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Following the success of last year’s event, our second WWPAT Games Expo was held on 22nd May. This saw over 100 children from across White Woods Primary Academy Trust come together to innovate, create and promote sustainability through game creation. Last year was wonderful but this year was bigger and better!
The Expo took place at the National Videogame Museum (NVM) in Sheffield. It was a celebration of play designed to spark imaginations, ignite passions, and equip young minds with transferable skills that will benefit them far beyond the game screen.
Our children have worked so hard over the last 3 months to design their own games based around the theme of Sustainability. They used apps such as Scratch, Draw Your Game, and even ventured into hardware devices using Micro Bits to design and programme their games. The details and links to the wider curriculum that inspired these games provided children the opportunity to connect and engage with their learning in schools.
The day involved 3 rounds of Speed Gaming, where children had the chance to play each game. They were then asked to reflect and deliberate with each other to decide on their favourite. After lunch children then had the opportunity to play the Museum’s games – it’s fair to say that they were in their element! From Mario Kart, Dance Mats, Pac-Man, Minecraft, Fifa, there was something for everyone – staff also looked to be enjoying themselves too!
Amongst the fun, a really exciting aspect of the Expo was the clear link between play and future careers. Stacey Jubb, Head of Learning at the National Gaming Museum speaks passionately about this ..
“We were proud to be able to host the WWPAT Games Expo 24 at the National Videogame Museum. Not only does it give the pupils of Rotherham Primary schools an opportunity to showcase their work in a professional environment, but allows them to access our fully interactive museum, immersing themselves in an experience that will ignite a passion for creative careers. It is an exciting time for the creative industries at the moment, these students are the future and we want to be able to support them to thrive.”
The video below beautifully captures our Games Expo in a snapshot and exemplifies our mission as a Trust …
”Our schools will be exceptional and provide children and adults with a breadth of exciting opportunities promoting curiosity and broadening the mind. We will build positive, challenging partnerships with each other and the wider community promoting aspiration and ambition.”
