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Ukie, the not-for-profit trade body that represents the UK games and interactive entertainment industry, has called on government to introduce a Digital Creativity GCSE.
This would be introduced alongside the Computer Science GCSE, focusing on practical skills that integrate creative and digital technologies. The course ‘would provide students with hands-on experience in areas like audio production, visual design, and game development—practical skills directly relevant to today’s and tomorrow’s industries’.
“As technology reshapes industries, Ukie believes the UK’s education system must adapt to ensure every student—regardless of background—has the opportunity to develop essential creative and digital skills. We’re calling for a groundbreaking Digital Creativity GCSE to prepare the next generation with the digital skills essential to tomorrow’s job market,” Ukie said in a press release sent out this morning.
“In the decade since the computing curriculum was introduced, digital skills teaching in schools has remained inconsistent. This “postcode lottery” is largely influenced by the availability of resources and teachers’ expertise, which varies greatly from school to school. The resulting digital divide impacts individual opportunities and poses significant challenges for key growth sectors, especially the creative industries.
“In 2022, the UK’s creative industries contributed £126 billion to the economy, with video games driving nearly £7.82 billion in consumer spending in 2023 alone. However, to sustain and expand this success, a skilled, digitally creative workforce is essential.”
While there isn’t a direct mention of esports in its report published today (linked at the bottom of this article), the proposal heavily builds on the work of Digital Schoolhouse, for which esports is a key component, given it runs an annual tournament for schools in the UK, among other activities.
Digital Schoolhouse has reached over 300,000 students over the past decade, in what it describes by ‘combining creativity and technology to inspire engagement and boost confidence’.
“Scaling this success nationwide through a Digital Creativity GCSE will help ensure students develop the adaptable skills needed in an increasingly digital world,” Ukie added.
Esports technically also falls under the ‘creative and digital industries’ umbrella in terms of career options mentioned throughout the report.
The Digital Creativity GCSE would act as pathway into the video games industry as a whole, with esports being one of the potential destinations for students taking the qualification.
According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023, creativity and analytical thinking are among the top skills employers across all industries now seek. From healthcare to finance, digitally creative skills enable students to become problem-solvers in high-demand roles, Ukie continued.
“With the UK facing an urgent need for reskilling, especially in digital and creative disciplines, Ukie’s proposed GCSE can help bridge the digital divide. Research shows that by 2030, over 30 million people in the UK will need reskilling to meet future job demands, yet GCSE entries in creative subjects are declining, and gender disparities are widening,” Ukie said.
“By introducing a GCSE in Digital Creativity, Ukie aims to offer young people a pathway to high-reward careers, boosting the UK’s competitive advantage in the digital economy and supporting the ongoing growth of its creative industries.”
The news is the latest piece of games/esports education news in the UK. Recently, the University of Chichester announced a first-of-its-kind psychology of esports degree.
Sir Ian Livingstone CBE, Co-founder of Games Workshop, author, and General Partner Hiro Capital, said:
“In an age defined by rapid technological change, our education system must evolve to keep pace.”
Sir Ian Livingstone CBE
“My career in games began when video games were just emerging as a new form of entertainment.
“Today, the industry has grown into a cultural and economic powerhouse, generating billions for the UK economy and shaping the way we work, learn, and play. And if the UK is to stay at the forefront of the global digital economy, we must equip and empower the next generation with the skills needed to navigate and innovate in a world being transformed by AI and robotics.”
Shahneila Saeed, Head of Education at Ukie, added: “Digital creativity is no longer just a valuable skill—it’s essential for navigating and thriving in today’s world. With the rapid pace of technological change, we need to equip young people not only with technical knowledge but with the creative confidence to apply it in innovative ways.
“A Digital Creativity GCSE would ensure that students across the UK, regardless of background, have access to these opportunities. It’s about giving every student the tools to succeed in a world where digital and creative skills are vital across all sectors, from games to healthcare, finance to the arts. By introducing this qualification, we’re not just future-proofing careers; we’re future-proofing young people themselves.”
Read the full Digital Creativity Report along with Ukie’s recommendations here. You can also download a digital asset pack for the Digital Creativity GCSE here.
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
