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Ukrainian education structure
The Ukrainian education system, which was reformed in 2018, is a competency base model with a national curriculum. School and teachers have more autonomy than UK schools and it is common for Ukrainian schools to house year 1 until year 12 in the same building. The new structure includes 12 years of study, with years 1 to 9 being compulsory.
Ukrainian school structure
- Primary is Year 1 to 4
- Basic Secondary Years 5 to 9
- Upper Secondary is Years 10 to 12
- To enter higher education pupils must complete year 10 and 12 first.
Stage 1 – Primary
- Ukrainian children start school at the age of 6 or 7.
- Primary is made up of years 1 to 4.
- There are two phases in primary, year 1 and 2 is to focus on settling children into school life and there are lower academic expectations. The second phase of year 3 and 4 is much more academic.
- In year 1, lessons are around 30 minutes long and in years 2 – 4, lessons are around 45 minutes each.
- Subjects delivered include Ukrainian, Maths, PE, English, Art and ‘I explore the world’.
- Many year 1’s can read by the time they start school and learn to write in cursive straight away.
- Primary pupils are not skilled in self or peer assessment, as this isn’t practiced much.
- At the end of year 4 children sit national exams in Ukrainian and Maths. If there is a minority language being delivered, then children would sit an additional exam in that language.
- There is no grading in Primary.
- Ukrainian children may struggle with understanding phonics, as the way you read it is the way you write it in Ukrainian.
Stage 2 – Basic secondary
- Comprises of two phases, similar to primary school.
- Basic secondary is made up of Ukrainian year 5 to 9.
- At the end of year 9, children sit national exams in Ukrainian, Maths and one elective subject. As with primary some schools do enter children for additional exams.
- It is not uncommon for children to only attend the lessons for each subject once or twice a week, as this is the usual Ukrainian timetable.
- Often part of the school day is allocated to other activities, such as sport, choir and chess.
Stage 3 – Upper secondary
- This is made up of year 10 to 12 and up to year 11 for older pupils who were well into their education career when the reform began.
- This is the equivalent level as the UK sixth form/post 16.
- As with UK options, children can register with different schools offering technical or humanities subjects.
- Often their learning at this stage is tailored to prepare them for their chosen occupation and if often called ‘Profile’ education in Ukraine.
- At the end of Upper Secondary the children sit national exams in Ukrainian, Maths, History or Foreign Languages and an elective subject. As with their previous exams, some school may enter them for additional subjects.
- Children receive a ‘Certificate of Complete Secondary Education’ certificate.
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Universities
Universities offer 5 year courses.
Supporting Ukrainian children
- Ensure each new pupils has a buddy to show them school life.
- Have visual aids around the classroom.
- Use an ‘All About Me’ booklet to learn about what’s important to your new pupil.
- Use learning resources in Ukrainian. There is a Ukrainian Learning Platform to use in your classroom, with a really good teacher guidebook in English.
- Help them feel comfortable by being able to pronounce their name. You can type it into a pronunciation website to help.
Further support
Can be found on our refugee and asylum seeker pages pages or email educationethnicminorityachievement@devon.gov.uk.