Welcome to Upton Chess School
Upton Chess School was founded by Richard Jones in 2016. We run group chess lessons for children aged 6-12 in Gloucestershire.
About us
Upton Chess School was set up to give children and young people in Gloucestershire the opportunity to learn and improve their skills in the enjoyable game of chess.
After teaching chess as an after-school club at Upton St Leonards Primary School for many years, Richard started the school as a weekly evening chess club, which ran for over 4 years. In this time Richard was joined by a supportive group of volunteer coaches, some of whom he had taught himself previously.
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Over the years, Upton St Leonards Primary School chess team produced 4 Junior England International players and several Junior County players.
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Now Upton Chess School offers weekly chess lessons at 7 different schools across Gloucestershire:
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Abbeymead Primary School
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Churchdown Village Junior School
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Longlevens Junior School
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Meysey Hampton Primary School
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Upton St Leonards Primary School
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Clearwater Academy
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Heron Primary School
About Richard
Richard has been teaching children chess for many years. He has seen first hand the huge benefits that they can gain from learning and playing this strategic and challenging game.
In February 2021, he retired from full-time teaching after working in primary schools around Gloucestershire for more than 20 years. He is currently a part-time teaching assistant at Churchdown Village Junior School, which he does alongside running Upton Chess School.
Upton Chess School allows Richard to share his love of chess and introduce as many children as possible to the benefits of the game.
"My chess journey started in year 4 when I joined the chess club at Upton St Leonards Primary School. The coaching I received from Richard and his Dad allowed me to discover my passion for chess and gave me the opportunity to improve me game.
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As a junior, I was able to play in competitions all around the country and my biggest achievements to date are winning the British Under 15 and Under 16 champion titles.
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I have also been fortunate enough to represent the England Junior Squad in several different counties. All of this would not have been possible without the encouragement and support I received from Richard as a junior."
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Mike Ashworth, former pupil at Upton St Leonards Primary School