A public consultation on government plans to introduce a British Sign Language (BSL) GCSE is to take place in the “first half” of next year, the awarding body Signature has confirmed.
The organisation, which accredits BSL courses, published an update on progress towards the new qualification in a blog post on Monday – saying that their executive director Lindsay Foster discussed the BSL GCSE with Department for Education (DfE) officials on Wednesday.
Ms Foster said: “It was a positive meeting with the DfE and we appreciate them providing us with this update. To see that they have continued their work towards a GCSE, whilst also facing the educational challenges of the last 20 months, is heartening.
“We look forward to seeing the consultation when it is released”.
The latest announcement follows comments from then-schools minister Nick Gibb in September 2020, when Conservative MP Peter Aldous – who represents Deaf campaigner Daniel Jillings, who pressured the government into working on the GCSE in 2018 – asked the minister for an update on work towards the new qualification.
“As this is a brand new subject at GCSE, we have been taking care to consult experts very closely on the detail of the subject content.
“Because of the COVID pandemic, this has affected the timeline of the GCSE, but my honourable friend will be pleased to know that that work has now been resumed,” Mr Gibb said.
An exact launch date for the consultation is yet to be announced.
By Liam O’Dell. Liam is an award-winning Deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.
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Cathy
October 25, 2021
This is going to be interesting. Will stages of BSL that adults currently learn in night classes be combined? Namely levels 1, 2 and 3 to be combined to create a GCSE? This means that each of these stages will not be needed will they? So these classes are likely to disappear as adults realise they can do the whole thing in a GCSE! Are we fully prepared to teach the nation’s children across Britain? Do we have hundreds of qualified Deaf teachers to teach the language to children, that requires a specific qualification? I do not believe for a minute that we have such qualified Deaf people to spread out nationally, but this “trial run” next year will show us all if it is feasible to include BSL on the national curriculum.
Patricia and Michael NILAND
November 16, 2021
A personal story here. My grandson was born profoundly Deaf into a hearing family so we all had to get up to speed quickly-NDCS helped his parents and us so much with what we needed to learn.—-A day out in the park in the summer holidays-on the swing with the little grandson—-quite a few teens hanging around—boys and girls about 13/14 doing what they do. Some girls start cooing over my little grandson and talking to him. I explain that he is Deaf but show them some very simple signs–tree—birds— happy—swing—sunshine. They all try the signs and are delighted when my grandson, at only about 13 months, responds with them.—–One young girl said to me, “I really wish we could learn this BSL at school or at least have the option.” ——–Cathy above, feels we do not have enough qualified Deaf teachers to teach BSL. Do you have to be qualified to teach your natural language?—as long as you pass any checks I think the BSL language should be shared with those who want to learn it.—–As far as I know, this is not a compulsory GCSE but open to those who want to learn it.——-I am not a great learner myself but I understand you can actually reach a Degree level in BSL .