Caerphilly school looking to “lead the way” in growth of Esports

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A team of pupils at Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, Caerphilly, have recently been crowned Rocket League champions in the Welsh College Cup.

Assistant head teacher at the school, Rhys Richardson, told Caerphilly Observer how he set up an electronic sports (Esports) club four years ago: “We began with just Years 10 and 11 playing Rocket League, then Covid hit and we used gaming as a form of escapism.

“Since then, the sport has grown to the point where you can now take it as an option at A-level. We have four students who only study Esports and Welsh Baccalaureate.”

It’s not just about sitting in front of a screen playing games however, the course also improves digital literacy, and has a TV and film module.

Mr Richardson continued: “We’re the only comprehensive school in Wales that play competitive Esports, with the other teams coming from colleges.”

The Dragons, as the team are known, are coached after school by Mr Richardson, and go over the decisions they made during competition and look to improve their gameplay.

Mr Richardson was keen to stress that there is a future in studying Esports, with it actually featuring at the last Commonwealth Games. He added: “The tech skills that are developed through gaming can be transferred to all areas of IT.

“We have had several students go on to study Esports and similar courses as a degree.”

The assistant head, who has a background in technology and computer science, said the Welsh language has also been brought into the teaching: “We’ve recently started up a Dungeons and Dragons club which we’re streaming with Welsh commentary. During lockdown, we’d also translate games into Welsh.”

Esports Wales has become the latest organisation to join the European Esports Federation, the largest Esports federation in the world.

This will allow Esports teams in Wales to compete more easily with other nations, and take part in larger competitions.

John Jackson, CEO of Esports Wales, said: “We are immensely proud and honoured to announce Esports Wales’ full membership in the European Esports Federation. This landmark achievement is a testament to the dedication and passion of our community. The journey ahead is thrilling, and we are ready to make waves with our European counterparts.”