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Bandai Namco teams up with London boys school on games education project

Two week project challenges upper school children to develop and create their own game idea and character

Bandai Namco Entertainment UK and The Falcons School for Boys support games industry education and 'Game development project'

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment UK have been working with 'The Falcons School' in 'Richmond, Surrey' to develop a specific 'innovation challenge' as part of 'English studies'.

Over forty bright Upper School boys spent the day with 'Bandai Namco Entertainment UK' learning about the development, publishing, careers and distribution business across games, arcades, toys as well as the overall group companies that Bandai Namco Entertainment run. Bandai Namco Entertainment is a company with a rich 'Entertainment history' creating a high level of products and businesses across all forms of entertainment. The boys sat through a presentation to give them an understanding of the videogame market and history from the 1950's, 1980s through to current day. They had a history lesson with the birth of PAC-MAN as well as an overall understanding how a global business is run, as well as understanding careers available in entertainment which is important for the future of these young minds.

'The Falcons' were then set a specific challenge to develop a brand new 'character' and 'characters' inspired by the huge success of PAC-MAN since 1980. After spending the day brainstorming their characters, title, genre, story, synopsis, controls, commands and design, they will work in their spare time over the course of two weeks to develop and present to a specific committee and their school assembly on the 27th January.

They will also present a brief overview of how they would launch their product and on what formats.

"I was incredibly excited to work on this project with the Head of English and the Upper School, Ellie Challis from 'The Falcons School for Boys'. Young minds are incredibly impressive and new generations are important to the future of entertainment, innovation, understanding technology and being creative. This is something I am proud to have put together with the school and presenting to the boys was a delight. I'm very proud to have assisted in their English studies whilst giving them something fun, challenging and creative to work on. I'm looking forward to seeing the final presentations." Lee Kirton, PR & Marketing Director Bandai Namco Entertainment UK

"Working with Lee Kirton and the team at Bandai Namco Entertainment has been a privilege and a completely unique experience for the Upper School Falcons boys. The staff have all agreed that they were so proud to see all the boys working so enthusiastically on their projects in the Bandai Namco Entertainment offices on Friday 13th January. The boys were most enthused by the passionate and informative presentation Lee Kirton gave at the start of the day and this then propelled them into working diligently in their groups, coming up with some very innovative ideas! We are very excited about the presentations on Friday 27th January and look forward to the feedback Lee and his team will give the boys." Ellie Challis, Head of English and the Upper School, The Falcons School for Boys.

The Years 7 and 8 boys have been split into groups within their houses and their game concepts will be presented in teams. The top three teams will win certificates, school awards and framed concepts which will be hung up in school for other generations to follow. We may even find a star or new IP.

For more information on this specific project, please contact Lee Kirton lkirton@bandainamcoent.eu

Head teacher at The Falcons School for Boys based at Kew Foot Road, Deon Etzinger commented: "We are very excited with this collaboration with Bandai Namco. We believe in creating opportunities for our boys outside of the classroom to further enhance and challenge their learning. We fully support this adventure and look forward to celebrating our senior boys' creative innovations."


The Falcons School for Boys is a non-selective independent school for boys aged 3-13 and is based across two sites. The Pre-Preparatory accommodates boys aged 3-7 and is based at 2 Burnaby Gardens, Chiswick and the Preparatory School takes ages 7-13 at 41 Kew Foot Road, Richmond.

The Falcons School for Boys has a strong focus on individual learning and accommodates all of its pupils' abilities. It has strong ties with the top four London schools and helps to prepare the boys for the 7+ and 8+ entry. The school offers choice and flexibility and prides itself on its relationship with parents and guardians.

The school provides the boys continuous quality education from the age of 3-13 and movement from Pre-Preparatory to Preparatory is automatic.