Chess

Cottesmore is proud to host the annual one-day Cottesmore Chess Congress which has been running for 43 years and takes place in March. It is the strongest schools’ tournament in the country.

David Howell, who is Britain’s youngest ever grandmaster won the tournament in 1999, 2000 and 2001. The tournament has an illustrious history of winners, with 21 of the previous 22 Cottesmore Chess Congress winners going on to play for England.

Every pupil in forms 1 and 2 has a weekly chess lesson.  The lessons incorporate teaching of strategy and tactics displayed on a large demonstration board.  A variety of different teaching methods help to explain key concepts that take the form of question and answer sessions and worksheet exercises.

A break-time activity takes place to practise the skills of the school team players. All of these sessions are taught by Jonathan Tuck who has been at the school for more than 10 years and has coached the Sussex and England Junior Teams. 

A Wednesday afternoon Hobbies club is also run.

School team matches take place against other local schools in two age groups, U11 and U13, as part of the Sussex school’s league.