A teenager who fled Kyiv following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and lost his father while building a new life in Britain, is celebrating securing a place to study Law at Durham University.
Bradford Grammar School student, Oles K, was delighted to achieve an A in History, A* in Psychology, A* in Russian and an A in Business along with an A* in his Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
“I’m really happy that my hard work paid off and I’m so thankful for the endless mentoring and guidance from the staff at BGS.
“A Levels were a huge step up from GCSEs – there was much more content, the structure was very different and the jump in complexity was pretty steep – but I actually found them more enjoyable in many ways.
“I think the biggest difference was how much I’d developed over the last two years. I’d learned how to revise properly, I had much more discipline and I’d accumulated a lot more knowledge, so I felt much more prepared for the challenge. I’m excited to see what comes next.”
The 18-year-old fled Kyiv following the outbreak of full-scale war in February 2022. He and his mother, Mila, initially sought refuge in a rural area of Ukraine before moving through Poland and the Czech Republic and eventually settling in Silsden, West Yorkshire in May 2022 through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. His father, Roman, remained in Ukraine and died from sepsis in 2023 after volunteering in the country.
Mum Mila said: “I’m so proud of him and grateful for the opportunity he’s been given at BGS. It was such an important chance and he took it. I’m proud of myself too for supporting him through that and it’s been wonderful seeing him grow into such an incredible person.”
Oles’s interest in Law developed during his time at BGS, where he gained legal work experience, attended talks from professionals and received support preparing for the LNAT.
He said: “My decision to study Law was very informed because I spent a huge amount of time exploring the subject before deciding it was right for me. BGS helped massively with that. The work experience in legal firms really solidified my decision, alongside the talks with guest speakers and support with the LNAT.”
He also attended a four-day residential Law conference at the University of Cambridge and applied to study Law there. Following his interview, his application was placed in Cambridge’s winter pool, and Oles was subsequently invited to apply through its August Reconsideration Pool, which gives eligible applicants, including refugees, a further opportunity to be considered for remaining places.
Alongside his studies, Oles took on prefect and pastoral duties at BGS and became involved in sport and debating, while keeping his academic work a priority.
He said: “My Sixth Form experience has been amazing. I really enjoyed having more freedom and being treated more like a young adult. I’m really grateful to BGS for giving me the opportunity to try so many different things and for all the support I’ve had from my teachers and form tutors.”
Today, he regards Britain as home and is determined to build his future here.
He said: “The UK is definitely home now. I can’t really go back to Ukraine because I have nothing and no one left there. I want to build my life here and fulfil all the ambitions I have.”
Oles hopes to build a career in Law, with a particular interest in corporate and commercial work.
He said: “I’ve really enjoyed company and contract law when I’ve been reading around the subject, so I suspect my career will probably go in that direction. Longer term, I want to be successful in my field, provide for my family and give back to people who mean a lot to me.”
Dr Simon Hinchliffe, Headmaster at BGS, said: “Oles has shown remarkable determination and ambition throughout his time here. From adapting to a new country and education system to developing his ambition to study Law, Oles has worked exceptionally hard to build a future for himself, and we wish him every success.”
“My Sixth Form experience has been amazing. I really enjoyed having more freedom and being treated more like a young adult. I’m really grateful to BGS for giving me the opportunity to try so many different things and for all the support I’ve had from my teachers and form tutors.”