Daria, who left Dnipro, Ukraine, at the start of the conflict in 2022, relocated with her mother and grandmother to Camberwell, where she enrolled at Harris Academy Peckham.
Despite language barriers and a new education system, she earned seven GCSEs, including grade 6s in English literature and maths, and an impressive grade 8 in English language.
Daria said: “Coming to England has been challenging in so many ways.
“I found it really hard to get used to a new language, a new culture and a new way of learning – even maths lessons required different methods to the ones I had been taught.
“But my teachers at Harris Academy Peckham were super helpful.
“They would print resources out for me in Ukrainian and would set me extra work to help me catch up.
“They supported me in whatever way they could and I have really enjoyed my time here.”
Before arriving in the UK, Daria was a top-performing student in Ukraine but struggled to access the English curriculum.
Determined to succeed, she worked hard to improve her language skills by reading English books and completing extra assignments.
Alongside her UK studies, Daria continued her Ukrainian education through evening Zoom lessons and Saturday school.
Last year, she sat exams in Ukraine and achieved the highest grades in her year group.
Reflecting on her success, she said: “I am so proud of myself for achieving my GCSEs.
“It’s been hard work but it’s been worth it.
“I’ve made some great friends here and I am looking forward to starting my A-level courses.
“Coming to a new country was very daunting but my mum and grandma have supported me every single day.
“Without their help and encouragement, I don’t think I would have achieved these results and I am so pleased to have been able to make them proud.”
