A real KNIGHT to visit Chess in Schools at Colston's Primary, Bristol

Lib Dem Member of the European Parliament Sir

Graham Watson will visit Colston's Primary School, Cotham this Friday to take

part in a chess in schools initiative.

Graham will take on students in a game of

chess in addition to discussing with teachers how they incorporate games into

the curriculum. The visit follows the launch of chess Grandmaster Gary Kasparov's

foundation at the European Parliament earlier in the Spring to encourage more

students to play chess in school.

The event is organised by Chess in Schools and Communities who

organise chess tournaments and events in schools to promote the game.

 

Sir Graham commented,

 

"Chess improves concentration skills, teaches

pupils to take responsibility for their decisions and teaches problem solving.

 

"With university and top job places becoming

ever more competitive, these skills are vital in a child's education in order

to prepare them fully for further education and the wider workplace.

"I am very pleased to be taking Gary Kasparov's

initiative to the South West and I will contact Mr Kasparov to see if he would

be able to visit one of these events in the future."

 

"We are

flattered that Sir Graham Watson MEP is going to visit our project at Colston's

Primary School Bristol" said Robert Chandler Chess in Schools, South West

Development. "We believe that chess should be made

available to everyone, irrespective of background. Apart from the mathematical

and cross-curriculum benefits of chess, there are many life-skills it teaches

like taking decisions, being responsible for your actions, how to win and

loose, consideration towards others and how to concentrate. Chess gives many

children self confidence, which will stand them in good stead for the rest of

their life."

 

The Chess in Schools and Community runs its 30

week program in 14 schools in Bristol with the objective of improving

children's attainment through the skills learnt through chess. Currently

there are over 600 Primary School Children across Bristol who are learning 1

hour of chess every week, during curriculum time. The success of the first year

has resulted in Bristol being identified as a 'Super Project', which will grow

over the next 2 years to 50 schools and 3,000 children learning life-skills

through the game of chess.