Deaf charities respond with ‘anger’ and ‘disappointment’ after Welsh BSL GCSE plans suspended

The British Deaf Association (BDA) has responded with ‘anger’ and the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) and Signature with ‘disappointment’ following yesterday’s news that plans for a made-for-Wales GCSE in British Sign Language in Wales have been suspended. It was also announced by Signature that the BSL GCSE for England is unlikely to start in September 2025, as previously hoped.

Yesterday, Qualification Wales announced that they ‘have taken the difficult decision to suspend the development of a made-for-Wales
GCSE in British Sign Language in Wales, stating significant practical challenges.’

Martin Griffiths, British Deaf Association Cymru Manager for Wales said: “This is a slap in the face for deaf children and their friends and classmates across Wales. The Welsh Government had made a strong commitment to sign language, just yesterday in the Senedd. It’s astounding that this news comes just one day later. We urgently need a BSL Act in Wales to ensure that all parts of the Welsh Government are actively promoting the use of British Sign Language.”

Susan Daniels OBE, Chief Executive at the National Deaf Children’s Society, said: “Deaf young people have been campaigning for a BSL GCSE for over a decade. To now be told that the Welsh Government has gone back on its word and there will no longer be a BSL GCSE in Wales is devastating. It was only yesterday that Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Jane Hutt spoke of the ‘provisions’ being made by the Government to ‘promote and facilitate the use of BSL’ in Wales. It seems they’re going back on their word less than 24 hours later.

She continued: “More people knowing and using BSL is key to breaking down the barriers some deaf young people face. There’s no question that they deserve to be able to achieve a formally recognised qualification in their own language. We’ll continue to stand with deaf young people on this. We’re as determined as ever to make sure that a BSL GCSE becomes a reality in Wales and are keen to work with Qualification Wales to overcome the ‘practical challenges’ it describes.”

Lindsay Foster, Executive Director at Signature said: “It’s disappointing that after so much work this difficult decision has been made. We will be sharing with Qualification Wales our research on the demand for a GCSE in BSL, as well as the evidence of sufficient teaching supply in Wales for launch, which has been developed as part of the GCSE Coalition group work.”

There was further bad news for the deaf community when it was announced that the BSL GCSE for England is very unlikely to begin in September 2025.

Following a meeting between Signature and Ofqual (The office of the Qualifications and Examinations regulator) to discuss progress,  Lindsay Foster of Signature said: “We are glad that Ofqual have confirmed they are actively working on the GCSE in British Sign Language. It is Signatures belief that given how close we are to 2025, that it is unrealistic that first teaching will commerce in September 2025. Although the delay may be frustrating, it is important that this qualification is right and meets the needs of those who will be taking it.”

NDCS’s Susan Daniels said: “We’re extremely disappointed with the news that it’s unlikely a BSL GCSE will be available to students in England in September 2025 as planned.  A campaign for the GCSE began several years ago because of the determination and passion of deaf young people themselves. It’s incredibly frustrating that they’re still waiting all these years later – and that for some, it’s now too late.

“That said, it’s important that the GCSE is robust and credible, delivered in the right way, and meets the needs of students.  We continue to stand with deaf young people on this and are as determined as ever to make sure that a BSL GCSE becomes a reality, not just in England but across the UK.”