Topic · 3 guides
Chess in schools
For teachers and school leaders: starting a school chess program, running a school chess club, a chess curriculum for schools, and what scholastic chess is.
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How to start a chess program in schools
Start a school chess program with a clear proposal, staffing and cost plan, then review attendance, pupil feedback and demonstrated chess skills.
29 min read · 11 sections · updated Oct 18, 2026
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A school chess program has to fit the school day, work for teachers who may not play, and give students a reason to keep coming back. Clubs, curriculum lessons and scholastic tournaments each solve a different part of that, and most schools start with one before adding the others.
Start with the pillar on starting a chess program in schools, which covers the case to leadership, staffing and the first term. The club guide gives a weekly plan for an after-school club. The curriculum guide sets out a scope and sequence for teaching chess inside lessons, and the scholastic chess guide explains how school sections and team events work, so students have something to aim for.
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