220,000 primary school children learn sign in ‘UK’s largest ever online BSL’ lesson

More than 220,000 primary school children across the UK learned basic British Sign Language (BSL) signs today, as part of what Deaf charity the British Deaf Association (BDA) and sign language qualifications body Signature are calling the country’s “largest ever” online BSL lesson.

Over 1,350 schools signed up to the lesson from Deaf teacher and See Hear presenter Yvonne Cobb, which was offered to teachers from 10am as part of this week’s Sign Language Week celebrations.

Rebecca Mansell, the BDA’s chief executive officer, said the charity is “absolutely thrilled” so many children signed up to learn BSL this week.

“We hope that this will be the start of a lifelong love of British Sign Language and Deaf culture. BSL is different from the foreign languages children learn at school, as it is a visual language that uses your hands, face, eye gaze and whole body to express meaning – it’s great fun for kids!

“With language learning, you really can’t start too early – primary school is the perfect time to pick up BSL almost effortlessly. While we look forward to the imminent rollout of a BSL GCSE in the next couple of years, we believe that the best approach would be to deliver the language to children from the very start of their education.”

In October, it was revealed the Department for Education had once again delayed its consultation on draft subject content for a BSL GCSE until “early 2023”, with plans to start teaching the qualification from September 2025.

Mansell added: “Learning BSL provides children with so many opportunities to make Deaf friends, take part in the Deaf community, and even get a job working with Deaf people when they grow up.”

Meanwhile Dr John Walker, chair of Signature, said the organisation hopes the online lesson will encourage primary schools to consider including BSL in their teaching.

“British Sign Language involves expression of ideas visually and spatially, and reinforces learning through visual and kinaesthetic association, while enhancing vocabulary and spelling.

“At the same time, schools can build inclusivity into a classroom while improving learning for all.

“We have already seen how successful this can be within a primary school setting through schools like Reigate Park Primary School, who deliver our Level One qualifications to their pupils,” he said.

Primary and secondary schools interested in teaching BSL in their schools are encouraged to get in touch with Signature for more information.

Schools who missed out on this morning’s online lesson can fill in a survey to receive the lesson, which will be available on-demand to all schools who have signed up, for use with future classes and pupils.

Photo: Signature/British Deaf Association.

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.