We have been keeping you up to date on our campaign for a GCSE in British Sign Language (BSL). We are calling for BSL to be part of the Modern Foreign Language (MFL) group of subjects, like other languages.
The Department for Education’s consultation, Reformed GCSE Subject Content, closed yesterday, 20 August, and Signature have responded with the following;
- BSL has as strong a claim to be included in the Modern Foreign Language group of subjects as any other language.
- There is a great deal of similarity between sign language and other languages in the MFL curriculum.
- The learning, skills and teaching assessments involved with sign language are closely related to those of other languages.
- The existing criterion would require only a slight modification to give producing and receiving sign language equal weight to listening and speaking. This would value BSL on an equal level with other languages in MFL curriculum.
- Introducing a GCSE in BSL into the MFL group of subjects will give sign language equal status and make it just as valuable to schools as other language GCSEs.
- This will have benefits such as improving the education experience of deaf people and allowing hearing young people to communicate with their deaf peers.
Watch this space for further news updates.
