Education and Schools in Krakow

Education and schools in Kraków offer an excellent standard of learning for your family. Public schooling is well worth considering if you have young children or intend to settle in Poland permanently, particularly as Polish students consistently rank among Europe’s top performers in international assessments.

That said, the private schooling sector in Kraków offers some extremely competitive options and is popular among both locals and expats. International schools in Kraków are often the most convenient choice if your family is globally mobile.

Public schools in Kraków

Public schools in Kraków follow the national Polish education system, where compulsory schooling begins at age six in what is called Form 0, after which children continue to primary school for eight years. Schooling remains compulsory all through high school up to the age of 18. Public education in Poland is free for both local and expat children.

You can expect a high quality of education in local public schools, but with Polish as the language of instruction, English-speaking international schools are typically the easiest option. If you decide on public education, your child will typically receive additional Polish language support, with at least two hours per week of dedicated instruction.

School System in Poland

Useful links

• Ministry of Education and Science
• Regional Examination Commission in Kraków
• Kraków Department of Education

Private and international schools in Kraków

Private and international schools in Kraków offer high-quality education with diverse curriculum options. Private schools will often teach through the lens of a particular religious ideology or educational paradigm.

On the other hand, international schools teach foreign or globally recognised curricula in English or the language of the school’s origin. Most international schools in Kraków teach the International Baccalaureate curriculum, although there are also British and American options. Several schools hold prestigious accreditations like the New England Association of Schools & Colleges and AQA certification.

Some international schools also offer the Polish curriculum, in which case the school teaches in both English and Polish. This puts your children in a good position to pick up the local language without the pressure of being taught solely in Polish. Beyond English and Polish, many schools offer additional languages such as French, German, Spanish, and Russian.

Both international and private schools are expensive, and the fees often don’t include extras such as textbooks and uniforms. If you’re choosing a private or international school for your children, you should negotiate a school allowance into your salary. It’s also advisable to apply well in advance, as spaces in the more prestigious schools fill up quickly, with some recommending applying 6 to 12 months before the intended start date.

Read more: Best International Schools in Kraków

Special educational needs in Kraków

If you’re a parent of a child with disabilities, you can rest assured that in Poland, special assistance is given to children who have special educational needs. This includes those whose opportunities for education, development and learning are limited to such an extent that they can’t meet the educational requirements at mainstream schools.

Special-needs institutions provide care for differently abled pupils by allowing the implementation of individualised educational processes, forms, curricula and revalidation. Children with special needs can also attend mainstream schools if they are deemed able to cope with the education system at these schools. Support will be given at these schools, but not to the same extent as special schools.

The assessment process for special educational needs in Poland begins with an evaluation by specialists at Counselling and Guidance Centres, which provide psychological, pedagogical, and sometimes medical evaluations. Based on this assessment, your child may receive a Special Education Needs certificate outlining specific support requirements and educational recommendations.

Useful links

• European Agency for Special-Needs and Inclusive Education – Poland

Tutors in Kraków

Education is highly valued in Poland, and Polish parents use tutoring to assist students in their learning. It is also invaluable to expat parents whose children are adapting to a new environment, language and curriculum. Even for children in international schools, tutoring is useful for gaining confidence or for assistance with particular subjects such as maths, science, or Polish. You can hire private home or online tutors through several online tutoring companies. Good tutoring companies in Poland include Apprentus, Preply, and Superprof.

The most sought-after tutoring subjects among expat families include Polish language (to help with integration), mathematics, science subjects, and English language support. While no specific qualifications are legally required for tutors in Poland, many have university degrees in their subject area or professional teaching certifications.

Useful links

• Apprentus
• Preply
• Superprof