Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2017 to question 9014, on sign language: GCSE, for what reason it is not Government policy to include British Sign Language as a GCSE; and if she will make a statement.

The Government has introduced a number of recent changes to GCSEs and A levels in England that will affect schools in the coming years. We know that extensive changes need time to settle, and that school leaders will want stability to ensure the new qualifications are well taught. Therefore, at the present time, there are no plans to introduce any further GCSEs beyond those to which the Government has already committed.

There are existing accredited British sign language qualifications including a Level 1 award, Level 2, 3 and 4 certificates and a Level 6 NVQ certificate. The Level 1 and 2 qualifications, equivalent to GCSE grades A*-G or 9-1, have the highest take up. Schools are free to enter pupils for these awards at any point in their school career.