4.37 Interpretation of spoken English into and from British Sign Language (BSL) is not currently available as a reasonable adjustment for hearing impaired candidates to access speaking and listening components of most general qualifications in English and Modern Foreign Language. Where candidates cannot access alternative forms of communication such as lip reading, live voice or sign supported English, exemptions are available for speaking and listening components.

4.38 There are two main reasons why the use of BSL is not currently available as a reasonable adjustment to speaking and listening components of general qualifications in English and Foreign Languages:

1. There is a view that because BSL is recognised as a language in its own right, it would not be appropriate to include BSL as a reasonable adjustment in an examination called ‘English’ or ‘French’.
2. Current GCSE subject criteria in English and Foreign Languages specifically reference the ability to speak and listen. The criteria do not refer to non-written communication in a wider sense. They do not include assessment objectives which may be appropriate for the assessment of BSL, for example, methods of assessment may need to be revised to reflect the different use of body language in BSL between English and BSL.

4.39 BSL is available as a reasonable adjustment for the speaking, listening and communication component of Functional Skills English. This can be explained by the different way that speaking and listening and non-written communication is approached within Functional Skills. The Functional Skills subject criteria defines speaking, listening and communication as ‘non-written communication, normally conducted face-to-face’. This is inclusive of BSL, and different to the approach taken in GCSE English. Assessment objectives within Functional Skills have been specifically designed to take account of BSL usage.