Children studying the long-awaited GCSE in British sign language will be expected to learn at least 750 core words, government papers have revealed. The Department for Education that it is aiming to approve exam board syllabuses so the subject can be taught from September 2025, and has published its subject content document following a much-delayed consultation. Education secretary Gillian Keegan said the qualification “will not only break down barriers and give young people valuable new skills, but also celebrate the history and rich culture of British sign language”. Here鈥檚 what you need to know鈥 1. Pupils will learn at least 750 signs The said courses will help children construct sentences and 鈥渞ecall, understand and produce a range of” commonly used words. By the end of the GCSE, youngsters “are expected to know at least 750 signs from the established lexicon”. The DfE has released an advisory vocabulary list for exam boards. It contains a range of basic verbs, adjectives and adverbs, as well as words like clothing names, sports, countries, food and drink and animals. It also includes words for months of the year, days of the week, cities in the UK, and phrases such as “good evening” and “what did you say?”. However, 鈥淕CSE specifications in BSL…may use reasonable flexibility in their selection of vocabulary, topics and scenarios. 鈥淭opics and scenarios should relate to those of social, cultural and personal relevance to students, taking into account the needs and interests of a wide range of students.鈥 2. Students will learn to have political discussions… Children taking the course 鈥渟hould develop their ability to communicate using BSL with other signers on a range of themes鈥. The topics will have 鈥渟ocial, cultural, political, work-related and personal relevance鈥. Officials also want GCSE specifications to allow youngsters to demonstrate 鈥渢he use of accurate non-manual features鈥 through facial expressions, eye contact and body position. GCSE specifications must require teens to 鈥渇ollow and understand signs鈥 and sentences by 鈥渁pplying their knowledge of the vocabulary and grammar鈥. They will be expected to identify topics of discussion, infer 鈥減lausible meanings of single signs鈥, and understand and recognise 鈥渢he relationship between past, ongoing and future events鈥. 3. …and be taught to 鈥榯ell a story鈥 in British sign language Teachers will show pupils how to construct sentences in BSL that can be understood by a proficient signer. This will help them to communicate 鈥渟imple sentences鈥, describe people, places and things, and tell a story 鈥渃onveying past, ongoing and future events, as appropriate鈥. 鈥淭he narrative may be real or imagined but should enable students to demonstrate their ability to use BSL productively.鈥 Meanwhile, courses should equip children with the skills to interact in 鈥渟tructured and unstructured scenarios鈥. 4. History of British sign language to also feature Subject content papers stated that GCSE specifications 鈥渕ust require students to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the development of BSL, from its origins and the first references to signing in Britain, to the present day鈥. This includes learning how its use has evolved, the ways 鈥渘ew vocabulary enters BSL鈥 and how it is 鈥渄istinctive from, has influenced鈥 and has been shaped by other languages. 5. GCSE exams won’t be tiered Following a consultation earlier this year, to have “one set of assessments for all levels of attainment” in GCSE BSL. This means exams will not be tiered. Tests will assess teens’ “receptive language skills and their knowledge and understanding of the history of BSL”. Combined, these will be worth 40 per cent of the total qualification marks. The remaining 60 per cent will come from “non-exam assessments to assess students鈥 productive and interactive language skills”.
Sadie Thompson 24 December 2023 Really interesting to see the scope of the exam board specification here. Perhaps important to note where this will sit in the current curriculum offer – mindful that a BSL GCSE won’t likely count in those important EBACC numbers. Will this bring about an even sharper decline in MFL option numbers perhaps?