Ukrainian children who fled Vladimir Putin's invasion were advised to study Russian in British schools because no GCSE was available in their own language. The Government has now apologised after some were reportedly pressured into learning the language of the country they had fled.
Schools minister Georgia Gould said she was "deeply sorry" that Ukrainian pupils had been put in that position, as she announced plans for a new GCSE in Ukrainian. The qualification, expected to be available from September 2028, will give children the chance to gain formal recognition for their knowledge of their native language.
Years of Campaigning
The move follows years of campaigning by the Ukrainian government and community groups, who raised concerns about the treatment of young refugees in the British education system. More than 30,000 Ukrainian children have sought refuge in the UK since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Some found themselves being encouraged to take Russian GCSE examinations because there was no equivalent qualification in Ukrainian. The suggestions caused particular upset among children who had escaped the war and associated the Russian language with the destruction of their country and attacks on their national identity.
Government Response
Ukraine's Ministry of Education and Science had raised the issue with the British Government in a letter in 2024. It warned that the lack of a Ukrainian GCSE was resulting in school staff putting pressure on children to sit Russian examinations instead. The ministry said it was "deeply concerned" about the situation and the impact it could have on young refugees.
The new qualification is being developed by examination board AQA, which has received £340,000 in funding from the Department for Education.
Announcing the plans, Ms Gould said: "Many students were effectively forced to choose Russian. I am deeply sorry they found themselves in that situation. It is absolutely essential that they have access to a Ukrainian-language GCSE."
She added: "One of the requests we received from the Ukrainian government was to introduce a Ukrainian-language GCSE, and we heard the same request from community representatives and young people. We are very proud to be able to deliver this and of our partnership with the Ukrainian government."
Impact on Students
Among those affected was Vitalii Andronik, who was encouraged to take Russian GCSE when he was a 15-year-old refugee. He welcomed the announcement but said it had come too late for him, telling The Guardian: "It's too late for me, but I want future generations of refugees to study Ukrainian."
Sixteen-year-old Sofiia Chonka, who fled to London with her family in 2024, also said she had been advised to study Russian while in Year 9 but refused. She said: "It's such a beautiful thing to be speaking Ukrainian when the Russians are trying to mute you."
Ukraine's Education and Science Minister Andrii Butenko welcomed the decision, describing it as "another step toward ensuring the educational rights of our children abroad". He said Ukrainian children should be able to maintain their connection to their native language, culture and national identity wherever they lived.
The new GCSE is expected to be available for first teaching in September 2028, with the first examinations taking place in 2029. It will assess pupils' listening, speaking, reading and writing skills and will be open to all students, not just those from Ukrainian families. The qualification will also be offered in Wales and Northern Ireland.
