Our Curriculum

At Philip Southcote School, British Sign Language (BSL) is a vital part of our commitment to creating an inclusive and accessible learning environment. Our BSL Curriculum is designed to empower deaf students through a structured programme that leads to nationally recognised qualifications, while also fostering a whole-school culture of communication and understanding.

Through the explicit teaching of BSL to our deaf students, they gain essential language skills that support independence, confidence and identity. It enables our deaf students to develop fluency in signing, fingerspelling and non-manual features, while learning strategies for effective communication in a range of contexts. These skills, when paired with the Deaf Studies Curriculum, support our students to develop confidence, ensuring they can advocate for themselves and participate fully in their communities.

Key skill developments include: 

• Using correct handshapes, placement, and signing space.
• Applying non-manual features to convey meaning.
• Developing fingerspelling accuracy and speed.
• Building conversational fluency and confidence.
• Understanding Deaf culture and promoting inclusion.

All students within the DPP access high-quality BSL teaching, delivered by a qualified Deaf BSL Instructor and supported by staff who hold Signature Level 6 BSL qualifications. This ensures that students benefit from expert guidance and consistent modelling of language in an environment that values and celebrates Deaf identity.

Our aim is to support each student in achieving a nationally recognised BSL qualification through the Signature awarding body, with pathways including 101Y, Level 1, and Level 2. These are carefully tailored to meet individual needs, interests, and aspirations, ensuring that every student is challenged and supported to succeed.