British Sign Language GCSE set to be taught in schools

Plans to offer a British Sign Language GCSE to pupils have moved forward after the subject content was finalised.

Parents, teachers and the deaf and hearing communities took part in a 12-week consultation last year on the content of the British Sign Language (BSL) GCSE.

The Government is aiming to have exam board syllabuses approved for the new qualification from September 2025.

It will teach students how to sign effectively using BSL and it will give them an understanding of the history of sign language in the UK, the Department for Education (DFE) said.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: “Studying British

Sign Language can open so many doors for young people, giving pupils an understanding of how thousands of people communicate and ultimately even expanding job prospects.

“This new qualification will not only break down barriers and give young people valuable new skills, but also celebrate the history and rich culture of British Sign Language.”

In 2018, the Government said it would consider introducing a GCSE in BSL after deaf schoolboy Daniel Jillings campaigned for the new qualification and his family launched a legal challenge to get one instated as quickly as possible.

Michael Hanton, deputy chief regulator of Ofqual, said: “We’re grateful to those who engaged with our consultation, which was a crucial step forward for this new and important qualification.

“We will now begin the regulatory work to ensure that the new GCSE in British Sign Language will be high quality and fair for students.”