Esports course boosts SEND pupils' school attendance

Iford Academy students have been studying for a Level 2 BTec esports qualification

A video games course has helped improve the attendance and engagement of students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), a school has said.

Iford Academy in Bournemouth, whose pupils have a range of needs, is running a Level 2 BTec in esports.

The first group of students to be offered the subject have recently completed the course, which is equivalent to a GCSE.

Academy principal Joe Phillips said trying to engage its students can be challenging as some have had "very negative experiences in schools" in the past.

"We were looking for an opportunity to give them a topic where they felt they were at the same level as their peers", he added.

Student Adrian said the course has improved his English skills

Lessons typically last an hour, with time split between learning about the business and marketing of esports tournaments, and gaming together as a group.

Coursework includes researching and delivering a presentation on the topic.

Adrian, who is a keen gamer and has completed the course said it "makes school fun".

He added: "It's helping with my English, because it helps my punctuation when we're typing on the computers."

Esports course leader Alex Allen said he never thought he'd be teaching video games

Course leader Alex Allen said he "loves video games" but didn't ever think it would be a subject he would teach.

"It could not have gone better. Our first Year 11 group to do it - I'm just so proud that they've managed to get through it. They've really stuck at it, I think they've surprised themselves", he added.

Esports has grown in to a huge industry, with hundreds of millions of people playing and watching worldwide and major brands investing in partnerships.

Whilst the BTec course highlights potential career opportunities through gaming, Alex Allen said the Academy's main hope is that it will give students "the confidence to know they can lift their aspirations".