How to Start a School Chess Club

Looking for a way to make your students’ free time more meaningful? After-school hours are a great chance to offer something extra. It could be sports, drama, or an art club. But what if you’re thinking about something different? Something quieter, less equipment-heavy, and still mentally engaging, like chess, for example. 

Starting a school chess club sounds simple, but many teachers and staff hesitate because they think they need to be great at chess, or they worry no one will show up. Others feel they don’t know how to run the sessions to deliver effective outcomes. These small doubts often stop schools from offering an activity that’s affordably priced, easy to set up and popular with many students.

There are multiple benefits of learning to play chess. Chess gives children a quiet space to focus, think ahead and learn from mistakes. It helps with concentration, planning and memory. It also gives some pupils, especially those who aren’t into team sports, something they can truly enjoy. If the setup is done right, a chess club can become one of the most rewarding parts of the week, for both students and teachers.

Decide who will run the club

You don’t need a strong chess player to run a club. You just need someone reliable with basic chess knowledge and the ability to manage a group.

This person could be:

• A teacher.
• A teaching assistant.
• A parent.
• Any other volunteer, even someone who runs his own chess club.

The key is that they can organise the group, keep sessions running on time and help resolve small issues. If you’re unsure about your own chess skills, that’s not a problem. You can learn the basics quickly, and many resources are free online. Also, a good teacher or communicator often makes a better club leader than a strong player who can’t explain things clearly.

If the school doesn’t have anyone available, it’s also possible to bring in an external provider to run the sessions. We’ll cover this later in the article.

Find a place for the chess club

You’ll need a quiet, supervised space where students can concentrate. Most clubs use a classroom or a library.

If you’re a teacher, you can usually use your own room. If not, ask a colleague who is open to sharing their room during lunchtime or after school. Many schools also have demountable classrooms that are only in use for lesson times, so it’s usually quite easy to have the space set up for a club during break and lunch periods. Make sure the room is booked in advance and easy for students to find. You won’t need anything fancy, tables and chairs will be more than enough. The most important thing is that the space is calm, with minimal noise and distractions.

Get basic equipment

You only need a few chess sets to start. Most clubs begin with 3 to 10 standard sets, which is enough for 6 to 20 players.

A decent set costs about £15, and you can often get discounts for bulk orders from chess suppliers. However, avoid very small sets as it can be difficult for students to clearly view the board and properly analyse positions. If possible, also try getting a demonstration board for teaching. It’s not essential, but it helps a lot when showing examples to the group.

There’s no need to buy chess clocks at the start. They can be introduced later once players are more confident.

Invite students

Now, the most interesting part is encouraging students to take the chess classes. But schools generally find that getting students to join isn’t usually difficult. A short announcement in assemblies, newsletters, or posters around school is often enough to attract interest.

Just make everything clear about what the club is for and when it takes place. You can target one year group to start or open it to all. If you get more interest than expected, then consider a waiting list to keep numbers manageable. Some schools also set a maximum per year group to keep things balanced.

Plan the first sessions

You don’t need a full curriculum. Just plan a simple structure, a short tip or lesson, followed by time to play.

If your group includes beginners, start by teaching the pieces one at a time. This method works well for younger players and avoids confusion. You can focus on these 3 areas:

• Basic rules.

• Simple checkmates.

• Short games. 

You can use mini-games to practice piece movement. Once students understand how to play, introduce small tactics or puzzles at the beginning of each session to keep them engaged.

Many free teaching resources are available online, including tutorials on Lichess.org or ChessKid.com. These can help you feel more confident if you’re new to teaching chess.

When to bring in extra help

If the club grows or you’re short on time, it might be worth bringing in a chess coach or external provider, like Mindful Chess.

This is especially useful if you want to split the club by skill level or run sessions more regularly. A trained coach can offer structured lessons, arrange tournaments, and keep advanced students challenged. It also takes the pressure off school staff who may not have time to plan sessions or supervise weekly.

Many schools choose this route when they want the club to run long-term without relying on one specific teacher or volunteer.

Final checklist before you launch

Before starting a chess club in school, make sure you’ve covered the basics. Here’s a quick checklist:

• Do you have someone to lead the club?
• Is there a room available and approved for use?
• Do you have at least 6 chess sets?
• Have you promoted the club and gathered sign-ups?
• Do you have a plan for the first few sessions? 

If you have sorted these 5 questions, then you are ready to start. And remember, if things feel overwhelming, you don’t have to do it all on your own!

See more activities for kids here

Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.