07 May 2025
Esports (introduction and how to get started) - CAS Interactive & 3D Gaming event
If you were unable to join us for the Esports online community meeting hosted by the CAS 3D Interactive & Video Games Community, don't worry! You can catch up on all the content and a recording of the session below.
Starting Small, Thinking Big: Esports in the Primary and Secondary Classroom
Key Takeaways:
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Esports offers a meaningful way to engage students who may not connect with traditional extracurricular activities.
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Age-appropriate games like Mario Kart and Rocket League make excellent entry points for schools new to esports.
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Running esports clubs builds soft skills like resilience, teamwork, and communication.
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Even without specialist hardware, schools can start with what they have—be it a Switch console or curriculum PCs.
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There are growing opportunities to link esports with careers education and curriculum-based roles, particularly at secondary level.
Main Body
Esports is more than just competitive gaming—it’s a platform for collaboration, strategic thinking, and community building. In this latest session, led by Nick Hughes (primary teacher) and Simon Jones (secondary teacher), we explored what esports looks like in UK schools and how teachers are weaving it into both extracurricular and curricular contexts.
Nick kicked off the session by sharing his experience introducing esports through Mario Kart at primary level. His school started small—using Nintendo Switch consoles they already owned—but the impact was significant. From building teamwork to boosting resilience, the initiative reached pupils who often weren’t involved in other clubs or competitions. The highlight? Organising large-scale in-person tournaments that brought multiple schools together for a day of fun and fast-paced racing.
Simon then shared a secondary perspective, outlining how his school launched a Rocket League club. While he emphasised the importance of safeguarding (e.g. disabling in-game voice chat, creating generic accounts), Simon also stressed that you don’t need high-end hardware to get started. Even older PCs with modest specifications can run Rocket League if settings are adjusted accordingly.
Both presenters were honest about the challenges—network setup, scheduling conflicts, and parental concerns among them—but also painted a compelling picture of what’s possible. At primary level, where curriculum links are still being developed, esports is already nurturing softer skills like resilience and sportsmanship. Meanwhile, secondary schools are finding more explicit curriculum ties through BTEC qualifications, careers education, and digital media projects such as graphic design, data analysis, and social media marketing.
Perhaps most usefully, both speakers encouraged attendees to start small: a single club, a single game, and a focus on fun, inclusion, and community.
Next Steps
If you're considering launching esports in your school, ask yourself:
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What hardware do we already have that could support a basic esports club?
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How could I use esports to engage students who aren’t already involved in extracurricular activities?
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Could we link esports to curriculum topics like data, graphics, or digital literacy?
Here are a few ideas to trial:
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Run a Mario Kart or Rocket League lunchtime club to test interest and build confidence.
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Host a logo design competition linked to your esports team for a digital media challenge.
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Introduce a shout-casting task where students write and present commentary—great for speaking and listening skills.
Further Resources
British Esports Student Championships
Rocket League System Requirements