Schools compete at the home of the UK’s first Esports degree

Schools from across the West Midlands are descending on Staffordshire University for the regional heats of a national Esports competition.
Staffordshire University is to launch the UK’s first Esports degree in September 2018 and having built a great reputation for it’s Computer Games degree courses, was the obvious venue for the heat of the Digital Schoolhouse.
The Digital Schoolhouse powered by PlayStation National Esports Tournament is designed to engage and inspire secondary school pupils with careers and opportunities in games, esports and the creative industries.

Associate Professor of Games Education Bobbie Fletcher said: “It’s great for us to be hosting the Regional Qualifier and while we don’t want competitors to lose focus, we are hoping to impress them and spectators with our facilities and our Computer Games courses which are recognised among the best in the country.”

The tournament capitalises on the popularity of gaming – 99% of 8 - 15 year old children play games – and a way to engage a greater number of pupils with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths) subjects and Computing.

Belong by GAME is hosting three of the Regional Qualifiers at their Bristol, Manchester and Kingston arenas; supporting 15 teams and spectators from different schools and regions across the UK.

School teams battling for a semi-finals place at Staffordshire University heats on Wednesday March 7 are Campion School, Kineton High and Coleshill School, Warwickshire; King Edward VI school, Stratford Upon Avon and Shire Oak Academy Walsall.

Blizzard Entertainment will be providing its popular team-based first-person action game, Overwatch, as the main title for the event.

Matches take place between 10.45am with the final being played at 3.30pm and spectators can register to attend by booking on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dsh-esports-tournament-regional-qualifiers-tickets-42940621555