The game of chess holds a unique fascination. The strategic complexities offer lively minds an immediate challenge and stimulating exercise. It can be played for fun, or with increasing degrees of seriousness up to the highest levels of international competition. Mr. Chung, Grade 5 teacher and Numeracy Coordinator, has recently created a small chess club for a few of our more enthusiastic chess players and hopes to expand the club in the future. Just watching the lunchtime session you can see that Chess is a sociable activity that helps to bring children together and break down barriers, whilst at the same time encouraging a healthy sense of competitiveness.

We believe that Chess is truly a ‘Sport for All’. It offers so many educational and a social benefits, giving children intellectual capital and transferable skills such as focus, discipline, concentration, spatial awareness and strategic thinking. According to the English Chess Federation, evidence clearly demonstrates that chess-playing school pupils significantly outperform their non-playing contemporaries in literacy, numeracy and problem solving skills. Perhaps of greater importance is the fact that young chess players become more confident, have enhanced self-esteem and are more able to organise their thinking and behavior.  

                  Why teach chess in schools?

• Chess has a mathematical basis. Mathematics is the tool of science, the language of technology and organised thought.
• Chess develops cognitive ability: attention, memory, analysis, and logic; all fundamental building blocks for personal growth.
• It is applicable to everyday life. It helps children develop the skills and social dexterity so important in society.
• Chess encourages self-assessment, healthy competition and teamwork.
• Chess encourages study and preparation as the way to achieve pre-set objectives and for the purpose of individual improvement.
• Chess is an excellent use of a child’s free time.
• The playing of chess can be exciting and therefore undertaken with enthusiasm.
• The equipment necessary to play chess – boards and sets of pieces – are cheap, durable and easily available.

    Source: http://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/school_chessclub_leaflet.pdf