Esports school will use computer games in teaching
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An esports school has been launched to help children who struggle in mainstream education learn through computer games.
Gloucester Rugby Charitable Foundation and not-for-profit education organisation The BUSY Group say they are opening the school as an alternative route for young people across Gloucestershire who face barriers to education.
Esports, short for electronic sports, is competitive video gaming where individuals or teams compete in tournaments and leagues.
Foundation CEO Rob Webber said the traditional classroom “isn’t right for everybody,” and that the new school will teach students in a way that is “fun and makes them think they’re not really learning”.
Students will learn through playing games such as FIFA and Rocket League, while developing skills in technology, coding, and numeracy.
The school, at Gloucester Rugby’s High Performance Centre, will combine accredited learning with esports qualifications and personal development when it opens in the autumn.
Webber said the esports sector is on a “huge trajectory” in terms of its popularity.
“What you don’t see are all of the transferable skills that you learn behind that [computer games],” he added.
“Digital literacy is more important than ever with the sort of jobs that are being created.”
Peter House, vice chair and trustee of the Gloucester Rugby Charitable Foundation, said: “Increasing numbers of students are becoming disengaged from mainstream education.
“We believe we have a responsibility to support initiatives that give those young people the opportunities and support they deserve.”
The school, which will initially cater for pupils aged 14 to 16, will include a gaming room, well‑being spaces, sensory rooms, and an outdoor well‑being garden.
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