A Ukrainian refugee has achieved a clean sweep of 9s and 8s in her GCSEs.

Yuliia, 16, fled the war in Ukraine last summer to join a host family in Kent, and has now achieved top grades in her GCSEs at Cobham Hall in Cobham.

Yuliia joined the school in September after fleeing the war with her mother and younger sister, and yesterday received six grade 9s and two grade 8s – the equivalent of an A* in the previous system.

She is one of four Ukrainian refugees to have been offered fully-supported places at the private school last year, sponsored by local host families.

The 16-year-old said: “It was my first year in the UK and in the British educational system.

“I was worried if I could cope with GCSEs with only one year of studying them. But all the teachers gave me revision sessions at a very high level, which was an immense help.

“Students as well were very friendly and helped me with some subjects. I can’t express how much gratitude I have for them.”

Yuliia was one of many to get good results at the day and boarding school for 11 to 18 year-old girls.

Her fellow Ukrainian refugee Anna also gained seven GCSEs after just one year in the UK system.

Across the school, 29% of all grades were in the 9-8 band, and 43% of grades were between 9-7, almost double the 22% rate across England.

Half of all students achieved an average grade of 6 or higher, and a quarter averaged 7 or more, while 13% of all grades met the ultimate gold standard of 9 – compared to 8% last year and 4% in 2019.

Head teacher Wendy Barrett said: “These results are truly exceptional. We are immensely proud of those students who have achieved such stellar results, and I send my heartfelt congratulations to them all.

“That they have done so while playing such a full and active part in school life – on stage, in our sports teams, in clubs, on expedition and helping in our local community – is remarkable. But Cobham Hall is not a selective school.

“Among this cohort are students whose grades may not have reached the very top bands, but are more than they ever dreamed possible, and have been achieved sometimes despite enormous life challenges. I am equally proud of every one of them.

“I must also flag the outstanding performance of Yuliia and Anna, who have achieved eight and seven GCSEs respectively, Yuliia having earned only the highest grades in every exam taken.

“To have excelled in this way against a background of such trauma and disruption is truly humbling.

“As Head, it is a delight to receive such wonderful news a week after excellent A-level grades saw every single one of our students gain places at top universities – 90% at their first choice.

“I am immensely grateful to the staff who have supported all our students in the best possible way at every stage, and whose dedication shines through in every grade.”