Ukrainian earns top A-levels after fleeing home

A Ukrainian student who fled to Devon from her homeland was overjoyed to get top A-level grades.

Kingsbridge Community College pupil Anna Petrenko came to the UK in spring 2022 after the war between Ukraine and Russia started when the latter's troops invaded their neighbouring nation.

She was among the thousands of pupils across Devon and the UK who have discovered their A or T-level results in person or by email.

Miss Petrenko achieved two A*s and an A in her A-levels and is heading to the University of Bristol to study physics.

Miss Petrenko, who studied A-levels in physics, further maths and computer science, said moving to the town was "definitely different" to where she lived in Ukraine.

However, she said the last two years have been an enjoyable experience for her.

"In Ukraine, I lived in a big city, so this rural town has definitely been a change, but I do love it," Miss Petrenko said.

"It was hard work to get the results I got, but I enjoyed it."

As results were opened, Miss Petrenko's head teacher urged people to have faith in the exam system as top A-level grades returned to pre-Covid levels.

Figures from the Joint Council for Qualifications said the percentage of A* or A grades achieved across England, Wales and Northern Ireland rose to 27.8% - which is up from 27.2% last year and 25.4% in 2019.

Tina Graham, principal at Kingsbridge Community College, said pupils had done themselves proud during some tough times.

The Covid pandemic caused exams to be cancelled in 2020 and 2021, with results being based on teachers' assessments.

This led to levels for the top two marks hitting 38.5% in 2020, 44.7% in 2021 and dropping to 36.4% in 2022.

Ms Graham said she was delighted with how the pupils at Kingsbridge Community College had performed in this year's exams.

She added the impact of Covid on the education system might still be being felt, but there are a lot of positive signs from the latest results.

"What's really important is for parents and students and teachers to have faith in that exam system," Ms Graham said.

"It is really important that we are making that move back to pre-Covid times."

Milo Clover, 18, who got an A* in biology and A grades in chemistry, computer science and physics, said: "It is two years of hard work and stress that has finally paid off."

T-level results were also collected by pupils in Devon three years after the qualification, which is the equivalent of three A-levels, was introduced in England.

T-levels were developed alongside employers to help people learn skills which meet the needs of their industry.

City College Plymouth said it achieved an overall pass rate of 99% from its 900 students in subjects including engineering, sports and childcare.

The college said it was investing £2.5m in T-level building developments during the summer and was proud of the marks its students had scored.

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