EA and Ukie’s Digital Schoolhouse expand game‑based STEAM in the UK

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Electronic Arts has outlined new steps in its education work with Ukie’s Digital Schoolhouse, a long‑running programme that uses game‑based learning to teach computing and digital creativity. The initiative pairs teachers and students with industry expertise to build next‑gen STEAM skills such as problem solving, collaboration and design thinking. Since launch, Digital Schoolhouse has reached nearly 350,000 students, supported more than 22,000 teachers and worked with over 6,800 schools across the UK. In 2025, the partnership spotlighted hands‑on activities at the Festival of Play in Belfast, Dundee and London, and hosted an educator‑focused Ingenuity Day at EA Guildford.

EA x Digital Schoolhouse – what’s new in 2025

The collaboration continues to bring play‑led lessons beyond EA’s games and into classrooms through free workshops and teaching resources. EA positions the effort as a bridge between industry practice and school curricula, aiming to help students move from being technology consumers to confident creators.

“We’re proud to support Digital Schoolhouse and narrow the gap between our industry and school learning by equipping teachers with innovative tools and helping students shift from consumers of technology to its creators,” said Jamie Vargas, EA’s Head of International Social Impact. “That’s the power of play bringing STEAM learning to life.”

Measured impact from classroom workshops

Digital Schoolhouse reports strong outcomes from its workshops. Among participating teachers, 90% say they feel more confident teaching computing. Students also report gains: 77% feel more confident in computing after workshops, and 70% say their interest in the subject increased. The programme’s mix of playful tasks and real‑world context is designed to make abstract concepts tangible.

Impact snapshot – reach and outcomes to date

The figures below summarise the programme’s reported reach and the outcomes shared by participants across UK schools.

Festival of Play 2025 – three UK cities, hands‑on learning

Each summer, the Festival of Play celebrates creativity and how games can inspire learning. In 2025, events in Belfast, Dundee and London offered immersive sessions to more than 650 students and 77 teachers, combining workshops, talks, interactive exhibits and time with industry professionals.

• F1 Recycled Racers – balloon‑powered builds exploring algorithms with volunteers from EA’s Codemasters studio.
• AI and data – practical activities demonstrating how machine learning is trained.
• Esports commentary – sessions focused on storytelling, voice and analysis.
• Game Design Challenge – rapid prototyping of tabletop games using everyday materials.
• Criterion insights – studio leaders highlighted how storytelling, curiosity and imagination translate into STEAM careers.

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“Festival of Play continues to show the powerful results when education and industry come together,” said Shahneila Saeed, Ukie’s Director of Education and Ukie Digital Schoolhouse Programme Director. “Our partnership with EA brings expertise and heart, fuelling joyful hands‑on learning that links classroom teaching to real opportunities.”

Ingenuity Day at EA Guildford – upskilling educators

EA hosted an October Ingenuity Day at its Guildford office for lead Digital Schoolhouse teachers, providing inside views of the technology and processes behind large‑scale interactive entertainment. Teams from Player Research, EA SPORTS F1, Frostbite and Criterion shared approaches to physics, systems design and community‑scale operations.

“The Frostbite session was mind‑blowing in how they use physics for collision programming, like springs. Discussing with the EA team what skills they need – such as a love of learning – is something I can bring into my classroom,” said one teacher.

Another attending teacher added: “The session on in‑game physics and the layers needed to make a game was brilliant. Extremely informative and it generated interesting discussions with students afterwards.”

Final takeaway – why this matters

By pairing classroom practice with real development workflows, EA and Digital Schoolhouse aim to make computing more accessible and relevant. For players, parents and schools, the headline is simple: play can be a pathway to practical STEAM skills. EA notes that further context on its education and community work appears in the company’s 2025 Impact Report.