Talut Ahmad, 17, is a shining example of an asylum seeker integrating into Glasgow life and excelling at school.

Talut Ahmad, 17, is a shining example of an asylum seeker integrating into Glasgow life and excelling at school.

He won eight end-of-term prizes at Castlemilk High, including the Head Teacher’s Award for Excellence, the Plato IT prize and the Weir’s computing award, and in August learned he had gained four As and a B in his Highers.

His head teacher described him as a fantastic ambassador for his school.

Talut is now studying chemical engineering at Strathclyde University after a change in rules allowed asylum youngsters to access higher education.

He has called Croftfoot home for six years but his family is still awaiting news on its asylum claim.

Talut, who has a sister Sara, 21, said: “I am proud. I promised my dad I would work my hardest and I have done so.”

His father Mahmood, 51, an accountant who is not allowed to work in Scotland, said: “Both my children are very high achievers. They love Scotland and have a great contribution to make here. But it is difficult for them.”

Mr Ahmad and his wife and family fled Lahore, the capital of Pakistan, in 2000 after being persecuted over their faith.

Timesfile
Many of Glasgow’s 5230 asylum seekers live in one of five communities. Around 1500 are in Sighthill, 400 in Govan, while Shawbridge, Govanhill and Kingsway each house around 350. The rest live scattered in other communities.

Around 4000 live in supported council flats, the remainder in YMCA or Angel Group accommodation.

The asylum seekers – people who have left their country of origin, applied for asylum in another country and are awaiting a decision – come from 50 countries.

The biggest groups are from Pakistan (541 adults and children in total), Democratic Republic of Congo (442), Turkey (395), Somalia (367), Iran (340), Sri Lanka (236), Afghanistan (233) and Iraq (207).

Statistics show there are 1773 asylum pupils in primaries and secondaries across the city, accounting for just below 2% of the total pupils.

There are also 585 young refugees – people whose asylum bid has been successful, having proved they face persecution back home – in Glasgow schools.

Figures on the numbers of adult refugees living in Glasgow are not available, but it is estimated there are around 4000 in Scotland.

Around 10-15% of asylum seekers are granted a positive decision first time and a further 20% on appeal.