When pupils return to Mary Immaculate High School in Cardiff in September, they will be among the first in Wales to have access to a state-of-the art Esports Suite designed not just for competitive gaming, but for developing a wide range of academic, technical, and personal skills.
The purpose-built suite, which is currently being constructed, will contain 25 gaming PCs and two Formula 1 Simulators. While students will have access to popular titles such as Overwatch 2, League of Legends and Minecraft, the suite’s primary aim is to support learning in areas such as teamwork, communication, strategic thinking, digital literacy, and event management.
Not only will pupils be able to use the suite to develop their esports skills before, during, and after school, but they will also have the opportunity to study the subject as part of the Key Stage 4 curriculum, with a BTEC in Esports being offered from Year 9.
The development has been made possible thanks to a £130,00 investment from Cardiff Council.
Esports is organised, competitive video gaming played at both professional and amateur levels and watched by millions of people worldwide. It is a rapidly growing industry with projected revenues of £3.5 billion globally, and £184 million in the UK. Beyond the games themselves, the industry offers career opportunities in areas such as IT, marketing, broadcasting, coaching, and event production.
Adam Speight, acting assistant headteacher at Mary Immaculate, said esports is much more than just gaming.
“Esports is opening doors to a wide range of career pathways,” he explained. “For example, the military is actively recruiting gamers to operate drones, the events industry needs people to organise large-scale esports tournaments, and the technology sector requires IT professionals to build and maintain the infrastructure needed for these events to take place.
“We are proud to be one of the first schools in Wales – and indeed the UK – to have a purpose-built facility dedicated to esports. We recognised the importance of this fast-growing industry and decided it should be part of our curriculum. We have to move away from thinking about traditional subjects to thinking what careers are out there in the modern world and what contemporary qualifications are available that will give pupils the transferable skills they need for the jobs of the future.”
Cardiff’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry said: “This significant £130,000 investment from Cardiff Council demonstrates a bold commitment to preparing our young people for the future.
“By supporting the development of the Esports Suite, we are not only embracing innovation in education but also opening up exciting new pathways for pupils. This facility will equip students with digital, creative, and collaborative skills that are increasingly vital in today’s job market, while also boosting engagement and attendance. It’s an investment in both technology and the potential of our young people.”
Mr Speight said pupils who want to study the new Esports BTEC from Year 9 must have an attendance rate of at least 90 per cent. This has already led to a boost in attendance among the school’s current Year 8 cohort.
The Esports Suite is being developed by YoyoTech, the UK’s leading esports arena supplier. Although the company has installed similar suites and arenas in FE colleges in Wales, this is the first school in Wales it has worked with, and only its second in the UK.
Michael Stevens, Business Development Executive at YoyoTech, said: “Esports is a huge area for growth in education. It’s a lot more than teaching pupils how to be a professional gamer; it’s teaching them about the industry and everything that goes with it, from digital media creation and social media to marketing and event management.”
Mary Immaculate pupils have been involved throughout the development process and recently voted to call their esports team The Icons.
