Frequently asked questions

Chessington Junior Chess Club: 

Frequently asked questions in depth

1. When and where?

Q: When does the junior club meet (day and time)? A: The Chessington Junior Chess Club meets every Monday evening during term time. Classes run from 7:00pm to 8.00pm.

Q: Where is the venue located? A: We meet at The Kings Centre, Coppard Gardens, Chessington, KT9 2GZ. We are on the ground floor to the right. Come in to the venue and turn right. We are in the meeting room opposite the second section of chairs and tables.

Q: How long does each session last? A: Each class session lasts one hour. Juniors typically attend one session per evening.

Q: Are there different classes for different ages/abilities? A: Yes. We run two structured classes: Mr Briscoe teaches the advanced class and Mrs Briscoe teaches the Beginners and Intermediates.

Q: What are the start and end dates for the current term? A: The current term from September 8th to December 8th 2025

Q: Is there a break for half-term or holidays? A: Yes, we do not meet during standard school half-term holidays or on bank holidays.

Q: Is parking available, and is it free? A: Yes, free parking is always available in The Kings Centre car park attached to the venue.

2. Membership and Cost
 

Q: What is the cost per session or per term? A: Our coaching is priced at an affordable price of £7 per session. Our membership is £30 and includes goodies! Please feel free to try us out for a couple of weeks before paying the membership.

Q: Is payment required upfront (termly) or per session? A: Payment is currently on a weekly basis.

Q: Are there discounts for siblings? A: That's a very good question for parents, and it relates to our ability to provide consistent, high-quality coaching for every child. While we understand the desire for a discount, we have structured our term fee to already be the lowest possible affordable price to ensure we can maintain a small, highly effective coach-to-student ratio and keep our sessions running in a great venue like The Kings Centre. Since every single child enrolled requires dedicated one-on-one attention from our coaches and consumes the same resources—from master-led instruction to specialized training materials—we must charge a consistent fee per child to keep the club financially stable and ensure the very best development for both of your young chess players.

Q: Is there a free trial or a taster session available? A: No free taster session but no need to pay for membership for the first couple of weeks.

Q: What does the membership fee include? A: The fee includes all structured coaching, access to online resources, and participation in all internal club tournaments. Plus a goodie pack!

3. Coaching and Curriculum
 

Q: Who are the coaches, and what are their qualifications? A: Our sessions are led by Mr and Mrs Briscoe and benefit from Master-led advanced coaching for our top group. You are in safe hands at Chessington Junior Chess Club! Our beginner lessons are taught by the wonderfully experienced Mrs. Briscoe. She brings over ten years of top-tier chess teaching from some of the country's finest private schools right here to our club. Her fun, proven curriculum and patient guidance mean that whether your child has never touched a chess piece or just needs a solid start, they will quickly feel confident and excited to play! Elevate your game with our Advanced Lessons, taught by FIDE Candidate Master Chris Briscoe. With an impressive standard play rating of 2192, Chris brings over thirty years of unparalleled teaching and competitive experience. He has played in prestigious tournaments both here and abroad and is a former Surrey Champion. He has coached children who have gone on to represent England, and even trained other well known professional chess coaches. This exceptional level of expertise ensures our advanced students receive world-class instruction designed to maximize their potential.

Q: Do all coaches hold Enhanced DBS Checks? A: Yes. Expertise You Can Trust: All of our dedicated coaches hold Enhanced DBS Checks for your peace of mind.

Q: What is the coach-to-student ratio? A: We aim for a maximum 1 to 10 to ensure your child receives focused, personalised attention.

Q: What age range is the club suitable for? A: The club is designed for juniors aged 5 to 18 year olds.

Q: Is the club suitable for a child who is a complete beginner? A: Absolutely. Our Beginners class is specifically designed for the complete beginner just learning the pieces and basic rules.

Q: What resources are used in the lessons? A: We use a combination of over-the-board play, club-specific course materials, and access to puzzles and exercises on Lichess.org.

4. Competition and Development
 

Q: Does the club organize tournaments? A: Yes, we hold internal club tournaments every term to give children fun competitive practice. Also external tournaments as well.

Q: Does the club participate in external leagues? A: Yes, our top juniors are invited to participate in the Surrey Junior Squad inter-county team battles on Lichess.org, and the Surbiton Junior Chess Club runs a team in the prestigious World Live Chess League on Chess.com that our players can join.

Q: Are there opportunities to be selected for county chess (Surrey)? A: Yes, consistent performers are often put forward for selection to play for the Surrey League and Thames Valley league.

Q: How is a child's progress assessed? A: Progress is assessed through in-class performance, internal tournament results, and optional online league play.

5. Administration and Safety
 

Q: What is the process for signing up a new pupil? A: The process is simple: Email us with your child's details, wait for class confirmation, and then complete the weekly payment to secure your space.

Q: What information is required upon registration? A: We require the child's full name, age, previous chess experience, and any special coaching and medical needs and their Lichess account name to utilize our online resources. Also the parents telephone number and email address

Q: What is the best way to contact the organizer? A: The best way is via email at [email protected]

Q: Can parents stay and wait during the session? A: Parents are welcome to stay in the cafe area and enjoy snacks and drinks which are available to purchase. The fair trade coffee is amazing and they bake all their own cakes there and offer many healthy and unhealthy drinks!

Q: Is the venue accessible for children with mobility needs? A: The King's Centre in Chessington is accessible. It features both a main entrance and a rear entrance that are wheelchair-friendly. The main entrance offers level access and automatic doors, and the rear entrance has ramped access. The venue also provides a wheelchair-accessible car park and disabled toilets. Accessible features: * Main entrance: Level access with double, automatic doors (5 ft 7” wide). * Rear entrance: Ramped/sloped access and automatic doors. * Car park: Designated drop-off point at the front, and the car park itself is wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair users may need assistance due to uneven surfaces (block paving). * Toilets: Disabled toilets are available. * Assistance: Staff are available to provide help.