British Sign Language (BSL) recognised in Scotland’s new education legislation

The National Deaf Children’s Society and fellow deaf campaigners are celebrating after the Scottish Parliament unanimously voted through the new Education (Scotland) Bill 2025, which includes crucial recognition of the rights of British Sign Language (BSL) users.

The inclusion of BSL in the Bill is the culmination of a year-long campaign from a coalition of deaf charities, spearheaded by the National Deaf Children’s Society, and supported by more than 500 campaigners, including deaf young people and their families.

The campaign kicked into life after a previous reading of the Bill recognised Gaelic but not BSL, despite both languages having legal recognition in Scotland.

Campaigners urged Scottish MSPs to provide BSL with the same status as Gaelic, highlighting that deaf learners in Scotland are currently nearly three times more likely to leave school without qualifications than their hearing peers.

MSPs voted unanimously to support the legislation to include BSL as the Bill completed the final stage of debate on 25 June. It is now set to become law, once it receives Royal Assent.

George McGowan from the National Deaf Children’s Society said: “This is a historic moment for deaf children, young people, and their families, who realised this milestone through their tireless and incredible campaigning.

“This means BSL will receive the recognition and support it rightly deserves within Scotland’s educational system.”

The new education bodies created by the legislation will now have to give equal weight to both BSL and the Gaelic language.

The new qualifications agency in Scotland, Qualification Scotland, must also consider the needs of pupils who use BSL or learn in BSL.

This is significant as it recognises the importance of BSL as a language in the Scottish education system and crucially, means deaf children and young people who use BSL, will receive access to information and support from Qualification Scotland in their preferred language.

The new law also places requirements on the new Chief Inspector of Education to consider the importance of communicating in a way that best meets the needs of children and young people, including those who use BSL.

Mr McGowan, who has severe to profound deafness and uses BSL as his first language, added: “Too many deaf children and young people in Scotland still face barriers to learning and to using sign language, if it’s the right choice for them. This is why it’s so vital that this new law now recognises the importance of BSL.”

It is hoped that the passing of the new law will ensure deaf children and young people have access to an inclusive education that meets their needs.

Deaf teenager Niamdh Braid was one of the young people involved in the campaign for the Bill to recognise the rights of BSL users.

Niamdh, who earlier this month attended a meeting with MSPs at Holyrood to discuss the Bill, said: “The inclusion of BSL is incredible as it’s finally getting the recognition it deserves.

“This will hopefully not only bring more awareness to BSL but also give deaf children the access to sign language that they need.”

Niamdh, who was supported by the National Deaf Children’s Society in her legal battle with Fife Council to have a BSL interpreter in her class for school lessons, added: “Hopefully this will mean deaf young people no longer have to fight for access to their own language like I had to.”

BSL is recognised in law as one of Scotland’s languages. It is a vibrant language that allows deaf children and young people to access a rich deaf culture, heritage and identity. The importance of BSL was recognised in the BSL (Scotland) Act 2015.