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Date Published: 14/04/2023

Montessori British School in Murcia becomes first centre in Spain to offer BTEC in Esports

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The Murcia-based day and boarding school follows the UK National Curriculum with a "self-directed" approach

Montessori British School in Murcia becomes first centre in Spain to offer BTEC in Esports

Montessori British School in Murcia is not just a different school, it operates a different school approach and system focusing on the individual and developing skills, purpose and character. The school prides itself on being able to provide high quality and individualised education, with the ability to adapt to any circumstance.

And now, Montessori British School is offering BTEC courses in Esports in both English and Spanish, the first educational centre in Spain to do so.

The course can be completed online or face-to-face.

Esports are electronic sports played in teams (both amateur and professional), online, and also through events, both virtual and face-to-face. In the latter, although the game is played online, the spectators go in person.

Esports are played by amateurs and professionals alike and are open to all, regardless of gender, age or physical ability.

They are fully inclusive and can be played on PC, consoles and mobiles. As their large events attract tens of thousands of fans to a physical arena and many more to online broadcasts, the industry is booming with people working in journalism, nutrition, event management, coaching and much more, explains Montessori British School director, Mercedes Hill.

"The multi-billion dollar market for competitive video games continues to grow year on year, already turning over more than the music and film industries combined, and is expected to increase by more than 20% annually in the coming years," she says.

Why would a high school student or anybody else want to get an official qualification in this discipline?

"The qualification we offer at Montessori British is essentially for 16-18 year olds. But they are not limited to this age group. It is an official, professional qualification, endorsed by Pearson Edexcel, the largest international certifying body in the UK," says Ms Hill.

The qualification allows people both to enter a professional career in the sports industry and to go on to higher education at university or similar.

As well as believing in geographic freedom (providing options for digital nomads and families who travel), Montessori British School is in favour of personalising studies regardless of age.

"We fully support our students whether they are ready to obtain the qualification at a younger or older age than expected, due to personal or life circumstances."

Students are encouraged to complete the BTEC course "at their own pace", but it can be done in a year for those who wish to pursue higher studies that do not lead directly to a degree.

In addition, Montessori British School in Murcia offers a more advanced programme that offers a qualification that gives direct access to higher university studies.

"There is a whole range of transferable skills learned that can be used not only in E-sports, but also in the gaming and entertainment industries," added the school's director.

"All organisations need people who are effective in communication, teamwork, leadership, resilience and who are confident in the subjects of science, mathematics, science and technology, which students in Esports are very good at acquiring."

In fact, Esports can be a tool to finance higher education in other fields as there are university teams that offer scholarships to players.

Won't this type of training encourage more sedentary lifestyles and the associated health problems?

According to Ms Hill, no, not at all. "E-sport players are considered athletes, which means that we are not talking about the stereotypical 'geek' sitting in an armchair surviving on junk food," she assures.

"They are people who take great care of their health and wellbeing, as they are members of a team where they have to play to win and that means they have to take care of their emotional and physical mental health. In fact, within the training programme, we include specific subjects on nutrition, health, wellness."

Ms Hill also stressed that people consider Esports and related professions to be "the future", but in reality, "they are the present".

"We are the first school in Spain to offer a BTEC in Esports, both on-site and online. We offer an official British qualification that can be recognised all over the world, we teach a profession, we offer a different access route to higher education, and above all, we offer an education that really interests young people that is fun."

The BTEC in Esports is an official UK Level 3 qualification, equivalent to A-levels. To be eligible to study the BTEC in Esports, students need to have a Spanish Secondary qualification or equivalent.

Montessori British can also facilitate the achievement of this Secondary qualification, with at least four GCSEs, including English and Maths. Assessment is usually through a combination of coursework and exams, with a focus on practical skills and project work.

To find out more about this and an array of other courses, visit Montessori British School website.

Images: Montessori British

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26B Ermita Vieja, 30006, Murcia city, Murcia

Tel: 0034 629 421 588
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The Montessori British School in Murcia offers the highest quality education for your children based on the UK curriculum, combined with the world-famous and highly sought-after Montessori methodology of teaching.

What is Montessori?

The Montessori method departs from traditional teaching practices by placing the child’s interests, capacity to choose and natural abilities at the heart of the learning environment, rather than focusing on fitting all students into rigid, one-size-fits-all boxes.

It is so popular with parents because it recognises their children as individuals and nurtures their natural curiosity in a collaborative way.

“CHARACTER CANNOT BE TAUGHT, AS IT COMES FROM EXPERIENCE, NOT FROM EXPLANATION.”

– Maria Montessori

Why Montessori British School Murcia has the best of both worlds

The Montessori British School based in Central Murcia expounds this unique and revolutionary teaching method in all its classes and extracurricular activities, while at the same time giving students a firm grounding in the UK educational system.

At the Montessori British School, your children can get the best of traditional Montessori British schooling with all the advantages of the blended classroom.

The teaching syllabus at Montessori British School champions the UK National Curriculum with 20% Spanish subjects, combined with Montessori’s learner-centered approach. Students are prepared for UK official exams, International GCSE and A-Levels.

All class sizes are kept small to maximise learning opportunities, and are delivered by experienced, qualified English-speaking and bilingual teachers to students from all over the world.

Primary School: 5-11 years old
Secondary School: IGCSE and A-Levels; 12-18 years old
Pearson Exams: Pearson certifications, IGCSE, A-Levels, etc.
Educational School Camps: For 5-18 years old

School Facilities

The Montessori British School Murcia has a comprehensive range of assets to assist student learning:

Excellent sports facilities
Science labs
A botanical garden
Extracurricular activities in Maths, English and Science
Intensive Boarding School option
Blended Programme (Flex) for combined online and in-person learning
Individual coaching session once per week to assess student’s academic and personal goals
Personalised parental advice for each child’s developmental advancement