CHILDREN at a Gourock school are the first in Scotland to achieve a top sign language qualification.

The primary seven pupils at Moorfoot Primary have achieved the level one British sign language SQA qualification.

Tutor Paul Tipling said the children are a leading example to other schools throughout the country.

He said: “I’m really proud of them.

“This is the first time anywhere in the country pupils have managed to achieve this qualification.

“Since Garvel Deaf Centre moved to Moorfoot, the whole school started learning to sign.

“These P7s have been learning sign language over the past five years so they can now communicate with the deaf children in the school.”

Paul said the pupils are keen to use their new found skills to help others.

He added: “It has been so successful that some children now want to be interpreters.

“I’m really proud of them all.”

Karis More, 11, said sign language has helped her to communicate with her deaf friend Philippa Anderson.

Karis added: “I enjoy having the opportunity to communicate with her through the initiative at the school.”

Karen MacLeod, principal teacher of Garvel Deaf Centre support service, hopes the children’s effots will encourage other schools to learn sign language.

She added: “I think it’s fantastic to see how these kids have learned by having deaf children in their school.

“That opportunity should be available to more kids.”

To mark their achievement, the children hosted a celebration ceremony and invited special guests.

These included Heather Young and George McGowan from the National Deaf Children’s Society, as well as Janis McDonald from the Scottish Council on Deafness and Morag Duffy from the West Scotland Deaf Children’s Society.

Heather said: “I think it’s fantastic that the young people here in mainstream schools are supporting their deaf peers by learning to sign.

“It breaks down the communication barriers and I think it should be something which should be copied in schools across Scotland.”

George added: “I wish I could turn the clock back and go to school here with children that can communicate with me.

“They have taken away all the barriers that I had at school.”