Education written question – answered at on 21 May 2013.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will add British Sign Language to the list of prescribed languages of study at maintained schools.
While we recognise the importance of British Sign Language, the Government have no plans to add it to the list of languages that will meet the statutory requirement to teach a foreign language at key stage 2 from September 2014. We believe it is important that all pupils have the opportunity to learn one of the languages on the proposed list, for the reasons set out in the report of our consultation on this matter(1).
Schools will remain free to offer British Sign Language in addition to one of the seven languages from the prescribed list, should they wish to do so.
(1 )This is available at:
Yes1 person thinks so
No0 people think not
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