Chess is more than a board game; it is a proven springboard for learning, confidence and social mobility. That is why I have committed ward funds to launch curriculum-time lessons and an after-school club at Dovecot Primary School. This week, I had the honour of making the ceremonial first move at the 2025 British Chess Championships at Liverpool’s St George’s Hall – a reminder of the city’s growing place on the national chess map, and of the doors chess can open for our young people.

Research consistently finds that regular chess instruction in schools leads to measurable academic gains. For example, year-long chess programmes have been shown to raise maths attainment scores, while long-term studies link weekly chess tuition to improvements in critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Both classroom trials and MRI studies highlight how chess strengthens working memory and helps children sustain their attention for longer periods, and many pupils who may struggle in other subjects discover new confidence and resilience by excelling at chess. These benefits reach across the curriculum, laying the groundwork for success in a variety of academic areas.

International evidence echoes that verdict: cross-border projects in Hungary and Romania report higher self-confidence and social inclusion among vulnerable children who take up chess. EU researchers have now catalogued best practice in using chess to help disadvantaged groups into education and work.

What does it mean for Dovecot Primary?
• Inclusion first. By scheduling chess within the school day every child participates, not just those whose families can stay for clubs.
• Tutor support. The funding I have provided will go to the award-winning Chess in Schools programme which has developed a fantastic chess curriculum, already benefiting 25,000 pupils nationwide this year.
• Pathways to excellence. Club members will have the opportunity to compete across Liverpool and nationally, with opportunties to meet grandmasters and see the possibilities beyond the classroom.

Liverpool has a proud chess heritage – from the country’s oldest club founded in 1837 to hosting this year’s British Championships, the strongest in its 121-year history. Giving children in Dovecot the chance to learn the game connects them to that story and, more importantly, equips them with transferable skills that last a lifetime.
I look forward to watching the first cohort of Dovecot players make their own opening moves in the new academic year – and to seeing how far the game will take them.