Petition · Department for Education
Make sign language a compulsory subject in secondary schools across England
Closed
55 signatures
What the petition asks
The government should make sign language a compulsory and recognised subject in schools, it could be taught alongside other languages such as Spanish, French or German and should be made into a GCSE subject.
We think it is a helpful skill to have as it can be applied to everyday life, it also prevents the barrier that some people may have as they are unable to communicate with one another. Sign language is more beneficial than subjects such as Spanish or French as many people will have difficulties speaking and rely on sign language to communicate their thoughts. This could be an inclusive opportunity for children to learn the importance of BSL.
Timeline
| 10 Dec 2025 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 10 Jun 2026 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
55
Status
Closed
Department
Department for Education
Opened
10 Dec 2025
Closed
10 Jun 2026
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 18 Aug 2026.