Ofqual have today released their feedback, following the second consultation for the GCSE in British Sign Language which took place earlier this year.
The feedback from the consultation provides clarification around the rules that all exam boards will need to follow. This includes guidance on assessment methods, standards, and accessibility to ensure the qualification is robust and inclusive for all learners.
This now means that the BSL GCSE is now available to be developed by any GCSE approved awarding body which would like to develop it.
You can find the results of the consultation analysis and decisions on our website here: Rules for GCSE qualifications in British Sign Language – GOV.UK
You can also find the finalised Subject Level Conditions, Requirements and Guidance, which will appear on our website alongside the equivalent rules for other GCSE subjects here: GCSEs (9 to 1): requirements and guidance – GOV.UK
Lindsay Foster, Executive Director of Signature, said:
“Today is another exciting milestone on the journey towards a BSL GCSE. I am proud of the part we have played in getting us to where we are today, a lot of time and investment has gone into this over the last 15 years.
With the support of Daniel Jillings, NDCS and others, we have managed to get us to where we are today and this feels like a significant moment.
Whilst there is still a lot of work to do for Awarding Bodies, the regulatory part of the process is now complete.
Signature continue with our commitment towards getting a BSL GCSE into schools as soon as possible.”
The next steps
The next step is for a GCSE approved awarding body to design a GCSE in British Sign Language.
This includes writing the full specification, creating sample exam materials, and developing teacher resources and training. When the draft GCSE is ready, it will be submitted to Ofqual for review.
Ofqual checks that everything meets national standards and that the assessments are reliable and consistent before officially accrediting the qualification.
Once accredited, the GCSE can be taught in schools. During this time, the awarding body will train teachers, publish resources, and support schools in introducing the subject.
The Department for Education and Ofqual will continue to monitor how it’s taught and assessed, collecting feedback and making improvements over time to ensure the GCSE in BSL remains high quality, inclusive, and in line with other language qualifications.
BSL Translation to follow today