[Script Info]
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[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.77,0:00:06.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At long last, the BSL GCSE moves closer
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.57,0:00:16.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The British Deaf Association (BDA) welcomes \Ntoday’s launch of a new official consultation
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.100,0:00:22.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on the long-promised GCSE in \NBritish Sign Language (BSL),
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.36,0:00:33.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and applauds the long-awaited progress \Ntoward recognition and equality in education.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.81,0:00:39.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Deaf CEO Rebecca Mansell -
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.15,0:00:48.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,“Let’s be clear, it’s a step in the right \Ndirection, but there is much further to go,”
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.89,0:00:57.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"After a lengthy period of silence from the\Nauthorities, we appreciate this development"
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.99,0:01:06.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The BDA statement comes in response to \Nthis week’s announcement that Ofqual has
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.29,0:01:12.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,launched a further ‘technical’ consultation \Non the British Sign Language (BSL) GCSE.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.19,0:01:20.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Whilst the GCSE’s content has already \Npassed through a 2023 consultation led by
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.32,0:01:26.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Department for Education (DfE), \Nthis week’s initiative focuses on examination
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.18,0:01:27.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and assessment procedures.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.36,0:01:35.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,“Only last month in Parliament, \Nduring Sign Language Week (17-23 March),
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.89,0:01:46.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,MPs from the new All-Party Parliamentary \NGroup on BSL quizzed the Minister for Disabled People,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.49,0:01:57.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sir Stephen Timms MP, on the ongoing \Ndelay with the GCSE,” points out Mansell.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.30,0:02:05.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,“Sir Stephen spoke of the government’s ‘\Ncontinuing commitment’ and of being
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.42,0:02:13.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,‘generally reassured about the progress that’s \Nbeen made and the commitment to deliver’.”
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.15,0:02:22.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The BDA remains concerned about the long \Ndelays in the development of the new BSL GCSE.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.52,0:02:32.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The previous government target for \N“first teaching” was September 2025,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.67,0:02:37.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the BDA believes that this \Ntarget will be missed by two years.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.19,0:02:46.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The reasons for this delay are unclear. \NWhilst the BDA has been expressing the
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.10,0:02:52.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,BSL community’s concerns about the \NGCSE project for many years,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.61,0:03:02.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it took Ofqual until this month to directly \Nask to meet the BDA – which is recognised
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.62,0:03:08.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,up to United Nations level as the \NUK’s representative organisation for the
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.12,0:03:13.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,signing Deaf community –\Nfor one-to-one talks.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.32,0:03:19.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,“Almost everything has happened behind \Nclosed doors,” Mansell notes pointedly.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.29,0:03:27.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,“And here we are, with even Ofqual \Nacknowledging that an award promised
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.100,0:03:36.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in 2018 will not actually result in anyone \Nreceiving a certificate until 2029 at the earliest!”
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.54,0:03:43.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,“BSL is a rich and complex language, \Ndifferent in many respects to the spoken
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.62,0:03:52.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,languages already studied at GCSE level. \NWe appreciate DfE’s and Ofqual’s diligent
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.28,0:04:02.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,work to get the GCSE right. It’s a challenge \Nto schools and examination boards.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.33,0:04:05.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it’s really not rocket science.”
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.14,0:04:12.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The BDA has repeatedly highlighted the \Nsignificant potential for Deaf teachers to be
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.65,0:04:20.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,afforded a leading role in the delivery of\NBSL GCSEs, in keeping with the spirit of
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.40,0:04:29.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the 2022 BSL Act which received all-party \Nsupport in Parliament. It notes that Deaf people
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.44,0:04:36.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,been firmly at the forefront of BSL \Nteaching in adult education since
Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.84,0:04:43.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,BDA itself trained a generation of\NBSL teachers at Durham University
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.06,0:04:51.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the 1980s – a programme taught by \NDeaf people to Deaf people entirely in BSL.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.03,0:04:59.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In this light, four decades have passed\Nin which Deaf linguistic and cultural
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.50,0:05:05.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,expertise in the teaching profession \Nhas been acknowledged and promoted.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.57,0:05:16.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,“Now,” says Mansell, “we face an unclear \Nroll-out of the GCSE – if indeed we ever
Dialogue: 0,0:05:16.50,0:05:24.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there – with every school at liberty to \Noffer BSL courses but no programme in place
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.15,0:05:31.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to build a sustainable Deaf-led workforce. \NWho will teach our language to the highest
Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.73,0:05:38.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,quality if not Deaf people \Nwho are fluent in it?”
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.72,0:05:43.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The BDA stresses its willingness to \Nsupport the relevant authorities
Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.86,0:05:50.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,clear throughout, and that it will continue \Nto press for a timely, high-quality GCSE
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.76,0:05:57.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that protects and promotes BSL as a \Nvibrant language, respects the long-term
Dialogue: 0,0:05:57.28,0:06:04.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the Deaf community, and secures \Nthe contributions of Deaf professionals.