“Leveling Up Education: How Angus Primary Schools Are Bringing Esports into the Classroom”

For a group of primary school pupils in Angus, class just got a whole lot more exciting. Forget the notion that learning and gaming don’t mix; a new initiative is turning that idea on its head. Across Angus, primary schools are embracing an innovative esports curriculum that’s designed to inspire creativity, teamwork, and strategic thinking—bridging the gap between fun and future-ready skills.

An Ambitious New Initiative

Funded by the Education Scotland STEM CLPL Grants and Angus Council, and supported by Esports Scotland, Dundee and Angus College, and SSERC, this pioneering project aims to do more than just put controllers in young hands. Teachers across the region have spent time learning what esports is and how it fits into the broader curriculum. Armed with this knowledge—and Xbox Series S consoles funded by Microsoft and Angus Council—educators can now bring lessons to life in new, interactive ways.

More Than Just Playing Games

This groundbreaking curriculum isn’t just about pressing buttons on a controller. Students delve into the fundamentals of esports: the evolution of the industry, the different types of games, and the vast opportunities lurking behind the scenes. In doing so, they pick up critical skills—teamwork, problem-solving, communication—that apply in countless areas of their academic and future professional lives.

And while esports can be competitive, the focus here isn’t purely on winning. Lessons emphasize sportsmanship and fairness, ensuring that kids learn from both their victories and their losses. The result? A classroom culture that supports resilience, creativity, and cooperation.

Connecting the Dots Between Education and Industry

For Angus students, esports is more than a fun addition to their school day—it’s a gateway to understanding a booming industry. From professional players to coaches, event planners, and software developers, esports offers a spectrum of career paths. Through this program, young learners can start to imagine themselves in these roles early on, and even earn their Level Two Young STEM Leader Award in the process. It’s a head start that few students around the world currently enjoy.

Dundee and Angus College, already a leader in esports education (including running the first degree-level esports course in Scotland), stands ready to show these pupils what awaits them in higher education. School visits, competitions, and workshops with college esports students create a pipeline from primary school to more specialized studies, opening doors to real-world opportunities down the line.

A Broader Impact on STEM and Beyond

Angus Council’s Children and Learning Convenor, Cllr Lynne Devine, highlights how esports can spark an interest in STEM fields—computer science, engineering, technology—that are vital to Scotland’s digital future. Esports, after all, isn’t just about playing; it’s about building, designing, analyzing, and innovating. James Hood, CEO of Esports Scotland, echoes that sentiment, emphasizing the importance of nurturing this ecosystem of talent in the region.

This initiative is about planting seeds. By exposing students to esports early, schools help them realize the dynamic industries that await them, fueling their imaginations and encouraging them to think about their futures in fresh ways.

The Future Is Now

As esports grows on the world stage—finding a place at the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics, and with the Northern Lights Arena Europe (NLAE) set to rise in Dundee—Angus primary schools are ensuring they’re ahead of the curve. This forward-thinking approach means students won’t just be ready for the future; they’ll help shape it.

The message is clear: the classroom of tomorrow isn’t confined to textbooks and chalkboards. It’s digital, interactive, and highly engaging. By embracing esports, Angus primary schools aren’t just teaching children how to play—they’re teaching them how to think, dream, and thrive in a world that’s evolving at lightning speed. And that’s a game all of Scotland can win.