Petition · past parliament · Department for Education

Allow schools to teach BSL instead of a modern foreign language

Closed 192 signatures

What the petition asks

We want the Government to change the criteria for teaching languages to allow primary schools to teach British Sign Language instead of a modern foreign language.
As the Government recognises BSL as an official language, it should have an equal place within the curriculum.

We believe this would be a move towards better inclusivity!

Currently if a school wishes to teach BSL this has to be in addition to MFL. With significant time pressure on schools, this is difficult to do.

Thousands of children in our mainstream schools rely on or regularly use BSL to support their education and/or communication at home.

This change would better allow schools teach BSL with the time and resources it deserves, and could help create an inclusive community and start children on a pathway to employment.

Timeline

28 Nov 2023 Petition opened for signatures
28 May 2024 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 192
Status Closed
Department Department for Education
Opened 28 Nov 2023
Closed 28 May 2024

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.