Delay to new sign language GCSE branded ‘a disgrace’ by deaf community

The British Language Plans (BSL) plans from September 2025, facing a long delay, leaving students and activists disappointed.

Although the government pledged last year to launch the qualification by the beginning of the academic year for the year 2025, education officials admitted that it may take several years before the final curriculum is ready for secondary schools in the United Kingdom.

According to the two-year-old proposed course, successful students will receive a widely recognized BSL-recognized qualification as the fourth most used in Britain. The delay has sparked sharp criticism of deaf charities, fathers and preachers, who argue that the government should move faster to meet the increasing demand for BSL.

“The deaf youth have been a campaign for many years to get this GCSE in its place, but they just left for forgetfulness. It is a shame,” said Susan Daniels, CEO of the National Children’s Association of Deaf (NDCS).

Wales has already canceled her plans to present BSL GCSE, noting practical challenges. In England, the Ministry of Education insists that it works with Off -up to ensure that the final qualification is “high -quality and strict”. However, a revised date has not been set for its launch.

For parents, the delay is more than just an administrative inconvenience. Many, like Ruth Tont, spent thousands of pounds in learning BSL to communicate effectively with their children. She believes that the official GCSE “will be the game change” not only for families with deaf children but also to hear students who want the opportunity to learn the language along with standard GCSE materials.

While the government emphasizes that the value -added tax and the customs sentence of external products are designed to achieve a balance between reducing consumer costs and companies’ support in the United Kingdom, critics argue that the excavation of BSL education reduces totalitarianism. The British Deaf Association estimates that there are about 151,000 BSL users in the United Kingdom, including 87,000 deaf – a large number of population who benefit from the easiest communication with the hearing community.

Both the Ministry of Education and Off -ups say they are widely indicating to present a well -designed exam “that meets the needs of students who learn BSL.” But for many in the deaf community, the stretch schedule risk allowing another generation of deaf learners to progress through the school without reaching effective communication tools.