02/04/2026
I’m so proud of all my students who have successfully completed Level 1 British Sign Language (BSL 101) every single one of them passed 18/18! 🧏♀️👋
I’ve lived in Kew and Richmond for over 20 years, and I’ve visited schools across Kew, Richmond, Teddington, Twickenham, Ham, Whitton, East Sheen, Mortlake, Barnes, and Petersham.
Sadly, most schools in these areas do not offer BSL or actively support Deaf awareness, which means children who are Deaf have nowhere local to go.
Daily life is also affected. Even simple visits to the doctor, dentist, bank, shops, or glasses stores are challenging because staff often cannot communicate in BSL, creating ongoing barriers for families.
Across the UK, schools teach many subjects, such as English, Math, History, and Geography, and these are welcomed everywhere every day. Yet BSL is still not valued or included in most schools, even though it is essential for communication and inclusion. Many people don’t realize this or fully understand, but BSL is just as important as English for those who rely on it.
There are over 32,000 schools in the UK, educating more than 10 million children with around 643,000 teachers. If all schools, both state and private, welcomed BSL, parents, teachers, and communities could help remove communication barriers, and over the next 15 years, everyone would be able to communicate smoothly and inclusively.
This is why I am so proud to see Sutton High School GDST embrace BSL fully. Over 600 students have learned basic BSL, hundreds participate in the BSL club, and many are progressing through Levels 101, 102, 103, and now aiming for Level 2. This is real inclusion in action 💜
A special thank you to Director of Enrichment and Partnerships, Benjamin Essenhigh, and headteacher Beth Dawson, for guiding and supporting us throughout this journey 🙏