Unlock esports in your school with the Acer Predator League Academy

What is the Acer Predator League Academy? 

The Acer Predator League Academy (APLA) is a national school-first esports program for Years 7–12 across Australia and New Zealand. It provides a structured social competition that empowers schools to participate in esports as part of a positive learning culture. 

APLA runs during the school year and features weekly interschool competition, culminating in live finals events. In 2024, schools battled it out in Fortnite, with a live champion crowned at SXSW Sydney. In 2025, the Academy has expanded to include VALORANT, creating even more opportunities for students to engage, collaborate and excel. 

Learn more about Acer Predator League Academy here.

Why esports, and why now? 

Esports meet students where they already are, then channels that energy into teamwork, communication, strategic thinking, and resilience. Educators are increasingly using esports to boost attendance, belonging and wellbeing, while opening pathways into STEAM, media and event management. 

At Acer, we support schools with guidance on program setup, equipment planning and classroom integration, so it’s simple to pilot and scale. 

For more information on our Esports for Education program click here. 

How the Academy works  

• Who can join Open to all secondary schools in Australia and New Zealand. 
• Team format Typically teams of four students represent their school in weekly fixtures during the term. 
• Game titles The 2025 season introduces VALORANT for high schools. 
• Season timing Competition typically runs across school terms (eg, Terms 2–3), with weekly match days and leaderboard progression. 
• Finals and showcases Live events and showcases (eg SXSW Sydney 2024) give students an authentic stage experience. 
• Support Academy operations, code of conduct, online safety settings and match-day workflows are clearly defined to make participation easy for staff and students. 

Find answers to our frequently asked questions, including system requirements, here.

Five benefits of joining the Acer Predator League Academy 

1. Skills development beyond gaming 
Esports in the classroom isn’t just about playing games, it’s about building transferable soft skills that employers and universities value. Students learn to collaborate under pressure, develop critical problem-solving abilities, manage time effectively, and demonstrate leadership in team settings. For teachers, the Academy offers a real-world context to nurture these competencies while aligning with 21st-century learning outcomes. 

2. Positive student engagement 
Schools often struggle to connect with students who aren’t engaged in traditional sports or extracurricular activities. Esports bridges that gap by providing an inclusive digital-first platform that resonates with a wide range of learners. Teachers report improvements in attendance, motivation, and classroom behaviour when students feel a greater sense of belonging through esports. The Academy can serve as a retention and wellbeing tool, especially for students who thrive in collaborative, tech-based environments. 

3. Career pathways and STEAM connections 
Beyond the matches, esports is a gateway into the wider digital economy. Students explore pathways in media, broadcasting, event management, content creation, and data analytics, as well as hardware and software engineering. This gives schools a concrete way to link esports with STEAM curriculum areas, showing students how their passion for gaming can translate into meaningful careers. For educators, it provides a curriculum-aligned rationale for integrating esports into the broader learning journey. 

4. Safe and structured competition 
Unlike casual online gaming, the Acer Predator League Academy runs on a clear framework of rules, codes of conduct, and teacher oversight. Games are carefully selected with age ratings and safety settings in mind, and schools retain full control over participation. This structure ensures esports remain a positive, well-governed environment, reducing risks while fostering respect, sportsmanship, and digital citizenship. For educators, this means esports can be confidently introduced without compromising school standards or safeguarding policies. 

5. Flexible integration into school programs 
The Acer Predator League Academy is designed to fit within existing school structures. Teachers can run it as an extracurricular activity, a lunchtime program, or integrate it into digital technologies, media, or wellbeing initiatives. Because Acer provides guidance on lab setup, equipment planning, and supervision frameworks, schools can scale participation at their own pace. For educators, this flexibility means esports can enhance learning outcomes without creating additional workload or disruption to the curriculum. 

Getting started is easy 

1. Register your school via the Academy site. 
2. Nominate a teacher to coordinate and supervise. 
3. Form your team(s) and prepare for the term’s fixtures. 
4. Set up your lab – Acer can advise on devices, networking and furniture layouts to suit your space and budget). 

Register your school here.

Disclaimers 

Participation is open to eligible secondary schools in Australia and New Zealand. Game availability, formats and schedules may change. Parental consent and teacher supervision are required as per school policy. All trademarks and game titles are the property of their respective owners. Please refer to the official Academy Terms & Conditions for current rules and eligibility. 

Do you have an idea for a story?
Email rcox@intermedia.com.au