SCHOOLCHILDREN from across Wales are being inspired by the new statue of Betty Campbell MBE in Cardiff’s Central Square.

With Black History Month underway, some have taken a trip to the capital to see the monument to the country’s first black head teacher, while others have been studying her in their classrooms.

Mrs Campbell, who died in 2017 at the age of 82, has been immortalised in bronze for her pioneering work championing equality and diversity.

She was chosen for the memorial by the Welsh public, who voted in BBC Wales’ Hidden Heroines campaign.

Mrs Campbell was born in Butetown in 1934, historically one of the city’s most multi-cultural areas.

Her father was killed in the Second World War and her mother struggled to make ends meet, with the family living among the poverty of Tiger Bay, which has since been regenerated as Cardiff Bay.

Mrs Campbell’s love for learning meant she won a scholarship to Lady Margaret High School for Girls in Cardiff, but teachers told her that she could never achieve her ambitions.

Nevertheless she proved them wrong, and during her time as head teacher of Mount Stuart Primary School in Butetown she taught pupils about slavery and black history.

Mrs Campbell’s work to provide equality and multicultural education became recognised internationally; Nelson Mandela sought her out on his only visit to Wales during his presidency of South Africa in 1998.

Black History Month, which continues to the end of October, was created by Mrs Campbell, who also served as a councillor for the Butetown ward and was a member of the Home Office’s race advisory committee.

She was awarded an MBE for her services to education and community life in 2003.

The statue commemorating Mrs Campbell that’s now taking pride of place in Cardiff has been created by sculptor Eve Shepherd.

Children at All Saints Church in Wales Primary School in Barry are among the young people who have been studying Mrs Campbell.

“We are enjoying researching all about Betty’s life. We are proud to be Welsh,” said a spokesman on Twitter.

At Miss Evans and Mr Robert’s class at St Cynwyd’s School in Maesteg, children have been learning about Mrs Campbell’s statue and designing their own Playcraft statues to welcome refugees.

Mrs Campbell was at the centre of Caerphilly’s Nant Y Parc Primary School’s Shwmae Su’mae Day to promote the Welsh language, during which children practised writing third person sentences and recognising third person patterns.

St Mary the Virgin Church in Wales Primary School in Cardiff visited Central Square to see the statue as part of their Black History Month studies.

“We explored the monumental statue, found lots of hidden treasures, intimate details and meanings within it,” said Mrs Parsons on Twitter. “Such an inspiring lady and a wonderful statue that encapsulates her legacy”.

During the unveiling of the statue to Mrs Campbell last month, granddaughter Michelle Campbell-Davies had an inspiring message for children from across Wales.

“It gives a nod to the younger generation as well to just believe in yourself and know that there are people out there advocating for you,” she told PA.

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