Southampton: How Ukrainian students are settling in at Cantell School

Youngsters fleeing war-torn Ukraine had very little time to process what was going on.

When they arrived in the UK they had to learn a foreign language, adapt to British culture and join schools they had no connections to.

Despite the many challenges, some Ukrainian students have managed to make the most of the situation they're in.

READ MORE: Why Ukrainians are finding it impossible to rent houses in Southampton

Karolina, 16, year 11 Ukrainian student at Cantell School (Image: Newsquest)

Karolina, 16, joined Cantell School in April.

Having lived in the Cherkassi region in central Ukraine, her family quickly fled the country after Russia's invasion and settled with relatives already living in Southampton.

Initially, she was surprised to see how diverse schools are in the UK compared to Ukraine.

Speaking about her first few months at the secondary school in Violet Road, she said: “It was a bit strange for me, I had to get used to the diversity as there were a lot of different nationalities, and a lot of different people.

“Everything for me was strange because in Ukraine [we] usually only have Ukrainians.”

READ MORE: One year on, have we become too used to the war in Ukraine?

Whilst she sometimes struggles with the language, the Year 11 student feels supported by her teachers, both educationally and emotionally.

She said: “[The teachers] know I won’t understand everything they’re saying because of language.

“But we always have a support hub where I found some teachers that I can trust them.

“I can talk to them even when I want to cry because my mum remembers something from the war or something.”

Despite coming to the UK for the worst possible reasons, Karolina finds she now has the opportunity to “fulfill her dreams”.

She said: “It was my dream to come here to the UK so [whilst the war] is a big bad thing, but I remember, oh, yeah, I have my dream.”

She has now applied to study 3D animation at Barton Peveril Sixth Form.

Looking back at the last year, she said: “[A lot] changed in my life and almost all my dreams are being done. I also like that I found new friends. I’m happy.”

Sviatoslav, 15, year 10 student at Cantell School (Image: Newsquest)

Sviatoslav, 15, a Year 10 student also at Cantell School, came to the UK in March last year.

After moving to Southampton from Kyiv, he was housed through the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Having lived in the same house with his mum and cousin, he is now settling into school life.

He said: “When I [came for the] first time in the UK, I [did] not understand people, but now, [ten months later] I understand a lot and can give answer for any question and give reasons why.

“[The school] has a support hub, so I can go to this hub and some teacher, I can ask about help and they help me.

“If I [do] not understand and in a lesson, if I'm not understand something or don't know what I need to do, I can ask my teacher and they always say to me what I need to do and explain again.”

Since arriving in Southampton, Sviatoslav said he is now getting used to living in the UK.

He said: “It's a beautiful history for this country and the English language.”

He is also interested in programming and said he is keen to learn more about it.

Harry Kutty, headteacher at Cantell School (Image: Newsquest)

Harry Kutty, headteacher at Cantell School, said: “The stories from the two young people were incredibly powerful in a sense that despite all the turmoil and the upheaval of everything they went through they show a great deal of resilience and from that resilience has come a great deal of hope for the future.

“How they have been able to articulate the fact they have taken opportunities from Cantell and the British education system and can see a really bright future ahead of them - as a headteacher that is really inspiring to hear.”