AQA to develop GCSE Ukrainian

AQA has been asked by the Department for Education to develop a new GCSE in Ukrainian, supporting young people displaced by the war in Ukraine and helping to strengthen educational and cultural links between the UK and Ukraine.

The qualification forms part of ongoing collaboration between the DfE and the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science, and forms part of wider Government support for the Ukrainian community through the UK–Ukraine 100‑Year Partnership.

Once approved by Ofqual, first teaching of the GCSE is scheduled for September 2028, with the first exams expected to take place in summer 2029. The new qualification will enable students to gain recognition for their knowledge of Ukrainian language and culture and provide a formal route for study within schools and colleges in England, upon return to Ukraine, or elsewhere.

AQA will now begin the development process, working with the DfE, Ofqual, teachers, and Ukrainian language specialists to ensure that the GCSE’s detailed specification is academically rigorous, engaging for learners, and sustainable for schools to deliver.

Colin Hughes, AQA CEO, said:

“We’re pleased to be working with the Department for Education to develop the new GCSE in Ukrainian. The qualification will give young people – including those displaced by the war – an opportunity to gain formal recognition for their knowledge of Ukrainian, while contributing to greater understanding of the language and its culture in the UK. As an independent education charity, AQA’s role is to design and deliver high‑quality qualifications that meet learners’ needs and uphold rigorous academic standards.”

Lucy Powell, Education Secretary, said:

“As they build their lives here in the UK, it is right that Ukrainians and their children should have every opportunity to maintain that connection to their heritage and to be proud of who they are.

“This new qualification is available to all pupils and will give them the chance to develop their language skills and celebrate Ukraine's rich culture and history, while also opening pathways to future study and employment and strengthening our partnership with Ukraine.

“Through that enduring partnership, we are building the lasting ties between our countries that will see the young minds of the future move forward together, and foster connections that transcend borders.”

The GCSE will be developed within the existing modern foreign languages framework and in line with Ofqual’s subject‑level conditions.

Image: Ukrainian language teachers and students with School Standards Minister Georgia Gould, Kensington and Bayswater MP Joe Powell and Leeds Central and Headingley MP Alex Sobel at St Mary's Ukrainian School in London.