A recent announcement from Ofqual has brought the possibility of a GCSE in British Sign Language another step closer to becoming a reality.
Ofqual’s confirmation of the rules surrounding assessment for the new GCSE represents a significant milestone in the development of this qualification after years of campaigning to have BSL introduced into schools around the country. Members of the Deaf community largely led this campaign.
It represents more than a qualification. It’s a step towards a more inclusive future with more recognition and opportunities for Deaf people in our society. Here’s why it’s important.
What has Ofqual announced?
Ofqual has now confirmed the rules and regulations surrounding the assessment of the new GCSE. This will include exam and non-exam components, which will test signing accuracy and comprehension, as well as knowledge around the history of BSL.
Now that Ofqual has confirmed its expectations around the objectives of assessments and the rules around what may and may not be used (for example, that dictionaries will be prohibited), interested exam boards can begin to develop their offers. They can then present them to Ofqual for accreditation, before they start to roll out the qualification in secondary schools.
Why a British Sign Language GCSE matters
British Sign Language is a complete, living language with its own grammar and structure. Yet it’s often seen as an ‘add-on’ to the English language, held exclusively within a small community.
Allowing teenagers to learn BSL in the same way that they might learn French, Spanish or German in school is a big step towards recognising the language as its own entity, accessible to anyone who wishes to learn it.
It places value on a language which has often been overlooked and offers an opportunity for the knowledge and skills of the Deaf community to be more widely recognised.
Opening BSL to more learners also brings with it the hope for a more inclusive future, where it’s used more widely throughout society, allowing Deaf people to feel welcomed into more spaces and social settings.
Encouraging more young people to learn BSL
The new GCSE aims to make BSL more visible and accessible to Deaf and hearing students. It will also position the language as a useful and transferable skill for the workplace.
Exposure to BSL through education will help to normalise its use, so that Deaf people are no longer seen as outliers to the mainstream, but a vital part of our functioning society.
Other elements of the qualification, aside from speaking the language, will inform students about Deaf culture, further breaking down barriers between Deaf and hearing people.
The course will serve to grow awareness of BSL’s potential applications in the workplace and support future demand for qualified BSL professionals.
The wider impact on the deaf community
Barriers to communication mean that Deaf people are often left out of conversations and, as a community, are regularly overlooked.
This GCSE will help to shine a light on the value of Deaf people as employees, friends and members of society.
Widening the pool of people with BSL skills can help reduce these everyday communication barriers and lead to more inclusive workplaces and services, which, in turn, supports Deaf people to participate more fully in society. The GCSE is also largely a result of campaigning by the Deaf community, so this step also represents a huge victory for their advocacy.
What this means for employers and organisations
Educating young people in BSL means we can look forward to a future workforce with greater exposure to, and acceptance of, Deaf employees. We can hope that this will lead to a shift in making communication more accessible for all employees.
However, it’s important that this education doesn’t stop at age 16. Continued learning through BSL courses and Deaf Awareness Training for adults will continue to be as important as ever in helping raise awareness and support for Deaf people in society and the workplace.
Anything which can help us promote and raise awareness of BSL is an undoubted triumph.
The introduction of BSL into mainstream education could be one of the biggest moves yet to offer communication skills to young people with a genuine chance to bring communities closer together.
Here at Sign Solutions, we’re excited to see what the future holds and will continue to do our part to bridge the communication divide through our offer of BSL courses, Deaf Awareness Training and our national network of NRCPD-registered interpreters for in-person and online interpretation.
We’re looking forward to a more inclusive future for Deaf people and hope that every employer will strive to be a part of it.
