Seven of our pupils had the fantastic opportunity to attend a Cyber Security and eSports tournament at Blackburn College University Centre, competing against schools across the Blackburn with Darwen area, including DACA, TIBS, TIGS, BCHS, OLSJ and more.
The event, organised by CyberFirst in partnership with the In4Group, was a celebration of talent and dedication in the field of Computer Science. The students invited were selected for their commitment to the CyberFirst club in 2024/25, where they had already demonstrated enthusiasm and skill in this specialist area.
The day began with a series of Cyber Security challenges, covering key topics such as Cryptography, Threats and Threat Prevention, and the history of Computer Science. Our pupils approached these activities with determination and confidence, applying the knowledge they had gained in both lessons and extracurricular clubs.
Attention then turned to the eagerly anticipated eSports tournament. Each pupil competed in matches of Super Smash Bros. on the Nintendo Switch, a game they had been developing their eSports skills in through after-school activities. Notably, Mohammed Zayn (Year 9) and Ariba (Year 8) delivered outstanding performances, winning all five of their initial matches to progress into the knockout stages.
As part of the day, pupils also visited the Blackburn College eSports Hub, exploring the cutting-edge facilities and learning more about the wide-ranging career opportunities in eSports. This gave students a valuable insight into how their passion for gaming and Computer Science could evolve into future professions.
The competition concluded with the knockout rounds, where Mohammed Zayn and Ariba once again excelled—remaining unbeaten and securing victory in the grand final. Their flawless record of eight wins out of eight ensured that Pleckgate proudly brought home the tournament trophy.
The Computer Science department are immensely proud of the pupils achievements. Their hard work, both in lessons and in extracurricular clubs, continues to highlight the incredible talent, teamwork and ambition of Pleckgate pupils.
