Ms Gould offered her personal apologies to 20-year-old Vitalii Andronik, who, at 15, teachers urged to study Russian.
The Ukrainian refugee admitted it was “too late” for him, but was grateful that future generations would be able to study their native language.
He said: “It’s a recognition of the trauma that we went through. It’s brilliant news to hear that in future kids here won’t have to study Russian.”
Sofia Chonka, 16, who fled Ukraine to London in June 2024, said she was told to study Russian in Year 9.
She said: “I didn’t want anything to do with Russia – they killed my people and injured my family.”
The Ukrainian pupil added: “It’s a stereotype that they are similar languages; they are completely different. Because Ukrainian is so beautiful, the Russians don’t like it. They can’t ban it; they can’t ban people.”
