School with timetabled darts is match-ready

The group of sixth formers dreamt up the idea themselves, and they will soon be competing

The school that says it is the first in the UK to have darts on the timetable is ready for its first fixture.

Brentwood School, in Essex, has added the sport to its co-curriculum programme, and its team will be facing off with a home match against Tendring Darts Youth Academy, which is based in Harwich, on Friday, 28 November.

Jensen, a 16-year-old pupil at the private school, said he suggested the darts idea to his geography teacher during lessons.

"I think I just said as a joke one day 'how cool would it be if we had a darts team at school and we were just playing darts in school?'," he said.

"I just can't believe we've managed to make this a reality... it's simply incredible what we've done."

Jensen said darts had helped with his dyspraxia

Jensen said he had dyspraxia, which is a condition that hinders his balance and co-ordination, and he got into the sport to improve those skills.

"I've watched and played the game for years, I absolutely love it. Every time a darts tournament's on, unfortunately my mum loses the telly," he said.

"I just love the mental grittiness. When you're up on that stage or on your own, there's no one else there. It's just you. Only you can control what you do. That's what I love about it. It takes determination."

Geography teacher Dave Wright said the students take initiative and lead the club

Geography teacher Dave Wright said the "Luke Littler effect" was galvanising the students.

"You've got a teenager that's a multi-millionaire now that's inspired so many people... he's number one, he's won nearly £2m this year and next month will be the World Championships. He'll be on TV and people will be glued to their screens," he said.

"It's so impressive to see the culture it's breeding.

"It's really developing [students'] leadership, so it's a really nice buzz across the school."

'Millimetres decide games'

The 90-minute classes - which take place on Tuesday mornings - are not part of their academic curriculum, but sit alongside co-curricular projects like the choir, Duke of Edinburgh Awards and eSports.

"It should be 11:20, but they're already there by 11 o'clock," said Mr Wright. "I mean, I lose my break time, but so be it.

"For some, they say it's the best part of school, so I can't moan at that."

Mr Wright said he was the first to implement "Single To 180" in a school, which is a programme by Professional Darts Players Association designed to train players of various competence to get the perfect three-dart score.

European Champion Gian Van Veen said he fell in love with the sport from the moment he threw his first dart

Dutch professional darts player, Gian Van Veen, who won the European Championship in October, told BBC Essex's Ben Fryer that he wished he had been taught darts at school, and that he got into darts at his football club at nine years old.

"As soon as I threw my first dart, I was like, 'Oh, this is more for me than football'," he said.

"I changed really quick. I realised I was a better dart player than a football player. So, I fell in love with the game from the first dart I threw."

He said you can pick up some valuable skills from the sport, including mental arithmetic and precision.

"A few millimetres can decide games. Teamwork as well, especially at that age, is very important," he added.

"I think it's massive for the kids to play at such a young age."

The 18 boys often arrive at the club 20 minutes early

Professional Darts Corporation chief executive Matt Porter said "We get so much feedback about how darts and maths are inextricably linked.

"It's wonderful to see Brentwood School leading the way in taking darts to pupils as part of their learning."