In 1875, a School Board for Cardiff was elected and began at once to build what were referred to as Board Schools. Two were built in Butetown, the first, Eleanor Street opened in 1878 followed by South Church Street a year later. Both had 3 independent departments – boys, girls and infants – each with its own headteacher. They were impressive architect designed buildings as an expression of civic pride. The classrooms were large for up to 60 or 70 pupils.
Alongside the Board Schools were the Church of England schools in Clarence Road and North Church Street and the Catholic, St Cuthberts in Pomeroy Street.
Redevelopment of Butetown has seen them all disappear apart from St Mary the Virgin in North Church Street.
Mount Stuart Primary School has replaced those in the Docks area opening in 1973. Betty Campbell who was the headmistress here – the first black headteacher in Wales – and a pioneer teacher of black history, is commemorated by a statue in central Cardiff.
St Cuthberts has moved to a new location.
A new Welsh-medium school Ysgol Hamadryad opened in 2019.
