Pupils at Islington's Montem primary school are now engaged in a battle of wits rather than fists diverting their youthful energy into the challenges of chess.
And the school gave their new giant chess pieces a go in a chess tournament against eight other local schools yesterday (30MAR06).
The large chess set is Montem's novel way of dealing with anti-social behaviour in the playground.
Teaching staff at Islington's Montem Primary School noticed that many children who play aggressively in the playground also enjoy playing chess.
Up to 60 students competed against each other and against a chess super-star from Birmingham Sabrina Chevannes.
Head teacher Mathew Kleiner-Mann said: 'The competition was electric! Chess is teaching the students about the importance of winning and losing, two important lessons in life.'
And the students had a good time too. Chess club member Dwyton Greer, 7, said: 'I like chess because it makes me concentrate on what I'm doing.'
Eleven-year-old Leith Suliman added: 'Chess club is excellent. It shows you that winning is not so important but that you have tried your best.'
The school also invested in lots of standard sized chess sets for the children to play with.
The work is part of the A1 Schools Environmental Project which has given funding to nine primary schools along the A1 to develop their own environmental or social awareness projects to encourage them to respect their school and wider environment.
The project is part of Islington's overall plan to transform the area in and around the A1 making it cleaner, greener and safer.
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Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008