A Derby secondary school which is seeing a surge in popularity for the ancient game of chess is appealing for donations of sets.
At Alvaston Moor Academy, on Bracken’s Lane, pupils are so keen to play that the school does not have enough chess sets to cater for the demand.
School librarian Amber Fletcher has reported that every break and lunch time there are pupils queuing up to play chess with each other.
Now Alvaston Moor is asking if anyone would like to donate any chess sets so that more students can have the means to pit their wits against one another.
Amber said: “Chess has become so popular at the school. Students are always asking me for sets.
“It would be nice to have chess sets that are complete. We do have some in school but they have become very well used now, which means some might have different sized chess pieces or some pieces missing. That obviously causes frustration as it means pupils can’t play properly.”
The school has reported that chess at Alvaston Moor has grown even more popular since students have come back into school after lockdown.
Year 8 pupils Connor Massa and Leo Bucklow enjoying a game of chess.
Keen player Leo Bucklow said he preferred the physical game rather than playing on a computer.
He said: “To get good at chess, the only way you can is to touch the board and physically play the game. Different people discover different tactics.
“Lots of people at this school are now playing, from our year, to year 11s. when we started playing, it was just a small group. But many more people have begun joining us now.”
Fellow year 8 pupil Connor Massa said: “I like chess for the strategic aspects of it, the fact it gets you thinking. There are millions of different outcomes.”
Many games of chess at the 850-pupil Alvaston Moor Academy take place in the school’s library, which has also seen a surge in use. The school has previously reported that in just a few months, three times as many books have been taken out by pupils as they were in a two-year period pre-Covid. The school has invested thousands of pounds into buying more books to whet children’s reading appetites.
School head teacher Michelle Strong said: “I’m delighted that chess has become so popular at Alvaston Moor. I don’t play myself but there’s no doubt that in terms of strategy, thinking and focus, it’s a brilliant game to help sharpen your wits. I couldn’t be prouder that pupils are queuing up to play and that they choose to come to our library to get the chess sets out. It’s testament to our hard-working librarian that students feel so at home in the library – it can be a real haven for them, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.”
Anyone who would like to donate a chess set to Alvaston Moor Academy is asked to contact the school on 01332 576777 or email afletcher@alvastonmoor.co.uk
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