Kathrine Frich
For thousands who fled the war in Ukraine, Britain offered a fresh start and the promise of safety.
But for one young woman rebuilding her life in the UK, that new beginning has turned into a painful reminder of the conflict she escaped.
A dream disrupted
Nineteen-year-old Kateryna Endeberia fled Donetsk after Russia’s invasion in 2022 and settled in Stoke-on-Trent, determined to rebuild her education.
She quickly learned English, completed her GCSEs, and began studying economics, politics, and statistics at the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College.
But as her first year came to an end, Kateryna says her studies were derailed when a teacher urged her to learn Russian.
“A teacher started pressuring me to study the Russian language,” she told Stoke-on-Trent Live. “For me, this was impossible: my country is at war, and my father serves in the Ukrainian army.”
Refusal and consequences
Kateryna said she was later barred from sitting her end-of-year mock exams after refusing to take up Russian lessons.
“I went to do my mock exams, and they told me I wasn’t allowed,” she said. “After that, my mum was told that my place at the college had been closed.”
The teenager, now living in Norton, described the situation as “really unfair.”
She says she is desperate to continue her A-Levels but cannot easily enrole at another college.
“I’ve worked hard to earn the place I have today,” she said. “My future depends on it.”
College responds
The City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College declined to discuss Kateryna’s case directly, citing confidentiality.
In a statement, a spokesperson 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.”
The college’s website lists “equality of opportunity and inclusivity” as its guiding principles, pledging to “celebrate diversity” and promote “mutual understanding and respect for others.”
Kateryna says she still hopes to study economics or finance at university but now fears her academic plans have been ruined.
“I’d love to study economics, politics or some kind of finance degree,” she said. “Now I won’t be able to do that.”
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, which may have used AI in the preparation
