Ukrainian school opens in Richmond upon Thames

Richmond Council has provided funds for St. Mary’s Ukrainian School to open a satellite site at St. Richard’s Church of England primary school in Ham. 

The school operates on Sundays and offers Ukrainian language lessons as well as classes in Ukrainian literature, history and geography, allowing pupils to keep up with the Ukrainian national curriculum alongside their mainstream UK education.

Cllr Nancy Baldwin, Spokesperson for Communities, Equalities and the Voluntary Sector, said: “It was a great honour to attend the opening of this new school this past weekend; meeting some of our youngest Ukrainian guests and their amazing teachers.

“The people of Richmond upon Thames have welcomed Ukrainians with open homes and open arms, and we have supported over 200 hundred children to settle into local schools. However, a Ukrainian education is such an important part of their growth and development into proud, talented young Ukrainian citizens, so I am delighted we have been able to bring this education opportunity to them, right here in our borough.”

Over 60 children have registered to attend the Sunday school, which also offers enrichment and cultural activities such as choir, art and dancing.

Established in the 1950s, St. Mary’s Ukrainian school is a supplementary community school that strives to nurture Ukrainian language and culture amongst young Ukrainians in London. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the school has expanded to additional locations to cater for the hundreds more children who have registered to attend.

Parents living in Richmond upon Thames can use an online form to register their children.