REFUGEE Ilknur Dogan could not speak a word of English 18 months ago - but now she is pupil of the year.

But it will be 15-year-old Ilknur's last award if she loses her fight to win asylum in Manchester.

She could be returned to Turkey with her parents - a move that would sadden her new pals at school in Gorton.

A decision still has not been taken on whether Ilknur and her family will be allowed to stay in the country as refugees. And it is still too difficult for the teenager to talk about the reasons why they were forced to flee Turkey.

Many of the refugee children at the school have been forced to leave countries ripped apart by civil war or political unrest. Yet despite her own harrowing background, Ilknur is doing well and thinking about a bright future.

"School was really difficult when I started and I didn't like it because nobody wanted to be friends with me," she said. "But I really enjoy it now and I want to go on to college.

"I wanted to be a teacher but now I've got so many choices I'm not sure. I enjoy school and when I got the award it made me feel as though I was really clever."

Cedar Mount has set up a structured support system for the 45 refugee children. It includes interpreters and additional English lessons and has enabled many former pupils to go on to further education.

Help

And the extra help has certainly helped Ilknur to flourish. She said: "The teachers have all been very good to me and that has really helped. I feel settled and comfortable here now."

The school's Ethnic Minority Achievement Service co-ordinator, Roger Holden, has worked closely with Ilknur since she arrived at the school and he has been impressed by her development.

"A lot of the kids come here from a very different education system and they can't speak the language, which makes it extra difficult for them," he said.

"Ilknur and a lot of kids from similar backgrounds have done really well and it is always pleasing to see. These kids need all the support they can get and it's not to say that other kids in the community don't need support as well, but when you consider where they have come from you can't hold it against them.

"Many have experienced violence, separation or have lost family, and then they travel long distances into exile."