TEACHING THE TEACHERS - March 2003

Under the recently launched Continuing Professional Development programme, Chess Scotland and North Ayrshire Council are jointly offering teachers in North Ayrshire the opportunity to learn about chess. The programme will be run over a series of 10 workshops from 12 March to 4 June and will be as comprehensive as possible in its coverage. Basically the course is aimed at non-players but it will also be of interest to existing players. The scope will include:-

" Chess vocabulary
" History of chess and modern titles
" How to play chess, introduction leading into tactical themes etc.
" Keynote address on chess in the educational environment
" How to run a chess club (focussing on school chess)

The emphasis will be on practical training for the teachers and will culminate in a simultaneous display by John Shaw IM when the skills gained in the workshops can be put to practical use.

John Glendinning, Chess Scotland President said, "We welcome this opportunity to work with a local authority in encouraging an increasing interest in schools chess. The initial course is being run as a pilot but further phases to broaden out the coverage in North Ayrshire are being discussed. Looking to the future, Chess Scotland would like to extend this type of joint initiative across other Scottish local authorities."

For North Ayrshire Council, Lesley Owens, Head of Service, Educational Services, said, "The educational benefits of chess are significant and research evidence has demonstrated that chess can have a positive impact on the learning of children and young people. There has been great interest in this CPD opportunity and an independent evaluation of the project will take place with a view to offering further courses. North Ayrshire is keen to support teachers in accessing a range of CPD opportunities and we see chess as an important and worthwhile element in the overall programme."