30 Harrow Girls Take Part in Special One-Day Chess Pilot to Boost Confidence and Skills
30 Harrow Girls Take Part in Special One-Day Chess Pilot to Boost Confidence and Skills
The pilot brought together pupils aged 7–11 from Elmgrove Primary School, St John Fisher Primary School, Earlsmead Primary School and Aylward Primary School. The event was hosted by Orley Farm School as part of its philanthropic programme.
The day was led by England International Women’s Coach Lorin D'Costa and delivered through his charity She Plays To Win which works to address the underrepresentation of girls in chess.
Despite initial nerves, organisers reported a clear shift in confidence across the day, with pupils demonstrating increased focus, strategic thinking and willingness to take on new challenges.
Chess remains a male-dominated space, with girls significantly underrepresented at competitive levels. Programmes like this aim to address that imbalance while also unlocking wider benefits. Beyond the game itself, chess supports problem-solving, decision-making, concentration and resilience - key skills that underpin both academic success and personal development.
“It was fantastic to see the impact of the day on the children. There was a mixture of excitement and nervousness when the girls arrived, but we quickly saw them grow in confidence as they learnt a new skill and connected with others from different schools.It was a really positive day led by She Plays to Win, and we were delighted to support this through the Children’s University programme in Harrow.” Dan Burke, CEO of Young Harrow Foundation.
It was a really positive day led by She Plays to Win, and we were delighted to support this through the Children’s University programme in Harrow.”The initiative was delivered as part of the Children’s University programme in Harrow, now in its second year. Children’s University is delivered through a partnership with Young Harrow Foundation, Harrow School and John Lyon School and connects primary-aged children with high-quality learning experiences beyond the classroom. It is funded locally by John Lyon's Charity. Through initiatives like this chess pilot, children are allowed to discover new interests, develop essential life skills and build confidence in unfamiliar environments.
“Our mission is to open up chess to more girls from state schools, giving them access to high-quality training and the wider benefits the game offers. This pilot was a great success, and we’re excited to expand the programme to reach even more children.” Lorin D'Costa, Founder of She Plays To Win.
