A student who escaped the conflict in Ukraine to start a new life in the United Kingdom has left a Sixth Form college after refusing to study the Russian language.
Kateryna Endeberia left her hometown of Donetsk following the Russian invasion in 2022 and relocated to Stoke-on-Trent. After completing her GCSEs a year later, she enrolled in City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College, focusing on economics, politics, and statistics.
However, the 19-year-old student alleged that she was prevented from taking her end-of-year mock exams this summer, claiming that she was pressured to learn Russian instead.
Speaking to StokeonTrent Live, Kateryna expressed her love for her studies and the challenges she overcame to pursue education in English. She cited her father’s service in the Ukrainian army and her country’s ongoing conflict with Russia as reasons for her refusal to study the language.
Despite her efforts to sit for the exams, she was informed that she was not permitted to do so, and subsequently, her place at the college was withdrawn, which she described as “really unfair.”
Kateryna, who is no longer a student at the college, emphasized the importance of completing her A-Levels for her future aspirations in economics, politics, or finance, expressing disappointment at the hindrance to her educational goals.
The college’s website emphasizes principles of equality, inclusivity, and respect for diversity. In response to the situation, the college stated that they could not comment on individual cases but assured that efforts are made to address concerns according to their complaints and resolution process.
City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College declined to provide details on individual cases, emphasizing their commitment to student welfare and confidentiality in handling issues and complaints.