Excitement is building at New College Doncaster after the college’s esports team NCD Vulcans powered their way into the final of the British Esports Student Championships 2025–26. The competition began with 105 esports teams from schools and colleges across the UK, highlighting the scale and significance of the team’s achievement.
Competing in Overwatch 2, where two teams of five players compete in objective‑driven matches using hero characters with unique abilities, the Vulcans progressed through the national knockout stages from the Top 32 bracket to secure their place in the final. The NCD Vulcans team consists of Year 13 students Oliver Dove, Charlie Conway, Kieran Sisman, Thomas Hutton and Sam Barlow, and is led by staff Lee Trueman and Mike Jones.
In the championship final, NCD Vulcans will face Cambria Chimeras of Coleg Cambria (Wales) on Wednesday 13 May at 4pm, with the national Overwatch 2 Open Division 2 trophy at stake. The match will be streamed live on Twitch at @ncdgamesdesign. This achievement highlights the continued growth of esports, and its role in supporting students’ personal development and progression into creative and digital careers.
Lee Trueman, Head of Faculty for Visual Arts and Media, said:
“Esports competition provides students with far more than gameplay experience. Through regular fixtures and high‑pressure matches, students develop confidence, resilience, communication and leadership skills, while also learning how to work professionally and perform under pressure as part of a team. These are essential qualities for progression into further study, employment and the creative industries.”
