CRS London Academy
Chess Rising Stars

A chess club can be a great addition to the school week, giving pupils an opportunity to discover a new interest and develop their skills. Whether they are completely new to the game or already enjoy playing competitively, there is always something new to learn. 

At Chess Rising Stars, our school clubs give pupils a structured way to learn and improve. We have delivered chess clubs in London schools since 2017 and this term we are coaching over 400 pupils across 8 schools.

Learning and progressing through chess

Our structured curriculum helps pupils develop their chess skills at a pace that suits their experience. Beginners start by learning the rules and how the pieces move. As they progress, they explore tactics, recognise threats and develop strategic thinking.

Lessons combine coach-led explanations with puzzles and mini-games. Supervised games give pupils time to apply what they have learned. Coaches adapt activities to different ability levels, so beginners can build confidence while experienced players continue to develop. Progress is about more than winning. Pupils learn to reflect on their decisions and understand how they can improve.

Opportunities beyond weekly lessons

Chess Rising Stars have experience planning and teaching longer workshop sessions for pupils. A chess workshop is an excellent addition to an ‘activities week’ or end of term programme. We have also organised internal tournaments, including a House Chess Competition, where pupils can represent their house and put their skills into practice in a friendly competitive setting.

Pupils who want to take chess further can work towards friendly matches with other schools and suitable individual local tournaments. Chess Rising Stars also run our own junior tournament in Wimbledon each term which acts as a qualifier for national-level competition. 

2nd EJCOA Zonal – Chess Rising Stars

A practical offer for schools

We work with school staff to agree a format that fits their timetable and pupils’ needs. Sessions can run at breakfast, lunchtime or after school. Equipment can be arranged at a discounted rate through our supplier.

Our coaches hold current enhanced DBS checks and relevant safeguarding certifications. A termly updated cover rota helps maintain continuity when a coach is absent. Schools can also request our school information pack, which includes further relevant information about our provision, policies and insurance.

Getting started

The first step is a conversation about your pupils, available space and preferred session times. We can then discuss the most suitable option, whether that is a weekly club, a workshop or a tailored programme that includes access to competitions.

To find out more, visit our updated Chess in Schools in London page or email london@chessacademy.uk. We would be pleased to discuss your school’s requirements.

Related Post

CRS London Academy
Jan 06, 2025

4th Chess Rising Stars Grand Prix

To help prepare our students to compete beyond Chess Rising Stars, we are delighted to announce the return of our Online Grand Prix.

This term, our free Grand Prix tournaments are to be held on our lichess team page. Chess Rising Stars students, parents, and friends are all welcome to take part.

The tournaments will alternate between five rounds of 10+5 and seven rounds of 5+3. 

Prizes

Trophies to be awarded in various categories (e.g. Top Girl, Rating prizes and Overall Champion). Your top 5 scores from the 6 Grand Prix events will count towards this.

A selection from the Chess Rising Stars library

Schedule

The online chess tournaments will take place on Sundays at 4 pm (GMT) in the Spring Term 2025:

  • 26th January = Warm-Up
  • 2nd February = Grand Prix 1
  • 9th February = Grand Prix 2
  • 16th February = Grand Prix 3
  • 2nd March = Grand Prix 4
  • 9th March = Grand Prix 5
  • 16th March = Grand Prix 6

Fair Play

To ensure the integrity of the Chess Rising Stars Online Grand Prix tournaments, we will use the lichess cheat detection system alongside the observation and judgment of our experienced coaching team.

Register Now

Drop us a message on the Chess Rising Stars lichess team page or an email to london@chessacademy.uk to get involved.

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CRS London Academy
Aug 28, 2023

CRS London Academy hosted its first cross-continental chess teaching collaboration

Chess Rising Stars London Academy had the great pleasure to host its first ever cross-continental chess teaching collaboration on Saturday 26th August. This online event brought us together with the Chess To School initiative for an exciting afternoon of chess.

Chess To School is a non-profit organisation, dedicated to harnessing the power of chess to educate children in the slums and schools of Lagos, Nigeria. Their commitment to equipping underprivileged children with valuable life skills through chess is inspiring to witness and we recommend following their progress.

Photo by @Chesstoschool

WFM Maria Manelidou opened the event by demonstrating one of her own games. The depth of understanding exhibited by the children during the ensuing analysis demonstrated their obvious chess potential.

Following her lesson, the competition came alive in a tightly contested 3v3 match. Excellent sportsmanship was displayed throughout and, despite some unsteady internet connections, we were able to complete a 6-game match.

We are grateful to the Chess To School team for sharing this experience with us. Their enthusiastic participation and shared vision for a better future through chess resonated with us. This event would not have been the success it was without their involvement.

Our gratitude goes out to Chess To School for their enthusiastic involvement. We eagerly await our next encounter!

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CRS London Academy, UK Chess News
Feb 25, 2026

Strong Turnout at EJCOA Zonal Wimbledon

The EJCOA Zonal Tournament brought together 74 children aged 6 to 13 for a highly competitive day of chess at the Everyday Church in Wimbledon.

The tournament reached full capacity three weeks in advance (soothing the nerves of the organisers for our first tournament!). The length of the waiting list was clear evidence of the growing enthusiasm for junior competitive chess in London.

For many of the participants it was to be their first experience of an in-person chess tournament. Remarkably, the appeal of the EJCOA National Finals places on offer meant several families travelled more than two hours to attend.

Qualification Pathway

The event served as a qualifying tournament for the English Junior Coaches and Organisers Association (EJCOA) National Youth Championships Finals, to be held at Nottingham High School in July. The EJCOA Finals provide a valuable opportunity for the top young players across the UK to compete in a FIDE-rated standardplay environment.

Experienced Arbiters

On the day, our ECF-qualified team helping the children were:

The additional support of venue helpers Sara and Emilia, ensured a welcoming environment for players and their families.

Sportsmanship

Across the playing hall, concentration was intense and both the standard of play and level of focus were impressive. The section arbiters noted the excellent attitude of the participants throughout the whole day.

Every player received a commemorative Chess Rising Stars pen and a multi-coloured chess piece to keep as a souvenir.

Results

Congratulations to the EJCOA National Finals Qualifiers:

U8 Boy = Ezra C (5/5)
U8 Girl = Aakruthi R (3/5)

U10 Boys = Liantai L & Dias N (4.5/5)
U10 Girl = Lara M (4/5)

U12 Boys = Theodore T & Reidan M (4.5/5)
U12 Girl = Ellene A Z (3/5)

U14 Boy = Fedor B (3/5)

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