Stop spotty nerds from designing games

Published Aug 13, 2015

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Teenagers should be encouraged to study the arts at school to make sure the computer games of tomorrow are not designed by “a spotty nerd”, the head of Britain's bosses says today.

John Cridland, director general of the Confederation of British Industry, wants a drive to persuade schools to adopt the mantra of promoting “Steam” subjects (science, technology engineering, the arts and maths) instead of just the “Stem” subjects pushed by ministers.

Speaking to The Independent, he said: “One of the biggest growth industries in Britain today is the computer games industry.

“We need extra coders – dozens and dozens of them but nobody is going to play a game designed by a spotty nerd. We need people with artistic flair.”

Today more than 250,000 teenagers will receive their A-level results – and the exams regulator Ofqual has already let it be known there are increases in the number of candidates who have taken the traditional academic subjects of English, maths and science.That will be good news for ministers who have been promoting the Stem subjects, and Cridland said he found the trend “really encouraging”.

However, Cridland said he would welcome the priority subjects being expanded to include the arts as well. He added that he would like to see students “blending” arts and technical skills – perhaps studying subjects developing both technological and artistic and creative skills at the same time. – Independent

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