Compulsory education in Poland starts at the age of six from the

mandatory “0” reception class. The reception class is a part of

kindegarten/pre-school rather than school.

The actual school education, primary school (szkoła podstawowa),

starts at the age of 7 (earlier entry is possible on the condition of
receiving a positive opinion on emotional and intellectual school readiness
of the child).

żłobek – creche; przedszkole – kindergarten; szkoła podstawowa – primary school; liceum ogólnokształcące –
secondary general education school; technikum – technical (vocational) secondary school; szkoła branżowa I
stopnia – vocational school (I stage)

Primary school (szkoła podstawowa)

There are 8 years of education in primary school in Poland with a
division into:

• grades 1 – 3 – early education where teaching is delivered in the form of

teaching blocs rather than single subjects; the class teacher delivers classes in
literacy and numeracy as well as in musical education and art; the marks at
this stage are descriptive rather than numerical;
• grades 4 – 8 – there is a clear division into subjects (Polish language, English
language, Mathematics, Nature, History, Computing, PE, Music, Art, Practical
skills, Religion/Ethics, and from grade 7 also Chemistry, Biology and a foreign
language); students receive numerical marks for all subjects on a scale from 1
to 6 (1- failed, 6 – excellent).

The primary school ends with end-of-school exams the results of

which are taken into account when applying to a secondary
education school.

Secondary school (szkoła średnia)

At the age of 15 young people in Poland start secondary education which
can take a form of:
 • 4-year general secondary school (high school),
• 5-year technical (vocational) secondary school,
• 3-year vocational school (stage I),
• 2-year vocational school (stage II)

Students of vocational schools – basic vocational schools and technical

secondary schools – may take exams confirming vocational qualifications
in a given occupation during the course of study or upon completion of
school to receive a diploma confirming their vocational qualifications.

Graduates of general upper secondary schools (liceum ogólnoształcące)

and technical secondary schools may take the school-leaving
examination (egzamin maturalny) to obtain the Matura certificate,
which gives access to higher education.

Compulsory education
In the Polish education system full-time compulsory education and part-
time compulsory education are defined. Full-time compulsory
education (obligation to attend primary and lower secondary school – old
structure, and primary school – new structure) applies to pupils aged
7-15 years while part-time compulsory education (obligation to be in
education) concerns pupils aged 15-18 and it may take place either in
school settings (a student attends an upper secondary school) or in non-
school settings (e.g. a student follows vocational training offered by
employers).