The government is unlikely to hit the target date for introducing a British Sign Language (BSL) GCSE next year, an awarding body has warned.

Signature, which offers BSL qualifications, recently met with Ofqual to discuss the progress of the BSL GCSE. The previous government announced last year that the GCSE would launch in 2025.

However, Signature said it was told no date had been provided for a second consultation on the GCSE, though it was assured that Ofqual was actively working on the new qualification to make sure the assessment methodology would be appropriate.

Ofqual said the next consultation will be published “in due course”.

Lindsay Foster, executive director of Signature, said: “It is Signature’s belief that given how close we are to 2025, it is unrealistic that first teaching will commence in September 2025.

“Although the delay may be frustrating, it is important that this qualification is right and meets the needs of those who will be taking it.”

A spokesperson for Ofqual said: “Ofqual is working on detailed regulations that will set out how DfE’s published subject content for a British Sign Language GCSE should be assessed, including working with subject specialists and awarding organisations.”

Delay to British Sign Language GCSE

The DfE previously published subject content for the GCSE after a 12-week consultation. That consultation had been delayed twice, before the government response was published on 21 December 2023.

Signature had hoped a second consultation, covering the rules and requirements for exam boards that offer the GCSE, would take place earlier this year. However, this was likely delayed because of the election, Signature said.

• Background: British Sign Language GCSE set to launch in 2025
• Consultation: Delayed consultation on sign language GCSE gets underway
• Learning gap: Deaf GCSE students “more than a year behind”

Susan Daniels, chief executive at the National Deaf Children’s Society, said the charity will be “extremely disappointed” if the BSL GCSE is not available to students in September 2025.

“A campaign for the GCSE began several years ago because of the determination and passion of deaf young people themselves,” she said.

“It’s incredibly frustrating that they’re still waiting all these years later - and that for some, it’s now too late.”

Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said the BSL GCSE is “long overdue” and that ASCL hopes to see it up and running as soon as possible.

He added: “Any new qualification must be of a high standard, to ensure it has credibility among the education sector and employers, and this must take priority over timescales.”

The family of Daniel Jillings, a deaf teenager from Suffolk whose first language is BSL, launched a campaign for the qualification several years ago.

The previous government said in 2018 that it would look at introducing the GCSE after a submission from the family’s legal team.

The DfE was also contacted for comment.