Students at Hednesford academy learn about diversity, lived experiences and being in control of their destiny from TV quizzer and personality

Shaun Wallace, best known for his appearances on The Chase, came to Staffordshire University Academy in Hednesford on Tuesday to talk to students as part of a continued campaign by the academy to enrich and develop the students.

Shaun delivered a 30-minute talk on his life, talking about his childhood aspirations and his early life, as well as talking about the discrimination he had suffered as a youngster, how he was told he would never make it as a barrister because of his skin colour and his TV quiz journey.

He also put together a 20 question quiz around black history and other topics to test the students over two sessions, with the winners walking away with a Shaun Wallace mug from The Chase.

Staffordshire University Academy enrichment coordination Simon Stokes organised the visit by Shaun, saying it was part of a continued drive to expose the students, who he said were from a predominantly white British area, to more diversity.

He said: "We're trying to develop and grow our students cultural capital and make sure that our learners, when they leave the academy, are fully exposed to the wider world.

"As part of the reason for bringing Shaun in, we've set up a diversity and inclusion group within the school, which we've set up as a staff body and encouraged a group of kids to come on board and join to help steer our diversity and inclusion education in a way that they see beneficial.

"Our community is predominantly white British, so unless they're travelling outside the area, they're not really getting an exposure to cultural diversity, so the aim of these speeches is to try and celebrate that diversity in society, so when I found the contact for Shaun, he was very passionate about the message we're trying to promote and he was onboard from the get go."

Mr Stokes said that Shaun had made an instant impact from the second he came into the academy, with students breaking into a round of applause when he walked in and said it was very clear how much the students respected him.

As well as the talk and the quiz, Mr Stokes said that Shaun took part in a question and answer session, talking about winning Mastermind and Eggheads and his journey to The Chase, and said his message from the day was about being in control of their destiny.

He said: "His main message was that you are in control of your own destiny and your own future and don't let anyone tell you that you're not good enough as if you want something, fight for it and drive your own ambition.

"That's what his message, ultimately, was today and I think that's crucial and that's key as he's promoting a future that they can build.

"He went on to say that we could have the next Prime Minister or the next football superstar scoring the winning goal in the World Cup final in the room and he just reinforced the message that these kids could be anything if they apply themselves and want to fight for it."