Policy Note: Understanding Barriers to Education for North Korean young people in the UK

The UK is home to the largest population of free North Koreans outside East Asia, including a growing number of children and young people navigating the education system.

Over the past two years, Connect: North Korea has undertaken a community-based study exploring the educational experiences of North Korean young people in the UK. Our findings reveal a distinct and compounding “super-disadvantage.” This is where multiple barriers intersect to limit access, progression, and wellbeing, despite strong aspirations to learn and succeed.

Key findings

North Korean young people face four interconnected challenges:

• Political and economic pressures
  Many families are managing poverty, insecure employment, caring responsibilities, and ongoing legal or immigration stress, reducing their capacity to engage consistently with schools.

• Language and information gaps
  Limited English proficiency and unfamiliarity with the UK education system mean that young people and parents often lack clear information about pathways, expectations, and available support.

• Significant mental health challenges
  Experiences of trauma, isolation, bullying, and stigma – both before and after arrival in the UK – have a direct impact on learning, confidence, and attendance.

• Institutional blind spots
  Schools and education services often lack awareness of North Korean-specific histories and needs, resulting in misidentification, inappropriate support, or missed opportunities for early intervention.

Crucially, educational aspiration among North Korean young people remains high. The barriers they face are not rooted in motivation or ability, but in structural and systemic gaps.

Policy priorities

Drawing on lived experience, frontline practice, and research evidence, this policy note calls for four priority actions:

1. Increase awareness of North Korean learners within schools, local authorities, and education policy

2. Strengthen collaboration between schools and specialist community organisations

3. Embed culturally informed, trauma-aware training for education professionals

4. Adopt evidence-based language, wellbeing, and transition support tailored to North Korean young people

Why this matters

Without targeted action, North Korean young people risk being overlooked within broader refugee and migrant education frameworks. With the right support, they have the potential not only to thrive academically, but to contribute meaningfully to their schools, communities, and wider society.

This policy note sets out practical, achievable recommendations to ensure no young person is left behind.

↓ Download the full policy note (PDF)