All staff at the Gardiner Chess Centre are Suitability Card holders for Child-Related Employment issued by the Commission for Children and Young People.

Coaching in Schools

Gardiner Chess specialises in providing chess coaching services to schools. 

Examples of how different schools structure their programmes are as follows:

• The Gardiner Chess Certificate Course is taught to students in small groups as part of a co-curricular programme in some schools. This is taught in exactly the same traditional way as co-curricular music, drama, etc.

• The course comprises six sections which are designed to help beginners who play chess fairly regularly to advance to an intermediate standard. At the completion of each section a Gardiner Chess certificate is awarded.

• Students receive regular weekly chess lessons during school time and these are generally funded from the school budget.

• These lessons can be part of the weekly ‘activities’ session during school time. This is either funded by the school or the students.

• Groups can also be taught in weekly extra-curricula lessons before school, after school or during lunchtime.

Private Coaching

Aspiring chess players can be given private lessons by strong chess coaches; these may include International Masters and Grandmasters, by arrangement. Lessons are tailored to suit all players from complete beginners to advanced players. Lessons can be one-on-one, one-on-two or in small groups.