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Fleeing war, violence and persecution abroad, young refugees from Ukraine and other countries restart their educations in England, finding a new life through new schools.

We meet three refugee students who fled their homes to seek safety in the UK - and also meet the Britons who are welcoming them into their homes. Through their stories, we witness the opportunities and challenges that young refugees face as they start from scratch in a new country and enter the English education system.

When Russia invaded Ukraine, it spelled the end of normality for Ukrainian children and triggered a new refugee crisis in Europe. Tens of thousands of women and children began fleeing conflict to find safety in the UK.

Among them was 8-year-old Sofiia and her mother Hannah, who left their home in Kharkiv to make a new life in Farnham. They were sponsored by Kate and Charlie, a retired couple who became their hosts and helped to get Sofiia into a local school. We see Sofiia become the first Ukrainian to find a school placement in the area.

Also in Farnham is Ukrainian teenager Ivan. We follow Ivan on his first day at a new secondary school, trying to fit in with his English classmates who’ve grown up together. His new peers are confronted with the realities of war as they meet Ivan.

Only 17, Ivan feels the weight of responsibility for his mother Nathaliia, who is dependent on her son’s English to navigate their new country and culture. But, for now, so long as he studies in England, Ivan is safe from Ukrainian’s wartime conscription.

For other refugee students, the route to completing their education is longer.

Salma fled war and violence in Afghanistan when she was 16. Despite learning English and passing all her exams, Salma couldn’t secure a place at university – until she found help from a specialist charity that works with young refugees to help them rebuild their education. Now 23, Salma studies, and thrives, at Brunel University in Bio-Medical Sciences.

At Refugee Education UK we meet Moses, a young Jewish man who feels compelled to help displaced individuals because of his own people’s history of persecution and expulsion.

Moses’ work helps refugees find their own place in British society through mentorship and practical support with getting their disrupted educations back on track.

In this film, we witness young refugees as they find community and opportunity through England’s schools.

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