- 75% of UK parents with school-age children agree that playing sport at school can improve numeracy skills
- Football, tennis, cricket and basketball considered the best typical school sports for improving numeracy skills
- Sports such as darts and snooker are considered the most effective sports for improving numeracy skills, outperforming even those traditionally included in school curriculums.
- 81% of parents believe adding darts to the school curriculum would help improve their child’s numeracy skills
A survey of more than 2,000 UK adults with school-age children (5-16) has revealed overwhelming agreement that playing sports at school can improve mental numeracy skills, with sports like darts and snooker – not usually on school curriculums – seen as more effective for improving maths skills than traditional school sports such as football, tennis and cricket.
The survey was carried out by Censuswide on behalf of Winmau, the world’s leading darts manufacturer, to mark National Numeracy Day.
Of the 2,002 parents questioned, one in five of whom are not comfortable with their own mental arithmetic skills, 75% agreed that playing sport at school can improve numeracy skills, while just 8% of parents disagreed. The results were consistent across males (76% in agreement) and females (73% in agreement), while parents with primary school children were more likely to agree than those with secondary school children.
When asked which typical school sports are best for improving numeracy skills, more than half of parents (52%) selected football, while tennis (44%), cricket (36%) and basketball (36%) were also popular picks. The three sports parents felt were least effective for improving numeracy skills were volleyball (20%), gymnastics (20%) and hockey (16%).
The sport which parents most agreed is best for improving numeracy skills is not typically found on the school curriculum, with darts scoring 62% agreement, placing it higher than any typical school sport. By comparison, snooker/pool scored 45%, while golf scored 28%.
In fact, more than four in five (81%) parents agreed that adding darts to the school curriculum would improve their child’s numeracy skills, with just 5% disagreeing.
Renowned international darts referee Huw Ware, a global ambassador for Winmau, commented: “People often think of school sports as a break from academic study whereas I’m a strong believer that it is an important complement to it.
“Darts is an ideal sport to learn mental arithmetic because it’s fun and engaging. Young players are encouraged to calculate their score, plan finishes, and adjust their strategy on the fly. That kind of quick, practical numeracy builds confidence with numbers in a way that textbooks sometimes can’t. It’s the perfect way to learn!”
Tom Brown, CEO of Nodor Group, the parent company of Winmau, added: “Parents clearly recognise that sport isn’t just good for physical health, but it’s also a powerful driver of core skills like numeracy. Darts has always demanded quick mental calculation so it’s no surprise that families recognise its value in building confidence with numbers.
“We’re proud to be the Official Equipment Supplier to the PDC’s Bullseye Maths Numeracy Scheme and to support initiatives that help children engage with maths in an enjoyable and accessible way”.
For more information visit https://www.pdc.tv/community/maths
