Europe marks the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing war, Elizabeth Ivens speaks to the schools that swiftly welcomed the influx of displaced Ukrainian children
Just over two years ago, the world watched in horror as Russia invaded Ukraine and the largest displacement of people since the second world war began (UN Refugee Agency).
Among those thousands of refugees who came to the UK were many children desperate to retain a sense of normality through continuing their suddenly disrupted education. With a potentially long wait for places at state schools, many of the UK?s independent schools sprang into action to help them, not just through sustained and impressive fundraising efforts for refugees, but also through offering school places. Today, just over 2,000 Ukrainian children are being educated in independent schools, according to the latest Independent Schools Council (ISC) Census. At RGS Worcester, 10 Ukrainian pupils were able to join the school shortly after the start of the war on fully funded places at its family of four schools. Headmaster John Pitt said the school ?responded immediately to the people in need? after they were contacted by local host families who were concerned Ukrainian children in their care may not have access to education for many months.
?We were able to respond like this because we?re a charity, as many independent schools are. And charities act in times of crisis: they don?t sit and wait for the authorities to...