A Ukrainian refugee has had to leave her sixth-form college after saying she was pressured to study Russian.
Kateryna Endeberia moved to Stoke-on-Trent in 2022 after fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She completed her GCSEs at The Excel Academy in 2023, followed by a foundation year at City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College (SFC), before starting A-levels in economics, politics and statistics.
But the 19-year-old says that when she began struggling with her subjects, teachers tried to persuade her to switch to Russian. With her father serving as a Ukrainian soldier, she found the suggestion deeply traumatic, describing it as “hurtful and insensitive” and akin to “discrimination and racism.”
Endeberia has now left SFC and is studying at home using notes from friends. She has applied to take her A-level exams as a private candidate in 2026, which will cost her £1,400.
She told the Guardian that studying Russian goes “against my personal principle,” explaining, “I was born in Donetsk, where the war started in 2014. It’s not a language I want to speak or study because my father became a soldier last year.”
“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to study in the United Kingdom—it feels like my third home,” she added, referring to Ukraine and the Czech Republic, where she first relocated. “But not everyone realises how challenging it can be for Ukrainian students to adapt to a new education system, culture and language after everything our country has gone through.”
Endeberia said she faced difficulties with her A-level courses and felt bullied because of her accent. She claims the college did not offer her extra support, but instead pushed her to take Russian A-level.
“Rather than offering empathy or help, they continued to insist that I change subjects. No one tried to understand how painful this experience was for me,” she said.
She also said she struggled to get “clear answers” about why she was discouraged from continuing with politics, economics and statistics. She is now pursuing a complaint through the Potteries Educational Trust, which oversees SFC, and plans to escalate the case to Ofsted once that process is complete.
A spokesperson for City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College said: “The college cares deeply about our students and every effort is made to resolve issues and complaints in accordance with our complaints and resolution process. We do not comment on individuals for reasons of confidentiality.”
Ukraine has previously urged the UK government to offer teenage refugees the chance to study Ukrainian at GCSE level, following reports that some are being encouraged to take Russian instead because they already speak some of the language.
In December 2024, Ukraine’s education minister, Oksen Lisovyi, met UK Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to warn that being taught Russian could retraumatise the roughly 27,000 displaced Ukrainian children in the UK who have fled Vladimir Putin’s invasion.
Children’s Commissioner Rachel de Souza has also called on the government to reintroduce a GCSE in Ukrainian.
Exam board AQA has said it is considering developing a GCSE in Ukrainian, though it is understood this could take several years.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Ukrainian Refugee Leaves UK SixthForm College After Being Encouraged to Study Russian
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What happened in this news story
A Ukrainian refugee student in the UK left her sixthform college after staff suggested she study Russian as a subject which she found deeply distressing given Russias ongoing war in her home country
2 Why would studying Russian be upsetting for a Ukrainian refugee
For many Ukrainians the Russian language is now associated with the military aggression and invasion that has forced them to flee Being encouraged to study it can feel insensitive ignoring the current trauma and the political context of the war
3 What is a sixthform college
In the UK a sixthform college is an educational institution for students aged 16 to 18 where they typically study for advanced qualifications before university
4 What should the college have done instead
The college should have consulted sensitively with the student about her subject preferences acknowledged her background and offered appropriate support and alternatives without making assumptions
Advanced Practical Questions
5 What are the UKs legal and ethical duties towards refugee students
Schools and colleges have a duty of care to ensure a safe inclusive and nondiscriminatory environment This includes cultural sensitivity and making reasonable adjustments to support students emotional wellbeing especially for those fleeing conflict
6 Could there have been a valid educational reason for suggesting Russian
While Russian is a valuable academic subject the approach was flawed Any suggestion should have been framed as an optional opportunity based on her linguistic skills not an encouragement that disregarded her personal experience
7 What are common challenges for schools supporting refugee students
Key challenges include language barriers traumainformed care integrating students into the curriculum and ensuring staff have cultural competency training to avoid such insensitive incidents
8 How can other institutions avoid making similar mistakes
Prioritize Listening Always ask students and families about their preferences goals and any sensitivities
Provide TraumaInformed Training Equip staff to understand the impact of war and displacement
Offer Choice Explanation Present all subject options neutrally explaining their potential value without pressure
