to tell us what they think about our proposals and whether these allow students the best opportunity to show how well they understand and can use British Sign Language.”
The announcement was welcomed by Susan Daniels, chief executive of the National Deaf Children’s Society.
She said BSL was a “native British language used by tens of thousands of people, so it’s only fair and right that BSL users should have the opportunity to achieve a GCSE in their own, legally recognised language”.
As well as learning how to sign effectively, the GCSE “will also give students an understanding of the history of sign language in the UK”.
“This will provide a solid foundation for students’ understanding of how the language has reached its current form,” the DfE said.
The consultation will run for 12 weeks.
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