TOP OF THE CLASS!
Teenager who fled war-torn Syria and eventually arrived in the city is among award winners at college celebrations
A TEENAGER who fled Syria to start a new life in the UK is now on target to get top marks in her GCSES.
Ajin Cheikhmous joined Stokeon-trent Sixth Form College last September and – just two months later – sat her first external exams.
She went on to get a grade 7 in English language, which is equivalent to an old A. And she is predicted to snap up a super-grade 9 in maths this summer.
Now the 16-year-old, who lives in Stoke, has been awarded a prize for her ‘exceptional’ achievements.
She was among 55 young people to be recognised at the college’s annual awards evening, which was held online this week due to the pandemic.
Ajin said: “It’s really nice to have a prize. I’ve worked so hard. It’s nice to be appreciated.”
Education in North Staffordshire is a world away from her native Syria – where most of her life has been overshadowed by armed conflict.
“Syria had a great culture and I sometimes miss it. But it’s been ruined by war,” she said. “Most of my home city is no longer there.
“I had gone to a Kurdish school, where I was studying in Kurdish and English, so I could already speak English when I came here. I know Russian too.
“Now I’ve got lots more opportunities here. I want to be a surgeon.”
Ajin came to Britain at the tail end of 2019 with her mum, who was a doctor back in Syria. They initially had to stay in an immigration centre in Derby.
“It was a hotel and the whole building was filled with asylum seekers,” she recalled.
“You put your name on the list. If your name came up, you were transferred to a different city.”
Three months later, they found themselves en-route to Stoke-ontrent.
Ajin’s brother, who lives overseas, told her it would have a good football team.
“I’d never heard of Stoke-ontrent before, but I really like it,” she said. “The college has also been so supportive.”
She wasn’t able to get into a local school as she was a few months too old to be eligible for a Year 11 place.
It has meant she’s been taking her GCSES at college alongside students who are resitting some subjects. Ajin said: “The college was the only place to accept me. That’s why I’m doing five GCSES rather than eight.
“At first, I was a bit nervous because I was younger than the others.”
She scored the highest mark within her GCSE group in mocks, and staff describe her as ‘a conscientious and tenacious student’.
Also picking up an award this week was Megan Dale, who is doing a BTEC in business at the college.
The 17-year-old, from Meir Hay, found some of her assignments were affected by the pandemic.
“In a normal year, it would have been more practical,” she said.
Megan has spent significant chunks of time learning remotely at home.
“I was helping my two younger brothers, who are five and nine, with their home-schooling. My mum was working from home, so I helped out,” she added.
“It was difficult, but I was able to balance it. We tended to get everything done in the morning, then I would focus on my college work in the afternoon.”
Now Megan has set her sights on creating her own events management business after she leaves college.
Aspiring accountant Shakur Sackey also received a prize at the college’s awards night. He is studying for A-levels in accounting, economics and business.
The 18-year-old, who was living in Ghana before moving to Hanley, said: “I came to this college because the facilities are really good.
“I’m very passionate about accounting. I’ve been interested in it for five years.”