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SQA is developing a new range of Awards in British Sign Language. The first two Awards will be available from Autumn 2018, at SCQF level 3 and 4. Further Awards at SCQF levels 5 and 6 will be available from Autumn 2019.

The Awards will be aimed at young BSL learners in schools and colleges. These new qualifications will offer an attractive addition to the choice of languages already available to young learners in Scotland. The Awards will be similar in length and demand to the existing National Courses in Modern Languages available from SQA.

The units that make up the new Awards have been adapted to respect BSL’s difference from spoken/written languages, and learners will also have the opportunity to develop their understanding of the Deaf community and its culture and history.

The Award is being developed by a Qualification Design Team with a range of experience in education. Four of the team members are Deaf, two are hearing, and the meetings take place fully in BSL – a first for SQA! We are also consulting with stakeholders including schools, teaching staff, Local Authorities, Deaf organisations and BSL tutors, and more consultation will take place over the next few months.

This is an exciting first step towards increasing the opportunities for deaf and hearing pupils to learn BSL at school – look out for more updates soon!