GCSE in BSL
Signature is developing a GCSE in British Sign Language (BSL) to be piloted in late 2012 and is looking for evidence of support and demand.
BSL is the first language of an estimated 70,000 Deaf people in the UK (DWP 2003). A GCSE in BSL would give Deaf people the chance to achieve a qualification in their first language and give their peers the opportunity to learn valuable visual communication skills. Speakers of Welsh and Gaelic are able to take a GCSE in their first language, so the development of a GCSE in BSL is a major step towards equality. The Academy is supporting this campaign - see letter to Signature attached.