Chess on Merseyside and the Wirral
I’m Rob Steele, Regional Organiser for Chess in Schools and Communities (CSC) in Merseyside, working alongside a fantastic team of tutors, volunteers, schools, clubs and community partners. Over the past few years, we’ve been building something much bigger than a programme of chess lessons…we’re creating a local chess ecosystem that gives children and adults opportunities to learn, play, compete and develop.
CSC now delivers chess in more than 60 projects across Merseyside and the Wirral, with a particularly busy programme in schools (list below), where our tutors introduce children to the game through a structured, progressive curriculum. We combine classroom teaching with after-school clubs, using practical demonstrations, puzzles and plenty of time at the board. The aim is not simply to produce good chess players, but to help children develop concentration, problem-solving, resilience and confidence.
We also believe that learning chess should lead somewhere. Our team organises leagues, tournaments, academy sessions, community clubs and public events, creating opportunities for children to take their first steps into competitive chess and then continue developing.
The region has seen an extraordinary amount of activity over the last few years. Highlights include our annual primary schools’ tournament at the magnificent St George’s Hall, ChessFest Liverpool in Chavasse Park, the 2025 British Chess Championships, girls’ tournaments, the new Secondary Schools Mersey League, library chess clubs, street chess events and numerous school competitions. Recent St George’s Hall tournaments have attracted more than 400 children, while ChessFest has welcomed over 1,000 visitors.
This new Merseyside section will bring all of that activity together…sharing upcoming events, celebrating successes and telling the stories of the people helping chess thrive across Merseyside, the Wirral, Sefton, Knowsley and Halton.
For more details, please contact our Regional Organisers for Merseyside, Rob Steele or Magda Hamblett. You can read more about our activities in the region in our regular newsletters: November 2025, January 2026, April 2026, July 2026.
CSC Schools in Merseyside
King’s Lander Primary School
St. Vincent De Paul Primary School
Wellesbourne Primary School
Greenbank Primary School
Whitefield Primary School
The Beacon Church of England Primary School
Barlows Primary School
Bishop Martin CE Primary School
Runnymede Primary School
Monksdown Primary School
Thomas Gray Primary School
St. Ambrose Catholic Academy
Our Lady of Pity RC Primary School
Leasowe Primary School
St. Anne's Catholic Primary School
Riverside Primary School
Holy Spirit Catholic Academy
Green Park Primary School
St. William of York Primary School
Rivington Primary School
Alsop High School
Anfield Road Primary School
Blueberry Park Primary School
Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School
Childwall Valley Primary School
Dovecote Primary School
Garston Church of England Primary School
Gateacre School
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School
Hunts Cross Primary School
King’s Leadership Academy Wavertree
King’s Leadership Academy, Liverpool
Liverpool Colllege
Mab Lane Junior and Infant School
North Liverpool Academy
Notre Dame Catholic Academy
Our Lady and St Philomena’s Catholic Primary School
Our Lady and St Swithin’s Catholic Primary School
Our Lady of Good Help Catholic Primary School
Phoenix Primary School
St Austin’s Catholic Primary School
St Francis Xavier’s Catholic Academy
St Hilda’s Church of England High School
St Michael-in-the-Hamlet Community Primary School
The Belverdere Academy
The Blue Coat School
The Trinity Catholic Academy
Woolton Primary School
All Saint Catholic Primary School
Holy Rosary Catholic Primary School
King’s Leadership Academy Hawthorns
St Elizabeth’s Catholic Primary School
Irby Primary School
Ridgeway High School
West Kirby St Bridget’s CofE Primary School
As well as teaching in the above schools, over the life of the charity, CSC has supported a wider range of schools.
