Esports: BTEC Reform?
Today, I found myself amidst a respectable gathering of over 50 attendees, all tuned into a pivotal Pearson webinar focused on the future of the BTEC in esports. The session, charged with a palpable mix of hope and concern, revolved around the imminent end of government funding for this program.
With the final round of funding slated for September 2025, there’s widespread anticipation for the upcoming general election, which many hope might lead to a reversal of the current policy.
During the webinar, Pearson unveiled a robust strategy designed to help educational institutions running the BTEC in esports navigate these turbulent times.
They proposed ‘alternative’ ways for schools and colleges to integrate existing programs to ensure the continuity of esports education. The pathways suggested include:
Business Focus with Esports:
- Integrating a Technical Diploma in Events Management with an AAQ in Marketing.
- Offering an A Level in Business, aimed at equipping students with comprehensive business acumen that could be applied in the esports arena.
Creative Media Focus with Esports:
- Combining the Technical Diploma in Events Management with an AAQ in Creative Media Production, fostering skills in media strategy and production within the context of esports.
- Offering a large AAQ in Art, Design, and Media, which could enhance creative skills crucial for the dynamic and visually driven industry of esports.
Sports Focus with Esports:
- Linking the Technical Diploma in Events Management with an AAQ in Sport, emphasising the operational aspects of sports and esports events.
- Introducing a substantial AAQ in Sport, preparing students for broader roles in sports management, including esports.
- Merging the Technical Diploma in Sports Coaching with an A Level or AAQ in Business or Media-related subjects, creating a multifaceted curriculum that covers the strategic, business, and media aspects of sports and esports
Pearson committed to supporting a variety of study programs tailored to these newly defined pathways, focusing on the specific needs of educational centres for effective delivery of esports education. This includes training for teachers and providing resources that align with the unique demands of the esports sector.
The dialogue was further enriched by Kalam Neale, Head of Education for British Esports, who discussed the challenges and opportunities in aligning esports with Apprenticeship Standards; a path hampered by a national shortage of specialist employers, a hurdle similarly impacting other T-Levels.
He highlighted the need for a review of occupational standards to better align with the diverse roles in esports. Approximately 25 different standards are envisioned to cover the breadth of career paths in the industry. The British Esports Federation plans to spearhead this initiative, aiming to form a trailblazing group comprising centres, educators, professionals, and industry experts to potentially establish new standards that Pearson could integrate into their offerings.
Moreover, the British Esports Federation (BEF) is asking for assistance from educational centres to gather detailed cohort data, including student numbers, recruitment, retention, and attainment rates, as well as destination data—not only for those going directly into esports but also for those branching into other fields. This comprehensive data collection will aid in demonstrating the tangible outcomes and broader impacts of esports education.
The webinar also touched on a hopeful (but crucial) note regarding the political landscape: should the Labour Party win the upcoming general election, there might be (probably will be) an extension of the current BTEC programs, potentially granting an additional 3-5 years of funding which would represent a crucial lifeline for the continuation of esports education in the BTEC form.
The webinar ended with a mix of determination and frustration over the current governmental stance on esports funding. Despite the challenges posed by policy decisions, there’s a resilient commitment among educators to adapt and continue advocating for esports as an integral part of the educational landscape.
The discussion was not only a strategy session but also a rallying cry for the community, emphasising the need to persevere and innovate regardless of the political climate. This meeting was a testament to the collective resolve to keep esports vibrant and integral in education.
So what do I think?
Honestly, the 1080 GLH Extended Diploma in Art, Design, and Media (AAQ) looks like a possible winner for centre’s. It’s got this open-ended, project-based vibe that lets you twist and turn everything to fit esports like a glove. Think about it, stuff like responding to a creative brief, running a progression project, or managing a whole creative project. These are gold in the art and design world, right? But guess what? They’re just as killer for esports!
With all the millions we’ve thrown into esports at colleges across the UK for the past five years we can’t let it go and we won’t let it it go! Why, because that money’s actually going somewhere useful and we all know that!
If your college is big on mixing esports with traditional sports, you’ve got a similar game plan but for me the model won’t work based on the existing demand and delivery for sports. The same could be said for the Business and Event Management AAQs, tweaking projects to suit esports is totally doable, though I’m not totally sold that it’ll be everyone’s cup of tea.
But come on, we’ve got to find a way, right? This qualification popped up just four years ago and has explode, almost 200 colleges and close to 10,000 students are on this train. How can we just let it derail?
And how can the government look us in the eye and say all that cash splashed on facilities and staff was for nothing?
Esports is one of the fastest-growing sectors globally, booming every single year with insane job prospects. Dell Technologies says that 85% of the jobs we’ll see in 2030 haven’t even been invented yet! Are we really going to ignore, or more accurately, turn our back on this massive opportunity in education?
We can’t let this slip through our fingers. Esports in education might be hanging by a thread, but it’s sticking around and it’s here to make some serious noise, even if the government seems dead set on slamming on the brakes. Sure, Pearson and the British Esports Federation are scrambling to pitch new paths forward, but at the end of the day, it’s not really in their hands.
It’s totally bonkers how this is all playing out, and frankly, it’s ridiculous too. Let’s cross our fingers that the general election flips the script. Or maybe, just maybe, we as educators need to just buckle down, adapt, and plow ahead and adapt to looming change. What’s the worst that could happen?
Ultimately however, I was left a little less positive than I was hoping the discussion would offer.
In basic terms, there isn’t a plan in place that colleges want, we are being forced to change into changes we don’t want to. This is not the fault of Pearson or British Esports, far from it, they’re doing what they to help and support and are in agreeable with the dissatisfaction of the situation.
So what’s the plan? Watch the general election it appears?
