DLD College London has unveiled its pioneering new Esports suite The Dragons Den, welcoming Professor Bobbie Fletcher, Academic Director at the College of Esports, as guest of honour to officiate proceedings.
The specialist suite has been specifically designed in collaboration with leading industry experts to offer a best-in-class facility for the school’s BTEC Esport programme and co-curricular offering.
The Dragons Den, which is the only Esport area within a school to be fully equipped with market-leading Corsair and Elgato equipment, allows for a seamless student learning experience. In the state-of-the-art facility there are twelve student PCs all of which feature top quality streaming technology, and a teacher station equipped for shoutcasting. Customised furniture has also been created for the space, with the desks and ambience further enhancing the students’ enjoyment and experience.
The Esport BTEC is the first qualification of its kind in the world and has been developed in partnership with the British Esports Association, including leading employers in the industry. Containing invaluable industry-specific, relevant content, the BTEC Level 2 programme enables progression to further study and eventual careers in the global Esports sector and wider digital, tech and STEM industries.
DLD College London is also celebrating the success of its recently launched Esports co-curricular activity which allows students to participate in weekly sessions, gaining further insight through games, competitions and tournaments, in addition to forming a community Esports team, DLD Dragons. The DLD Dragons were jubilant as the Winter season concluded, with both teams – League of Legends and Valorant – finishing the season unbeaten, top of their groups and securing much-coveted promotions to higher leagues in the Spring Season of the British Esports Student Champs.
Speaking at the official opening Professor Bobbie Fletcher said: 20 years ago I had the problem of parents not understanding the career opportunities and benefits of Esports in education, and now you can show them the skills that are produced and the careers that it can lead to. It’s not just about gaming.”
Max Copley, Esports Lead at DLD College London commented: “The Esports industry has flourished over the recent years and is starting to do the same in the education sector too. As a college, we have invested to ensure that students have the possibility to be involved in the field and develop the plethora of transferable skills available.
DLD College London Principal, Irfan Latif added: “DLD College London is a distinctive, contemporary school with a keen eye on the future, redefining daily what independent education looks and feels like for students of the 21st century.
“We strive to create unique learning opportunities for students, and our innovative Esport BTEC programme and advanced new facility is one of the many examples of how we are supporting this. At the core of this innovative qualification is the concept of preparing young people for the working world. Through practical activities and occupationally-fit-for-purpose assessments, learners will gain the skills and behaviours needed for academic progression and ultimately, sustainable employment.”
DLD College London will be opening its doors to Year 9 students from September 2023, with a pioneering new curriculum central to the offering. To find out more, visit: www.dldcollege.co.uk/academic/college-courses/year9/
