Headmistress Inna Hryhorovych with students of St Mary’s Ukrainian school in Holland Park
(Picture: Inna Hryhorovych)The headmistress of London’s largest Ukrainian school has called on the Government for funding to help it cope with the growing number of refugee pupils.
St Mary’s Ukrainian school in Holland Park has more than doubled its intake, from 260 pupils before the war to 550 now. More arrive each week and a further 65 are expected to be transported from outside London on Saturday.
Head Inna Hryhorovych said: “With my teacher’s heart I cannot refuse the children, but we need some financial support. We really need a centralised approach from the Government.”
She added: “We have been contacted by charities offering us learning resources or trips, but from the funding side, from the Government, we haven’t got anything. We have our savings but every Saturday that is getting lower and lower.”
The Saturday school was originally for British-born children of Ukrainians in London. But it has now set up classes for refugees to continue with the Ukrainian curriculum and runs English classes for pupils and their mothers. It also provides hot meals, runs holiday classes and staff give advice about visa and school applications.
Demand is so high it has expanded into Wilberforce Primary in Westminster and is in talks with another school which would take capacity to 950. Mrs Hryhorovych — who like all staff at the school is a volunteer — said the biggest cost is food at £3 per head. She also wants to be able to pay travel expenses to the more than a dozen women refugees who were teachers in Ukraine and now help the school.
A Department for Education spokeswoman said: “The Education Secretary has committed to finding school places for up to 100,000 Ukrainian children. We are working closely with the sector and other government departments to support and provide services to them.”
