Bantams and darts star Devon Petersen team up to introduce Bradford pupils to Dartboard Maths

Bradford City FC Community Foundation, the official charity of newly-promoted Bradford City AFC, have teamed up with professional darts player Devon Petersen to deliver an interactive, darts-based maths resource in schools across Bradford.

Professional darts player and creator of Dartboard Maths, Devon Petersen (left), and the Foundation's Oliver Read (right) will work together to bring the resource to schools in Bradford.

Dartboard Maths, which Petersen both founded and created, is an educational resource that uses a physical dartboard and related activities to teach core maths skills through play, competition, and movement. It is designed to align with STEM education goals, particularly in mathematics, physical education, and social-emotional development, all while keeping pupils engaged and entertained with the power of darts.

The interactive learning resource will be delivered in schools in Bradford this summer term.

Oliver Read, the Foundation’s Head of Premier League Primary Stars, said: “We are delighted to be working with Devon and Dartboard Maths, and to have the opportunity to deliver this interactive, fun and above all educational resource in the schools we work with. Numeracy and maths are a key part of what we aim to deliver in Bradford schools, supporting those pupils who may need a little extra support, and darts, like football, has the power to really connect with people. We look forward to working with Devon in making a difference to the educational prospects of young people in Bradford for a long time to come.”

The resource, led by its own mascot, Darty the Dartbot, will be delivered in Bradford schools this summer as part of the Foundation’s Premier League Primary Stars programme. The programme, funded by the Premier League Charitable Fund, enables the Foundation to host sporting and educational interventions, sports training and staff up-skilling in primary schools in the city.

Petersen will work with the Foundation to combine darts and football in education.

Devon Petersen, who also works as a darts pundit for Sky Sports, and recently used his platform to demonstrate how the resource works on national television, said: “The most important aspect about learning is having enough fun with it that it doesn't feel like a lesson, and I feel we have captured that with Dartboard Maths. This partnership with Bradford City FC Community Foundation is one that has the potential to not only change our community, but shape it as well, as we both commit to supporting the educational development of the children in our schools, using the joint power of darts and football.”

You can't beat a bit of Billy! Dartboard Maths' mascot, Darty the Dartbot, will engage pupils in both maths and darts.

Dartboard Maths has already been widely adopted in schools in Petersen’s native South Africa, and has been endorsed by both the PDPA and World Darts Federation. The Foundation will deliver the resource in a pilot scheme during the summer school term, with a plan to roll it out across the almost 50 primary schools it currently works with. In doing so, the official charity of Bradford City AFC will become the first CCO (Club Community Organisation) to combine the dual powers of darts and football in engaging young people in education within the English Football League.

Local schools who are interested in finding out more about the resource, and delivering it in their schools, can get in touch with the Foundation directly via: office@bcfccommunity.co.uk