Roman gains GCSE in Maths just three years after fleeing war in Ukraine

The sight and sound of rocket launchers and Russian planes flying overhead prompted Roman and his mother to take the incredibly difficult decision of leaving their family home, with his one-year-old brother joining them.

In fear for their lives as hostilities escalated, they initially headed for Poland before applying for the UK Government’s Homes for Ukraine rehousing programme.

Roman was 16 at the time and had just been preparing to start college in Ukraine but, instead, found himself enrolling on the English for Speakers of Other Languages course at Sim Balk Lane.

His exemplary attitude towards studying and courteous behaviour in College was soon recognised by Roman’s peers and tutors alike and both were hailed as he received the prestigious Principal’s Prize at this year’s REACH Awards Ceremony.

By then, he had achieved the highest Functional Skills Maths grade possible and impressed on his Level 1 Light Vehicle Maintenance course where, along with his academic aptitude, Roman’s willingness to stay behind and help tidy up the workshop or classroom was valued by his tutors.

He also combined his studies with getting a part-time job on a building site to help support his family financially.

Reflecting on the journey that brought him and his family to North Yorkshire and has culminated in his GSCE qualification, Roman said: “We decided to leave our home when aeroplanes started appearing in the sky and I saw people using rocket launchers, which was quite scary, especially when you could feel the earth shaking.

“I was just about to start at a training college at the time and was thinking about doing a car mechanic course or becoming a policeman, as well as a few other things. But we went to Poland first and then heard about the rehousing programme in the UK for Ukrainians, so I moved here, with my mum and my little brother, who is now four. 

“We lived with a host family in Dunnington at first but are now in rented accommodation in Selby as a family. My mum and dad are separated, but I still stay in touch with my dad and he lives in Poland now. 

“I’ve really enjoyed everything I have done at College. The tutors on the ESOL, Motor Vehicle and GCSE courses were all brilliant.

"I am proud of my Maths GSCE grade, as I am of my REACH Award and my Level 1 Motor Vehicle qualification."

Roman received more REACH Award nominations from members of staff than any other student or apprentice and, on gaining that recognition, he said: “It felt great to be presented with the award. I really appreciated it.

“I was nominated for the Maths and Motor Vehicle categories as well, but didn’t win those awards and just thought, ‘Oh well, not me’. Then, (York College Principal & Chief Executive) Ken Merry started reading out who had won the Principal’s Award, and I heard him say Ukrainian refugee and thought, ‘What? Is that me?’”

Roman did not really understand the acclaim he received for assisting teachers at the end of lessons, though, explaining: “In Ukraine, we do that all the time, so it isn’t that big a thing for me, and I like doing it.”

Nor did a modest Roman think his performance in the Functional Skills exam merited much fuss.

“It was great to achieve something like that, but I had been used to Maths that was way harder in Ukraine,” he explained. “The GCSEs were a bit of a step up, but the tutors gave me a better understanding of what was actually wanted when you’re answering the questions, because it can be hard to understand how they are structured for somebody who has just finished an ESOL course.”

Along with the academic progress he made on the ESOL course, meanwhile, Roman added that meeting classmates who had endured similar experiences to him or, in many cases, worse helped with the psychological challenges of processing what he and his family had been through, while broadening his horizons in terms of learning about different cultures.

“It was really important to have people in the class who had gone through and were going through similar circumstances and, after I had heard some of the experiences that people had suffered, I felt that what had happened to me and my family wasn’t too bad,” Roman reasoned. “I have really enjoyed meeting people from different countries and getting knowledge of different cultures, too.

“Pretty much everybody was Ukrainian where I lived. There were maybe three or four people who weren’t.”

Three years at College has also enhanced Roman’s English language skills.

“I had learned English from a very young age in Ukraine – probably for around 10 or 11 years – but, when I came here, all I could remember at first was ‘Hello’, ‘How are you?’, ‘Goodbye’ and ‘Thank you’,” he declared. “That improved, though, with the more I had to speak, read and write in English on all the courses I have done.”

Roman is now waiting to hear whether his application for a visa extension in this country is accepted.

If it is declined, he may be separated from his mother and brother and, instead, either look to live with his father in Poland or friends in Germany.

Should it be ratified, as he hopes, he then wants to further his Motor Vehicle education in this country by enrolling on our Level 2 course or, ideally, securing an apprenticeship.

He said: “I’ve always enjoyed making and fixing stuff and, when I came to College, I wanted to do something where I was using my hands. College’s workshop facilities are very impressive and I’ve learnt how to do certain repairs on cars.

“If I can stay here, I would like to do an apprenticeship in Motor Vehicle but haven’t been able to find an opportunity yet. I’d love to get a Vehicle Maintenance apprenticeship with the RAF or an Emergency Aid company and, if not, I’d definitely like to carry on with some kind of course, but that might be difficult financially because I don’t really want to take out a loan.”

To learn more about studying GSCE Maths at York College, please click here

Further details on our Level 1 Light Vehicle Maintenance course can be found here

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