Home > The HUB > News 5 tips for schools & colleges getting started with esports & how to enter the British Esports Student Champs 5 tips for schools & colleges getting started with esports & how to enter the British Esports Student Champs British Esports 10 min read | 5 Jan 2026 Are you at a school or college in the UK which wants to get started in esports, but isn’t sure how? Gil Hamilton, Esports Lecturer and Head Coach of the Esports Academy at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, shares her top five tips on getting started in esports and taking part in the national British Esports Student Champs, with sign-ups now open for 2026. 1. Tap into your staff’s existing knowledge and experience Every centre approaches esports differently, and success begins with identifying who’s already on your team and what expertise they bring. While formal coaching qualifications are beneficial, teaching experience provides much of the foundation, as the principles and strategies are rooted in education and training. Absolutely, it helps to know the games your students play, but you don’t need to be an expert! I often coach players who outperform me in-game, and I always respect their talent. The coach’s role is ultimately to facilitate growth and development — something many young players require guidance and nurturing to master, regardless of ability. There are great CPD opportunities available — keep your eyes peeled for webinars and panels from British Esports, and other industry partners. There is a free certified programme from British Esports – Duty to Care in Esports – to enhance understanding into topics such as safeguarding, online safety and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion. Also, there’s the Introduction to Esports Coaching course, which looks to provide esports coaches, both new and experienced, understanding of the essentials of coaching principles and practices. 2. Ask yourselves: Will your programme will be competitive or casual? Both approaches have value, but clarity is key, as the daily operations and expectations will differ. At SGS, we run a fully competitive programme, with clear standards around attendance, attitude, and performance. Other centres have found success with more casual models, which still support key skills such as teamwork and communication, without the more professional expectations. 3. Create a performance space that works for your setting If you’re building an esports lab, I recommend seeking advice from industry experts in gaming and esports solutions. These setups are highly bespoke and often require different infrastructure than standard college IT environments. It’s not one size fits all — while many institutions have purpose-built arenas, these almost always double as classrooms. It’s also possible to convert existing classrooms to promote participation in Student Champs, without opting for a fully kitted out space. You can always contact British Esports here as a starting point. 4. Make the most of the Student Champs network and don’t be afraid to ask for help There is a fantastic community of educators running esports programmes across the UK, each with unique insights to share. The key thing to remember is that you are not alone — many have been through this process before, faced the same challenges, and found creative solutions. I owe a great deal to learning from others before me and continue to do so, as I appreciate the achievements of other centres, to reflect and build on my own practice. LinkedIn and the Student Champs Discord server are great ways for teachers to connect — we are a friendly and supportive bunch! 5. Embrace learning new things every day! Esports is ever evolving — from new titles, to shifting in-game metas (or effective in-game strategies/trends). Staying on top of esports news headlines can help you speak the same language as your students; however, your best resource is often the students themselves. They love to talk about their favourite team or new in-game item drop; you can learn a lot from students, and they feel even more valued when you listen. About the British Esports Student Champs and how to enter The British Esports Student Champs is a series of competitive video gaming competitions for students aged 12+ in schools and colleges across the UK. Our Open and Nationals competitions take place on Wednesdays in four games: Rocket League, League of Legends, Overwatch 2 and VALORANT. Our Cup competitions run on Tuesdays in EA FC and Street Fighter 6 and on Thursdays in Marvel Rivals and Apex Legends. The Student Champs provide a great way for students to make friends, build digital, communication and teamwork skills, and to represent their schools and colleges in an exciting form of competition. Sign up to the British Esports Student Champs and see your school or college compete with others here: New teams can sign up to the Student Champs here Existing teams can sign up here About the author & SGS College Name: Gil Hamilton Role: Head Esports Coach & Esports Lecturer School/College Name: SGS College Team Name: SGS FirstShot Game Titles Played: Rocket League, VALORANT, Overwatch 2, Apex Legends, Marvel Rivals, EA FC Number of Players/Teams Active: We typically have 3-4 main title teams plus another 3-4 teams for seasonal cup games. Overall, we have on average 30 players enrolled in our Esports Academy programme each year, competing in the Student Champs. A huge thank you to Gil Hamilton and South Gloucestershire and Stroud College for this guest article. Check out her other recent article here for more info: What’s it like competing in the British Esports Student Champs? A Day in the Life of a collegiate esports team coach News Advice British Esports Education Guest Articles League of Legends News Opinions Overwatch 2 Rocket League School Advice School Resource Student Champs Student Champs Student Champs Teacher Advice Teacher Resource Valorant Share: Link copied British Esports View all articles
