Lindsay Foster

The Department for Education has confirmed that the public consultation for a GCSE in British Sign Language will be delayed until early in 2023. Although the public consultation has been delayed, it is still planned to begin teaching the GCSE in 2025. Signature continues to work closely with the Department of Education and we remain …

Hello to all of our centres, learners and supporters.   We hope you have all had a wonderful summer, and to those of us who have had some time away from learning over the past months we hope you have had a great holiday, and are returning refreshed and excited.  I would like to take the …

On Wednesday 20th October 2021, Lindsay Foster, Executive Director at Signature met with the Department for Education (DfE) for a progress update on the GCSE in British Sign Language. The DfE told us that there would be a public consultation relating to the GCSE and this would be shared in the first half of 2022. …

It has been a big year for Signature. I would like to take some time to reflect upon our accomplishments over the past twelve months, and to share some of our future plans.

As we near the end of the academic year, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our centres and learners for their hard work and commitment.

Signature has been involved with the process of creating a GCSE in BSL for many years now. Beginning with a successful pilot qualification in 2015, we oversaw its creation and distribution throughout a range of secondary schools.

It’s been another exciting year for Signature. As 2018 comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect upon our triumphs, but also the challenges we have faced over the last twelve months.

On Monday 19^th November 2018, Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP, Secretary of State for Education publically announced that both the Department for Education (DfE) and Ofqual are separately reviewing a proposal from Signature, in regard to a GCSE in British Sign Language (BSL).

At Signature we’re always looking at the ways in which we operate, so that we’re able to stay ahead of the curve and ultimately provide the best service to our learners and centres. 

Yesterday, 05 March 2018, Minister for School Standards Nick Gibb rejected the petition to have BSL as part of the national curriculum. He also rejected the creation of a GCSE qualification in British Sign Language.