Right to Sign campaign
Since 2017, we’ve been campaigning to introduce a British Sign Language (BSL) GCSE in England.
The subject content has been announced, but the course will not be ready to launch in September 2025 as planned.
While we’re reassured that the GCSE in England is still happening, we’re disappointed with this setback. However, we know that the course needs to be robust and credible for learners to study.
My daughter is in mainstream school, she can sign, but her friends can’t. It would really boost her confidence and help her feel included if her peers could communicate in British Sign Language too.”
Parent of a deaf child
Why we’re campaigning
BSL is the first or preferred language of many deaf children in the UK and around 1 in 10 deaf children and young people use sign language in their education.
We believe it’s only fair and right that BSL users should have the opportunity to achieve a GCSE in their own legally recognised language. Giving others the opportunity to learn will create a more inclusive education system, one that celebrates the richness of deaf history and culture.
The campaign so far
After years of campaigning alongside passionate deaf young people, the subject content for the BSL GCSE was announced in December 2023.
Ofqual (the office of the qualifications and examinations regulator) is now developing assessments based on the agreed subject content. While it’s important that the course is robust, this has delayed the launch. We’re now waiting to find out when the GCSE will be ready.
Find out more about the campaign
Take a look at the key milestones in our campaign for a BSL GCSE in England.
What you told us about learning BSL
We surveyed around 3,000 people to find out if they wanted to learn BSL and why a BSL GCSE is important.
94% of teachers and headteachers who responded to the survey said they would like their students to be able to study BSL at GCSE.
95% of deaf students and 72% of hearing students said that they would like to learn BSL at GCSE level.
96% of parents of both hearing and deaf children said they would like their child to have the opportunity to study BSL at GCSE.