A couple years ago Polish system of education was reformed. No one knew what we could expect when the reforms were introduced. A lot of things were unknown. Polish children start their education at the age of three. It isn't an education in the full meaning. It is just a beginning. They attend kindergarten. Children are taught by fun and they play a lot. Kindergarten isn't obligatory. In comparison with British system of education, Polish kids attend kindergartens later than their British peers. Today we have the choice to which kindergarten our children will be sent. Partners decide about the type of kindergartens. They can choose among general kindergartens or specialised ones, where children are taught art, music or languages. In Great Britain there are only the general kindergartens. In Poland as well as in Great Britain there are public education institutions and the private ones. So it is referred institutions such as kindergartens, primary and secondary schools and universities. Public institutions are sponsored by government and it means that education is free of charge. The private schools are expensive. What is more, they are getting more and more expensive.

When children reach the age of seven after the optional kindergarten, they are supposed to begin a compulsory primary school. The primary school lasted eight years before the education's reforms. Pupils stayed there to the age of fifteen. To go to the secondary school pupils had to pass the entrance exams. Then they were able to start the education in technical school or grammar school. Usually the exams of polish and math were required. If the pupils didn't have very good marks or failed to pass the exams, they could start the basic education in vocational school. When they finished this kind of school, they could take up a job or started complementary secondary school. This vocational school lasted three years. After the Polish education's reform children attend the primary school from the age of seven to the age of thirteen. Then they have to take the competition test and their entrances to three years gymnasium are dependant to the results of this test. The better marks they are given, the better gymnasium they can choose. If they pride themselves on some achievements on competitions, they have the easier way to become a student. After the graduation they may attend the one of two types of schools. First of them is a specialised lyceum. It lasts three years. The other type of school is the vocational school. To the biggest problems belongs the problem of Matura exam. Nobody knew how the exam will be carrying after the reforms out and if it will replace the entrance exams to the university. Today we know that it depends on the regulation of a given higher school. Some of them require the candidates not only to have the good results of Matura exam, but also to pass the entrance exam or go through the kind of interview. Pupils may choose the post-secondary schools, Master's studies or some higher professional courses. If they decide to go to post-secondary school, it will last about 3 or 4 years. If they choose Master's studies or some higher professional courses, they will receive after five years of studying the title of Master. Then they can take up the PhD studies. It lasts about 4 or 5 years. After graduation they are given the title of doctor. The whole education will last to your 27 or 28 years old.

In United Kingdom the compulsory education begins for children when they reach the age of five years old. At first they are sent to a primary school. When finish the primary school and they are eleven years old, they choose a secondary school. There are two kinds of schools: comprehensive schools and grammar schools. In Great Britain the state schools are free of charge. They are founded by government and governed by Local Education Authorities (LEA).

British education has two levels: primary one and secondary one.

Primary: Secondary:

- Primary schools - Secondary schools 11-16 or 16-18 years old

- Colleges of further education 16-18 years old

Primary education:

Children are assured of a full-time school when they reach five years old. Education before the fifth birthday is on a part-time basis.

At primary schools kids develop their basic skills such as reading, writing, singing, art and maths. They are usually taught by a class teacher. What is more, they have some specialist teachers for certain subjects such as foreign languages or music.

Secondary eductaion:

Secondary schools are divided into two kinds: comprehensive schools and grammar ones.

Comprehensive schools are helpful to discover children' skills. There are a lot of different types of comprehensive schools. They are "specialist schools" and the pupils are taught in special fields. Grammar schools, on the other hand, choose their pupils itself. State secondary schools are selective and the number of that kind of schools is very small. They choose pupils who have good marks and they will suit to the style offered by that kind of school. Entrance exam is based on the notes from the previous school and the verbal tests, which help to choose the capable children. The verbal tests are helpful to measure their thinking ability. They depend on cracking codes, finding out the missing elements and noticing the pattern of numbers. During the first year of the secondary school, children are usually taught in mixed classes and they are taught the most important subjects. When they reach the age of fourteen years old, they are given a balanced education. Then they are taught in some groups, which relate to the certain subjects and their GCSEs (General Certificates of Secondary Education).

During the first five years of learning in the secondary school pupils are taught the most important "core" subjects such as English, mathematics and science. Moreover, pupils are supposed to take the other "foundation" subjects such as foreign languages, history, technology, geography, art, music, and physical education. They may take some additional courses to their GCSEs.

During the third year pupils choose some other options for learning, which leads to the GCSEs. Some exams are taken, when they finish every two year course. Most of pupils decide to take the GCSEs of seven subjects. GCSEs are the final exams, which are taken at the age of sixteen. The compulsory education in Great Britain lasts to the age of sixteen years old, but some pupils decide to stay at school to prepare for other more difficult exams such as GNVQ (The National Council for Vocational Qualifications) and A-levels. If they succeed in passing them, they are free to take up studies at the universities or colleges.

The A-level course takes over 2 years. And their final examination is sat up in the second year. Only the best notes qualify the pupils to go to the universities, colleges or professional programs. Pupils can use this time to take the University Scholarship Examinations.

To the Higher Education belong these types of schools over the A-level and their equivalents. The Eductaion provided in universities, colleges and some colleges of further higher education includes:

* First degrees:

- BA - Bachelor of Arts

- BSc - Bachelor of Science

- Beng - Bachelor of Engineering

- Bed - Bachelor of Education

This kind of progress takes three years. Only medical and veterinary courses progresses take five years.

* Diploma of Higher Education

This kind of courses needs two years of studies. Diploma is usually used as an important stone to the degree courses or further studies.

* BTEC Higher National Diploma (HND)

They are given after two years of full time studies.