Right to Sign timeline

Ofqual progress, but a delay to launch

Signature, the leading awarding body and provider of BSL qualifications in the UK, announces they have recently met with Ofqual (the office of the qualifications and examinations regulator) to discuss progress.

Ofqual have confirmed they are actively working on the GCSE. However, it’s now believed to be unrealistic that teaching will begin in September 2025. Although the delay is incredibly frustrating, we believe it’s important the course is robust and credible and meets the needs of learners.

Subject content is published

The Department for Education publishes the finalised subject content, along with the Government’s response to the public consultation. There’s strong support for the GCSE, and the Department for Education states that they expect the first cohort to begin their studies in September 2025.

Before the course can be handed over to schools, Ofqual will need to make sure that the assessment methodology is appropriate for the subject content. Once this is complete there will be a small second public consultation “in due course”.

Consultation on draft course content goes live

The Department for Education launches a public consultation seeking views on the draft subject content for the GCSE.

We’re pleased with the content and respond to the consultation jointly with organisations including Signature, the British Deaf Association (BDA), the Association of British Sign Language Teachers and Assessors (ABSLTA), and the British Association of Teachers of Deaf Children and Young People (BATOD), showing the strength of feeling behind the campaign.

We launch survey to assess demand for the course

We survey parents of deaf and hearing young people, teachers and headteachers, and hearing and deaf young people to better understand interest in the GCSE. 95% of deaf students and 72% of hearing students say they’d like to learn BSL at GCSE.

Work on GCSE continues

The development of the GCSE has been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Minister for Schools and Childhood, Kelly Tolhurst MP, confirms that work on creating the GCSE is continuing, and that there will be a public consultation on the draft subject content once it’s ready.

Department for Education announces they are developing content

The Department for Education confirms they are working with subject experts to develop content for the BSL GCSE. They are aiming to introduce the GCSE as soon as possible.

Government U-turn

The Department for Education backs down on its decision to delay a BSL GCSE – and says it can now be introduced in the current parliament.

It’s the result of incredible work by deaf young person, Daniel Jillings and everyone else who has supported the campaign.

Daniel celebrates his win on ITV News

Crowdfunding legal costs

Daniel Jillings keeps the pressure on. He starts a crowdfunding campaign to cover the legal costs of challenging the Government’s delay in launching the GCSE.

Daniel says the delay is unfair to deaf children and denies them the same opportunities as their hearing peers. We could not agree more.

One step closer

The Department for Education confirms that it does not object in principle to introducing a GCSE in British Sign Language.

However, they also say that it cannot be introduced in the current parliament. In theory, this means there cannot be a BSL GCSE before 2022.

Parliamentary petition launches

TV and radio presenter Wayne Barrow, who has deaf parents, launches a parliamentary petition to urge the Government to make sign language part of the national curriculum. In March 2018, parliament debates the topic.

Meeting with the minister for school standards

Deaf young person Daniel Jillings, and his mum, Ann, meet with the Minister for School Standards, Nick Gibb, to talk about the BSL GCSE.

See a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) about the meeting.

Watch Daniel’s vlog about the campaign (YouTube).

Influencing civil servants

Florence from our Young People’s Advisory Board meets with civil servants at the Department for Education to explain why deaf and hearing young people need a BSL GCSE.

See a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) about the campaign.

It’s a no to the GCSE

Minister for School Standards at the Department for Education, Nick Gibb, says: “There are no plans to introduce any further GCSEs beyond those to which the Government has already committed.”

The campaign launches

Our Young People’s Advisory Board launches Right to Sign, a campaign to convince the Government to introduce a BSL GCSE in schools.

See a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) about the campaign.