Judith celebrates chess success with pupils at Stocks Lane Primary

Judith with Amandeep and Adamjeet, with their recent British Chess Championship trophies

Bradford South MP Judith Cummins visited Stocks Lane Primary School in Clayton Heights on Friday to meet pupils, staff, and two of the school’s outstanding young chess players who recently competed on the national stage.

Judith was welcomed by Headteacher Lucy Neal, who has led the school since 2013. School Councillors from Years 1-6 sat down with Judith for a lively Q&A session, where pupils spoke about their priorities for the school, local issues in the community, and quizzed Judith on her work as Member of Parliament and Commons Deputy Speaker.

A highlight of the visit was Judith’s meeting with Amandeep and Adamjeet Singh, brothers who last year took home the top trophies across several categories in last year’s British Chess Championships in Liverpool. Amandeep took home the Blitz Champion and Rapidplay Champion trophies in the under-8 bracket, while Adamjeet secured the under-10 Rapidplay Champion’s Trophy. They also won podium places across several other chess categories.

The boys, along with their mother Sarah Kaur and father Jatinder Singh, spoke about their passion for chess and their hopes for future competitions.

Judith praised the school’s strong community values and the achievements of its pupils, saying:

“It was wonderful to visit Stocks Lane Primary and meet such confident, thoughtful and ambitious young people. The School Council were outstanding, and it is clear the school is doing a fantastic job of empowering pupils to have a voice.

Amandeep and Adamjeet are remarkable young talents whose achievements in the British Chess Championships should make the whole community proud.”

Headteacher Lucy Neal said:

“We were delighted to welcome Judith Cummins to Stocks Lane Primary. Our pupils were so proud to share their ideas and ask thoughtful questions, and it was wonderful to see their confidence shine through. At Stocks Lane Primary, we work hard to create a nurturing, ambitious environment where every child feels heard and valued. “

The boys’ mother, Sarah Kaur, added:

“It means so much to our family that Judith took the time to meet Amandeep and Adamjeet and recognise the hard work they’ve put into their chess. Both boys absolutely love the game, and the support they receive from Stocks Lane has helped them grow in confidence and follow their passion. I honestly couldn’t have wished for a better primary school for both boys – it has helped the boys in shaping who they are today.”

Stocks Lane Primary was rated ‘good’ in all areas by Ofsted in May 2024 -highlighting its strong leadership and supportive learning environment.

Judith thanked staff for their dedication and said she looked forward to continuing her work with local schools to support children and young people across Bradford South.