Svitlo School is a free, extracurricular online school in English for Ukrainian children aged 10‑18
Our unique free distance school for children provides Ukrainian students with high-quality online learning, improving their English language skills, developing soft skills, and shaping a global outlook.
Enrol your childIt fits around his school
Every lesson starts at 15:00 Kyiv time or at the weekend, so mornings stay with your child’s Ukrainian school.
The timetable was built this way on purpose. Svitlo is an addition to Ukrainian schooling, not a replacement for it — your child keeps their class, their teachers and their certificate, and studies with us in the afternoon.
What your child will actually learn
Six areas of study, split into two age bands. Up to eight lessons a day are on offer and your child builds their own timetable from them. The first week of every semester is a shopping week — they can sit in on anything, in any subject, before deciding what to keep.
Juniors — ages 10 to 13
English Acquisition
Speaking, reading and writing, grouped by level — beginner to advanced
Humanities
History, geography, global studies, debating
STEM
Maths, science, coding and robotics
Creativity
Art, drama, music, photography, creative writing
Seniors — ages 14 to 18
Language Acquisition
English at exam level, plus other modern languages
Humanities
History, politics, economics, philosophy, debating
STEM
Maths, physics, chemistry, biology, computer science
Creativity
Art, design, film, music, journalism
Careers
University applications, CVs, interview practice, work skills
Wellbeing
Mental health, mentoring and pastoral sessions
Registered UK charity educating 4,000+ Ukrainian children since 2022
50+ lessons to choose from each week, taught in English by native speakers
Opportunities for free summer camps in the UK, USA and Europe
Completely free for every Ukrainian child, funded by partnerships and donors
Registered UK charity educating 4,000+ Ukrainian children since 2022
50+ lessons to choose from each week, taught in English by native speakers
Opportunities for free summer camps in the UK, USA and Europe
Completely free for every Ukrainian child, funded by partnerships and donors
Why parents choose Svitlo’s free online school for their child
We combine high-quality extracurricular online education in English with a welcoming, supportive global community. Our Ukrainian students develop English skills, leadership experience and lasting friendships.
All our lessons are in English, delivered by native speakers from around the world. Children choose their own lessons from a huge range of traditional and specialist subjects, taught from 3pm each weekday and all weekend.
Our students have opportunities to attend free international summer schools in the UK and Europe, access scholarships to world-class online schools, and participate in leadership programmes.
Our mission is to educate the future social, political and business leaders of Ukraine to become confident global citizens. We are funded through partnerships with companies like Citi Ukraine, and charitable organisations like Nova Ukraine. A UK-registered charity, we have been supporting Ukrainian children since March 2022.
“Thank you for the space you have created to help my son form his own personality. To this day he actively attends various lessons with a crazy desire and interest. And that special moment of realizing that “I can. I am capable. The whole world is in front of me”… How important it is for childhood to have such moments.
I feel acutely how important it is today to give children an environment for growth, learning and to show that the world is big, there are many opportunities, and that the future is not limited by the circumstances of the present.
Nadia, mother of Gordiy, 16, Svitlo School student since 2024
What makes Svitlo’s free education different?
1. Our students don’t just learn English - they learn IN English.
All volunteer teachers at Svitlo School are native English speakers from the UK, USA, Canada, South America, India, New Zealand and more! We offer a global classroom for every Ukrainian child, providing access to knowledge, perspectives and ideas far beyond their immediate environment.
Our carefully vetted volunteer teachers are a mix of educators, professionals and experts in their field:
MJ is a retired educator from the USA who teaches Media Literacy and Government
Leslie is Svitlo’s Head of Marketing. From Scotland, she teaches Leadership Skills
Alison is a retired university lecturer from London and teaches Story Time
Michael is a retired Managing Director in Finance and teaches Career Success
2. Students take responsibility for their own learning and develop critical thinking skills
Svitlo students choose their own lessons from a varied curriculum of English Acquisition, STEM, Humanities, Careers, Creativity and Wellbeing. They are encouraged and rewarded for critical thinking - whereas mainstream Ukrainian schooling often focuses on memorization and content knowledge, in Svitlo lessons students ask questions, voice their opinions, enjoy discussions and collaborate with peers.
At Svitlo, children grow in confidence, experience teamwork and develop soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, decision-making and adaptability.
3. Svitlo School offers free summer camps, scholarships and leadership programmes to our most dedicated students
In 2026, 75 students visited international summer camps in the UK and Switzerland, where they improved their English, learned new skills and made new friends from around the world. We offer scholarships to world-class international online schools in the UK and USA.
There are also many opportunities to gain leadership experience, from joining the Student Council, to teaching younger students, and participating in real-life projects which develop the school and community.
Hear from Svitlo students about their experience
“I want to show that even if you’re not from a wealthy family, all doors are still open for you, you just have to search for opportunities.”
Oleksandra
“It’s easy to make new friends and have a lot of fun. Apart from lessons, there are clubs and competitions.”
Tymur
“My biggest achievements are studying at Pearson Academy Online and my journey to UK summer school!”
Sasha
“The war took away my dad and a lot of opportunities. This school makes me feel alive again.”
Nastya
Find out more about Svitlo School
We hope you will consider enrolling your child at Svitlo. If you’d still like more information, please visit one of these pages for more details.
