MP calls for rethink on exams for deaf people

4.27.17pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 17th Feb 2005

Sue Doughty MP for Guildford has added her voice to those protesting against the changes in the exam system which will give real problems to deaf and hard of hearing pupils. Under new rules for the GCSE examinations, profoundly deaf people will no longer have exemption from the oral part of GCSE English. In the past they have been allowed to use BSL (British Sign Language) in oral examinations, or for those do not use BSL, the service of an oral communicator to translate for them.

Sue Doughty who is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Deafness recently visited Oak Lodge School in Wandsworth to see the teaching of deaf pupils. Sue was made aware of the concerns of their teachers who feel that deaf students will not be given a fair crack of the whip in examinations.