Students from Bradford's Rohingya community - some of whom were born in refugee camps - prove that 'anything is possible' after 'outstanding' GCSE and A-Level results

Local community figures are "proud, overwhelmed and speechless" following their efforts, with the students earning top grades despite not having the easiest starts in life.

The students, many of whom came to this country as refugees and only received very basic levels of education before that - at best - say they have managed to demonstrate how "hard work pays off".

Romana Nur achieved the equivalent of an A* in combined sciences, as well as a 7 for English, which, under the former system, is an A.

She also got a 7 in maths and religious studies, as well as what was formally a B in English literature and what was once a C in Arabic.

Romana was born in a refugee camp in Bangladesh, moving to Bradford at the age of "three or four", she says.

The conditions in the refugee camps are "not good", she adds, with "hygiene really poor and a lot of people dying of diseases".

The Rohingya say they are indigenous to the south-east Asian country of Myanmar, and have been described by the UN as "one of the most persecuted minorities in the world".

Many have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh, with around 880,000 Rohingya currently living in the world’s largest and most densely-populated refugee camp there.

"When I first came to England, it was really difficult. I was new to everything, like the language and the culture", says Romana, who studied at Laisterdyke Leadership Academy.

"I was also very hurt when I realised what my forefathers and my parents went through. Islamophobia shouldn't be a thing - everyone should have the right to practice their religion without persecution.

"But you shouldn't let your differences stop you from achieving - if you're disciplined, nothing can stop you. If you have the right mindset, anything is possible".

Romana is "confident" ahead of the future, with her sights set on going to university.

"I've overcome a step, and there are now more steps to take, but it just makes me want to work even harder", she says.

Salem Mohammed Salam is another student from Bradford's Rohingya community who is "excited" for the next step, after getting his A-Level results.

He moved to Bradford at the age of "10 or 11", he says, and initially found things challenging.

Salem, who got Bs in biology and chemistry and a C in sociology from New College Bradford, said: "Starting school in England felt quite isolating, I didn't know anyone of my background, so it was hard to integrate.

"My friends would talk about going 'back home' to their motherlands for holidays, but I could never say the same.

"Studying from home, due to Covid, has also been hard. You have to do the work all alone, you can't ask your friends or your teachers as much.

"But now I feel a sense of accomplishment more so than normal, because my family got out of a bad situation and achieved what many would love to achieve."

In her GCSEs, Rabea Sultana, a student at Co-op Academy Grange, got a 9 in citizenship, an 8 in English language, a 6 in English literature and "the rest were 7s", she says.

She is now going on to study English language, history and law at sixth form.

Rabea, who came to Bradford at the age of three, said: "Just because you're a refugee, doesn't mean you can't achieve.

"Everyone has barriers, but you can overcome them."

Last year, Rabea won an art competition organised by Bradford-based Rohingya charity AROUK, where she created a piece on the Rohingya genocide.

"We want to raise awareness of what it is like for the Rohingya through competitions like this", she adds.

"But hopefully, we can do more physical things to support as well, because that will have an even bigger effect."

Mohammed Amin, who is the co-founder and international director of AROUK, says he is "incredibly proud" of all the students after their "outstanding achievements".

"These students came to this country with very little education, and have had to deal with a lot of struggle", he says.

Amin, 33, who himself grew up in a refugee camp in Bangladesh and moved to Bradford in 2012, adds: "children in refugee camps have no opportunities, there is not much for them to pursue.

"Even when these students got to this country, there were language and cultural barriers, but they have since managed to break those barriers.

"They are very passionate about education, and have loads of potential. Their parents have also helped to guide them and achieve their goals.

"When I was growing up in a refugee camp, I had no opportunities, so I know that these students are very grateful to be able to go to school safely and have that opportunity here in this country.

"We are privileged and honoured to be here in a safe country and to be able to get qualifications. Now, these students have hopes and dreams to look forward to, and they can be whoever they want to be.

"I know that Rabea wants to be a barrister and Salem wants to be a doctor - I wish them all the best.

"The Government in Myanmar has deprived the Rohingya of access to formal education, so these students now want to be a strong voice for their community back home.

"They also want to show that the Rohingya people, and refugees in general, can achieve - they are human beings too, just like you and me.

"They want to prove that Rohingya people can be doctors, lawyers and even a leader of the country.

"We are very proud of what they have achieved."