John OwolabiFallon Sherrock may be known worldwide as the “Queen of the Palace,” but in Milton Keynes last week, she wore a very different crown—the one of an inspirational hometown hero. Visiting Summerfield School as part of the Bullseye Maths initiative, Sherrock swapped the bright lights of the darts stage for the laughter and curiosity of Year 5 pupils. And the result? The kids absolutely loved it. Or in her own words: “The kids really got into it.”
Bullseye Maths isn’t your run-of-the-mill classroom activity. Designed by the Professional Darts Corporation, it cleverly mixes darts with numeracy, making mathematics less about worksheets and more about treble 20s. On this sunny day, Sherrock led two open-air sessions—the first time she had ever delivered the programme outside—and the fresh air only added to the buzz. Armed with darts and a big dose of enthusiasm, the children rotated between fun dart-based challenges and quick-fire score-adding tasks. Without even realising it, they were sharpening their maths skills while having a blast.
For Sherrock, the project hit close to home—literally. Her own son attends Summerfield and joined in on the fun. She shared with the kids that when she first started playing darts, she wasn’t confident with the maths side of the game. But through practice, her number skills improved dramatically. That personal story gave the children a relatable connection: if one of the world’s most famous darts players had to work on her maths, there’s no shame in practising.
Teachers were quick to praise the day’s impact. “The children loved the Bullseye Maths experiences and getting to meet Fallon,” said Year 5 teacher Laura Reynolds. Gary Horsley of the Junior Darts Corporation added that Sherrock’s involvement made the sessions truly memorable.
But beyond the maths, this was about showing children the power of sport to teach life skills—confidence, focus, and resilience. Seeing a local hero return to give back was as inspiring as any televised tournament. Fallon Sherrock didn’t just inspire future dart players; she inspired future learners. And if the buzz around the playground afterwards was anything to go by, her visit will be remembered long after the scores have been added up.
Musa
