Background
As a forward-thinking, leading independent school, known for academic excellence and offering a comprehensive education programme, West Buckland sought to introduce an eSports suite to enhance students’ learning and build inclusivity.
It engaged with Insight as its trusted technology advisor to find the right high-performance and cost-effective solution.
Challenge
Recognising the growing significance of eSports and the wider benefits of inclusivity, West Buckland School looked to introduce a dedicated programme.
Its most significant challenge was shifting traditional mindsets while, at the same time, finding a suitable space for the new venture within its mix of historic and contemporary facilities.
Prioritising powerful graphics capabilities, the school approached Insight on how best to create a facility complete with equipment that enabled students to pursue their passion for gaming in a unique environment.
“Insight has been a fantastic partner for our technology upgrades.They’re always offering fresh ideas and willing to work with us to find the perfect solution. Their responsiveness and flexibility are crucial for meeting our school’s needs.”
James Hart Prieto, Head of Digital
“Insight put a huge amount of work into this project. The team’s ability to blend hardware and software expertise, with leading change management methods have been pivotal to our overall success.”
Phillip Stapleton, Headmaster, West Buckland School
Solution and Outcome
West Buckland School partnered with Insight to create a top-tier eSports facility. Insight played a consulting role in helping the school to select the partner, Lenovo, and the hardware, Lenovo’s Legion computers, equipped with NVIDIA 4060 Ti graphics cards, ensuring exceptional performance for both competitive gaming and demanding creative software like Adobe Suite and SolidWorks. Backed by a five-year warranty, the investment demonstrates commitment to longevity and adaptability.
West Buckland chose the Lenovo Legion range for its reputation as a recognised and trusted brand within the gaming industry. This ensured a high level of performance and reliability, crucial for a demanding eSportsenvironment. Additionally, Lenovo’s willingness to support the school with branding and potential sponsorship opportunities further solidified the partnership.
The facility goes beyond eSports, serving the school’s broader needs in design, music production, and even Combined Cadet Force (CCF) flight simulation training. This versatility maximises the impact of the investment. West Buckland’s team is primed for success, with aims of competing in the British eSports Championships Series in titles League of Legends, Rocket League, and Overwatch.
Beyond competition, the eSports programme serves as an attractive element for prospective students, supporting initiatives like eSports camps, designed to offer immersive gaming experiences and multifaceted eSports education to not just pupils, but the wider community.
Why Insight?
West Buckland School’s longstanding partnership with Insight made it the natural choice for advising on the new eSports facility. The school valued Insight’s heritage, its comprehensive tech solutions and its commitment to finding the best fit for its unique needs.
Having delivered on projects in the past, West Buckland School knew that Insight would deliver a competitively priced solution and work to deliver the best possible value. Insight’s dedication to West Buckland’s success was key.
