School Programme
A structured, curriculum-backed chess programme that develops critical thinking, focus, and resilience — skills every school strives to build.
Scholastic Chess has been partnering with schools across Hong Kong since 2012, bringing professionally coached, research-grounded chess to students of all levels and backgrounds.
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Chess is uniquely positioned at the intersection of academics and character education. In a single lesson, students practise logical reasoning, pattern recognition, decision-making under pressure, emotional self-regulation, and graceful sportsmanship — building habits of mind that transfer directly into academic and everyday life.
Schools that add chess to their programme report stronger focus in class, improved problem-solving habits, and children who are noticeably more willing to think before they act. That is the outcome we are designed to deliver.
Improves focus, logical reasoning, and working memory — backed by educational research.
Develops patience, sportsmanship, and the ability to lose gracefully and try again.
Students advance through clear levels with defined outcomes — visible to teachers and parents.
Scholastic Chess has been delivering professional chess education since 2012. We are not a chess club that also teaches — we are educators who specialise in chess, currently working with 250+ students across more than 20 schools and our own academy in Hong Kong.
Our programme is built around a professionally designed curriculum authored by our Head Coach, Dr. Pavel Martynov (PhD in Education, FIDE Master), and delivered by qualified coaches who follow a clear, consistent lesson format in every class. Every school we work with gets the same rigour, the same structure, and the same commitment.
Our school programme is designed for larger class environments — typically 5 to 20 students — and is distinct from our smaller academy groups. Lessons are one hour long and follow a consistent structure that coaches adapt to the age and level of each class.
We focus the school programme on the first two core levels of our curriculum: First Mover and Tactician. Students who show exceptional promise are encouraged to continue their development in our private academy programme.
Classes of 5–20 students — designed for school environments
1-hour lessons, adapted to your school's schedule
Beginner-friendly — no prior chess knowledge required
Coaches handle all equipment, materials, and classroom setup
Seamlessly integrates as an ECA or structured class period
We identify talented students and can recommend advanced pathways
Our school programme follows a structured, level-based curriculum. Each level has defined knowledge targets, clear promotion criteria, and an estimated timeframe — so both coaches and schools always know where students stand and where they're heading.
From absolute beginner to First Mover
Students learn the history of chess, piece movement, rules of the game (check, checkmate, stalemate, castling, en passant), and basic notation. The Bootcamp uses age-appropriate methods designed for children as young as 4–6.
From knowing the basics to playing full, confident games
Students master all chess rules, basic checkmates, the three golden rules of the opening, material values, and core tactical ideas. By the end of this level, students should be able to play independently in a tournament setting.
Core topics: checkmate patterns, material advantage, phases of the game, classic miniature games, introduction to tactics and combinations.
From casual player to strong tactical attacker
Students dive into 25 key tactical patterns, attacking chess principles, and the foundations of positional play. This is where chess becomes truly engaging — students learn to launch attacks, punish mistakes, and develop their own playing style.
Core topics: 25 tactical ideas, opening disasters, attacking principles I & II, introduction to positional play, aspects of chess strategy and planning.
Our lessons follow a six-stage format designed by our Head Coach. It ensures every class is purposeful, engaging, and consistent — regardless of the coach or the school. Every minute has a role.
Attendance, brief check-in, lesson topic introduced. Sets expectations and classroom tone from the first minute.
Students share highlights from their week on ChessKid — a game they're proud of, a puzzle they solved, a win or a lesson learned. Builds reflection and confidence.
One tactical idea + one classical game analysed. Focused, structured, age-appropriate. The core teaching moment.
Coach reviews the weekly ChessKid task. Students are briefed on their independent work for the week — connecting in-class learning to home practice.
Students play tournament games against each other. The coach supervises and acts as arbiter. This is the heart of the lesson: theory becomes practice.
Lesson ends on a positive note. Merit Points acknowledged. School dismissal procedure followed.
"This is not free play — every minute is purposeful. We call it Learning Through Play."
At Scholastic Chess, a coach is not only a chess expert — they are a guide in the learning process. Our coaching philosophy is grounded in the belief that long-term improvement comes from structured learning, consistent effort, and a positive educational environment.
We celebrate hard work, curiosity, and persistence. Mistakes made in the pursuit of active play are treated as learning opportunities, never punished. Students develop confidence in a safe, supportive classroom environment.
From the very first lesson, we teach children to play with initiative and creativity. We encourage bold decisions rather than passive, fearful play — building both chess skills and a sense of courage that extends beyond the board.
Every Scholastic Chess coach works with our dedicated Coach Handbook — a comprehensive teaching supplement covering classroom management strategies for large groups, advanced pedagogical techniques including blended learning and the station-rotation method, and guidance on the coach's role and best practices. Our coaches grow as educators, not just chess specialists.
We extend chess learning beyond the classroom through a combination of digital tools, a motivation system designed around effort, and access to a full programme of events throughout the year.
Every student receives a premium ChessKid account — the world's leading child-safe chess platform, powered by Chess.com. Students play games, solve puzzles, and watch chess lessons between sessions. Coaches monitor each student's activity in real time and use this data to personalise in-class instruction.
Students earn Merit Points for weekly activities. The system promotes healthy study habits and intrinsic motivation — not just competitive ranking. Top performers are recognised at the end of each term with special Merit Medals.
School students are part of the wider Scholastic Chess community and receive priority access to our full events calendar — with a special discount of around 30% on the standard fee.
Each lesson includes a live practice segment where students play tournament-format games against their classmates. These games form part of a semester-long in-class tournament, with winners celebrated and awarded medals at term's end.
This regular competitive practice nurtures three qualities we consider essential for any chess player — and for life in general:
Learning to recover from setbacks and play on — a skill that transfers directly into academic and social life.
Winning and losing with grace and respect. Students practise etiquette in every game.
Trusting their own decisions under pressure — a habit of mind built move by move across the term.
The Scholastic Chess team is currently working with 250+ students from schools across Hong Kong and from our own academy space. Every coach follows our curriculum and Coach Handbook — ensuring quality and consistency across all programmes.
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Our curriculum combines Dr. Martynov's academic research in chess education with over a decade of hands-on coaching experience. Every lesson, every level, and every teaching method is grounded in evidence — not guesswork.
Partnering with Scholastic Chess is designed to be as simple as possible for your school. We take full responsibility for the chess programme — curriculum, coaches, equipment, and student progress tracking. All we ask from the school is a suitable room and a time slot.
Testimonial coming soon.
School RepresentativeSchool Name, Hong Kong
Testimonial coming soon.
School RepresentativeSchool Name, Hong Kong
Testimonial coming soon.
School RepresentativeSchool Name, Hong Kong
Testimonial coming soon.
School RepresentativeSchool Name, Hong Kong
We're happy to share more — meet our coaches, or simply have a conversation about what a school partnership could look like. There's no commitment required.
Follow us on Instagram to see our coaches, students, events, and chess in action — a window into everyday life at Scholastic Chess.
@scholasticchesshk →Talk with our Principal, Oliver Conran, about your school's context and how the programme could fit.
We're happy to share the complete curriculum — including lesson plans and full level breakdowns.
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Scholastic Chess — Where Every Move Counts