British Schools Chess Championship


The British Schools Chess Championship is an annual competition for school chess teams that has been in existence continuously from 1958. The tournament is administered by the English Chess Federation and is open to all schools from the United Kingdom. The competition has been won by teams from all four countries of the UK.

Eligibility

Entry is open to any school in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. All players must be under-19 on 31 August of the year in which the competition begins. Teams are made up of six players.

Sponsorship

In 1938 The Sunday Times made an offer to the then British Chess Federation to donate a trophy for a competition between teams from Public schools. Before further investigation of this offer could be completed the war intervened. Finally in 1957-58 competition got under way under the sponsorship of The Sunday Times newspaper. Their patronage continued until 1983, when their sister paper The Times took over. Since the withdrawal of sponsorship by The Times after the 2001 finals, the championship continued without a sponsor until 2008.
At the height of popularity in the 1970s, in excess of 1000 teams took part, but since then a decline in the number of teams has taken place. In 2007-08, the accepted entry increased from 93 teams to 135 teams, which represented the highest number of entries for four years. Yateley Manor School, from Yateley in Hampshire, sponsors from 2008-2011, supported the event through a difficult period and deserve special mention.
The competition, now known as the National Schools Chess Championships, was relaunched by the English Chess Federation in 2012 with sponsorship from St Catherine's School, Bramley to support a tournament for girls, with both U11 and U19 sections, Heathside Preparatory School, from Hampstead, London for a new U11 open section and Winchester College for the U19 open section.

National finalists

1950s

WinnersRunners Up3rd Place4th PlaceENTRY
1958Calday Grange GS, WirralVarndeanNottingham High SchoolColfe's School241
1959Calday Grange GS, WirralWilliam Ellis, LondonQueen Elizabeth's GS, BarnetGlyn Grammar School, Ewell247

1960s

WinnersRunners Up3rd Place4th PlaceENTRY
1960Wolverhampton Grammar SchoolHuddersfield New CollegeBishop Vesey's Grammar SchoolWinchester College331
1961Colfe's SchoolHove Grammar SchoolWeston-Super-Mare Grammar SchoolBradford Grammar School358
1962Liverpool InstituteBemrose SchoolKing Edward's School, BirminghamWhitgift School390
1963Hove Grammar SchoolColfe's SchoolLiverpool InstituteMagdalen College School, Oxford489
1964Liverpool InstituteDulwich CollegeHove Grammar SchoolWyggeston Grammar School for Boys580
1965Dulwich CollegeWallasey Grammar SchoolAllan Glen's School, GlasgowHayes County Grammar School673
1966Dulwich CollegeManchester Grammar SchoolHove Grammar SchoolBradford Grammar School703
1967Battersea Grammar SchoolKing Edward VI School, NuneatonWintringham Grammar SchoolTrinity School, Croydon706
1968Bolton SchoolDulwich CollegeBattersea Grammar SchoolGreat Yarmouth Grammar School789
1969High School of DundeeKing Edward's School, BirminghamTrinity School, CroydonKing Edward VII School

1970s

WinnersRunners Up3rd Place4th PlaceENTRY
1970Dulwich CollegeAyr AcademyMethodist College BelfastManchester Grammar School761
1971Ayr AcademyManchester Grammar SchoolIlford County High SchoolPlymouth College
1972Ayr AcademyDulwich CollegeTrinity School, CroydonManchester Grammar School760
1973Bolton SchoolLatymer Upper SchoolBristol Grammar SchoolGlyn Grammar School, Ewell846
1974Southern Grammar School, PortsmouthBedford Modern SchoolKing Edward's School, BirminghamPaisley Grammar School961
1975St Paul's School, LondonIlford County High SchoolSouthern Grammar School, PortsmouthBristol Grammar School
1976Bolton SchoolGreat Salterne, PortsmouthGlyn Grammar Grammar School, EwellRoyal Belfast Academical Institution
1977Bluecoat School, LiverpoolGlyn Grammar School, EwellPaisley Grammar SchoolBristol Grammar School
1978St Paul's School, LondonSt Albans SchoolRoyal Grammar School, NewcastleBluecoat School, Liverpool
1979St Paul's School, LondonBolton SchoolMethodist College BelfastKing Edward VI School, Southampton

1980s

WinnersRunners Up3rd Place4th PlaceENTRY
1980King Edward VI School, SouthamptonWatford Grammar School for BoysCalday Grange GS, WirralRoyal Belfast Academical Institution
1981St Paul's School, LondonWatford Grammar School for BoysManchester Grammar SchoolKing Edward VI School, Southampton
1982St Paul's School, LondonNottingham High SchoolSt John's College Bluecoat School, Liverpool
1983Queen Mary's GS, WalsallPaston Grammar School, North WalshamRoyal Grammar School, NewcastleGrove School, St Leonards
1984Royal Grammar School, NewcastlePlymouth CollegeSt Paul's School, LondonQueen Mary's GS, Walsall
1985St Paul's School, LondonNottingham High SchoolRoyal Grammar School, NewcastleKing Edward VI School, Southampton
1986Plymouth CollegeColchester Royal Grammar SchoolBluecoat School, LiverpoolMethodist College Belfast
1987Queen Mary's GS, WalsallSt Paul's School, LondonMillfield SchoolGreenwood Academy, Irvine
1988St Paul's School, LondonAbingdon SchoolQueen Mary's GS, WalsallAntrim Grammar School358
1989St Paul's School, LondonManchester Grammar SchoolTruro SchoolAntrim Grammar School

1990s

WinnersRunners Up3rd Place4th PlaceENTRY
1990St Paul's School, LondonTruro SchoolRoyal Grammar School, NewcastleNottingham High School
1991Manchester Grammar SchoolSutton Manor School, SurreyHymers College, HullSt Columb's College, Derry
1992Nottingham High School 'A'Truro SchoolCity of London SchoolRoyal Grammar School, Newcastle
1993Truro SchoolHaberdashers' Aske's School, ElstreeManchester Grammar SchoolRoyal Grammar School, Newcastle
1994Ipswich SchoolManchester Grammar SchoolSt Columb's College, DerryWestminster School
1995Methodist College BelfastMaidstone Grammar SchoolTruro SchoolIpswich School
1996Manchester Grammar SchoolMaidstone Grammar SchoolOakham SchoolSt Columb's College, Derry
1997Manchester Grammar SchoolOakham SchoolHampton SchoolMethodist College Belfast
1998Manchester Grammar SchoolTorquay Boys Grammar SchoolSt Paul's School, LondonQueen Elizabeth GS, Wakefield
1999St Paul's School, LondonOakham SchoolManchester Grammar SchoolTorquay Boys Grammar School

2000s

WinnersRunners Up3rd Place4th PlaceENTRY
2000St Paul's School, LondonManchester Grammar SchoolNottingham High SchoolQueen Elizabeth's GS, Barnet208
2001Oakham SchoolManchester Grammar SchoolSt Paul's School, LondonYateley Manor Prep School246
2002Hampton SchoolRoyal Grammar School, GuildfordOakham SchoolManchester Grammar School192
2003Oakham SchoolRoyal Grammar School, GuildfordSouthend High SchoolBlue Coat School, Oldham153
2004Monmouth SchoolHaberdashers' Aske's School, ElstreeBlue Coat School, OldhamSouthend High School143
2005Nottingham High School 'A'Blue Coat School, OldhamMonmouth SchoolRoyal Grammar School, Guildford126
2006Nottingham High School 'A'Dulwich CollegeMillfield SchoolLancaster Royal Grammar School93
2007Nottingham High School 'A'Royal Grammar School, GuildfordMagdalen College School, OxfordManchester Grammar School93
2008Millfield SchoolNottingham High School 'A'Haberdashers' Aske's School, ElstreeRoyal Grammar School, Guildford140
2009Wellington College, BerkshireNottingham High School 'A'Norwich SchoolDulwich College157

2010-2015

WinnersRunners Up3rd Place4th PlaceENTRY
2010Wellington College, BerkshireHaberdashers' Aske's School, ElstreeWilson's School, WallingtonManchester Grammar School165
2011Manchester Grammar SchoolReading SchoolRoyal Grammar School, GuildfordNorwich School153
2012Manchester Grammar SchoolWellington College, BerkshireHaberdashers' Aske's School, ElstreeMillfield School114
2013Manchester Grammar SchoolReading SchoolHaberdashers' Aske's School, ElstreeWilson's School, Wallington135
2014Reading SchoolManchester Grammar SchoolRoyal Grammar School, GuildfordHampton School102
2015Haberdashers' Aske's School, ElstreeReading SchoolNottingham High SchoolHampton School102

2016 onwards

From the 2016 final onwards 16 schools played at the final, with the plate trophy going to the best result by a first round loser.
WinnersRunners Up3rd Place=Plate winnerENTRY
2016Reading SchoolHampton SchoolMillfield School, Royal Grammar School, Guildford, King Edward VI ChelmsfordCity of London School124
2017Royal Grammar School, GuildfordHampton SchoolReading School, Haberdashers' Aske's School, Elstree, Queen Elizabeth's GS, BarnetKing Edward's School Birmingham130
2018Reading SchoolRoyal Grammar School, GuildfordCity of London School, Hampton School, Nottingham High SchoolBrighton College163
2019City of London SchoolHampton SchoolReading School, Royal Grammar School, Guildford, Royal Grammar School, NewcastleSt Olave's Grammar School142

Plate

1990s

WinnersRunners Up3rd Place
1994Methodist College BelfastWinchester College
1995St Columb's College, Derry
1996Tiffin School
1997St Olave's Grammar School, OrpingtonKing Edward's, Birmingham
1998King's College, Wimbledon
1999King's College, Wimbledon

2000s

WinnersRunners Up3rd Place
2000Oakham School
2001Hampton SchoolGreenwood Academy, IrvineKing Edward VI Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham & Dr Challoners GS, Amersham

WinnersRunners Up3rd Place4th Place
2002Blue Coat School, OldhamKing Edward's Camp Hill, BirminghamSt Olave's Grammar School, OrpingtonTorquay Boys' Grammar School
2003Manchester Grammar SchoolNottingham High School B TeamCity of London SchoolSt Olave's Grammar School, Orpington
2004Nottingham High SchoolCommonwealth School, SwindonSt Olave's Grammar School, OrpingtonLancaster Royal Grammar School
2005Hampton SchoolNottingham High School B TeamOakham SchoolSouthend High School
2006Monmouth SchoolHaberdashers' Aske's School, ElstreeRoyal Grammar School, GuildfordYarm School
2007Monmouth SchoolKing Edward's School, BirminghamQueen Elizabeth's GS, BarnetAughton St Michael's Primary, Ormskirk
2008Wilson's School, WallingtonWellington College, BerkshireNottingham High School B TeamLeeds Grammar School
2009Wilson's School, WallingtonReading SchoolWinchester CollegeAughton St Michael's Primary, Ormskirk

2010s

WinnersRunners Up3rd Place4th Place
2010Homefield Prep SchoolMillfield SchoolKing Edward's Camp Hill, BirminghamAughton St Michael's Primary, Ormskirk
2011Wellington CollegeSt Olave's Grammar SchoolGrammar School at LeedsMagdalen College School
2012Reading SchoolWilson's School, WallingtonKing Edward's School, BirminghamNot Awarded
2013Hampton SchoolQueen Elizabeth's GS, BarnetRoyal Grammar School, GuildfordNottingham High School B Team
2014Wilson's School, WallingtonQueen Elizabeth's GS, BarnetTorquay Boys' Grammar SchoolNewcastle under Lyme School
2015Eltham CollegeKing's School, ChesterRoyal Grammar School, GuildfordMill Hill County High School

Until 2015 there was an age handicap system in operation based on the average age of each team.
Age DifferenceWinning Score for older team
0 to 11 monthsNo handicap - board count
1 year to 1 year 11 months3.5-2.5
2 years to 2 years 11 months4-2
3 years to 3 years 11 months4.5-1.5
4 years or more5-1

Teams initially compete in regional zones with the winner of each zone progressing to the National stage of the competition. There were four occasions where Primary Schools won their Regional finals against older teams. Two of these occasions were by St Teresa's RC Primary School, Colchester.