Ukrainian Student Overcomes Adversity to Excel at West Buckland School

Dasha is one of our international students who joined us in Year 12, after facing traumatic experiences in her home country. The Russian invasion of Ukraine brought her to the UK, where she embraced the challenges of being the youngest in her year group and studying in her third language.

Through her remarkable resilience and determination, Dasha excelled as Head of House and was honoured with the Harries Award for her outstanding contribution as Madam President of the Phoenix Society. Her active participation in the Economic Society and Model United Nations further highlighted her dedication. Over two years, she earned five academic prizes for all her subjects, graduating with outstanding A-level results (A* A* A). Dasha scored over 90% on one of her Business papers which is the highest percentage amongst Business and Economics paper scores this year.

Dasha mentions; “I feel incredibly lucky and privileged to have studied at West Buckland School. It has been the best place for me during these challenging times, and I’m so grateful for the opportunities it brought. The number of clubs, societies and events to involve in is genuinely impressive and so are the countless chances to develop your character and build new skills, like public speaking. It wasn’t always easy, especially at the start of Year 12 when I wasn’t fully familiar with the culture, expectations or how to succeed. But thanks to the teachers and their immense support, I always knew there was help and guidance available. I couldn’t be happier with the quality of education I received and how well it prepared me for the future. Boarding experience also helped me develop independence and self-organisation. I’m excited to bring those skills with me to Bristol University, where I will be studying International Business Management!”