A comparison of the educational systems in Poland, France, Spain and Denmark

A COMPARISON OF THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS IN POLAND, DENMARK, FRANCE AND SPAIN

Based on the four secondary partner schools

Compulsory education – start and finish

Country/age Poland Spain France Denmark

Start 7 6 6 6

Finish 18 16 16 16

LessonsCountry Poland Spain France Denmark

Length 45 50 55 45

Lessons pr. week

30 32 30 38

Hours pr. week 22,5 29,3 27,5 28,5

Max. number of students in class

30 33 (up to 36 in specific cases)

30 28

Average number of students in class

25 28 28 25

A school yearCountry Poland Spain France Denmark

School weeks 40 36 36 40

Holidays 12 16 16 12

Hours in a year 900 1054,8 990 1140

Organization of the school yearCountry Poland Spain France Denmark

Start of the year

1st of September

Around 10th of September

Beginning of September

Around 12th of August

Autumn break None None 2 weeks 1 week

Christmas break

1½ week 2½ weeks 2 weeks 2 weeks

Winter break 2 weeks None 2 weeks 1 week

Spring break 1 week 1½ week 2 weeks 1 week

End of school Year

Around the 25th of June


Beginning of July


Grading systemCountry Poland Spain France Denmark

Grades 6,5,4,3,2,1 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1,0

20,19,18,17,16,15,14,13,12,11,10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1,0

12,10,7,4,2,0,-3

Highest grade 6 10 20 12

Lowest grade 1 0 0 -3

Passable grade 2 5 10 (2)

Repeat a year Yes Yes No No

Final exams – end of compulsory school

Country Poland Spain France Denmark

Age 15/16 15/16 14/15 15/16

Subjects Written: History and social studies, Polish, maths, science and foreign language (elementary and advanced level)

No exams right now, but from 2017:Written: 200 questions about common subjects and 250 about the optional subjects

3 written exams: French, maths and history-geography1 oral exam: Arts

The grades of the 3e year are taken into account as well

Oral: Danish, science, EnglishWritten: 3 Danish, 2 math2 other exams:written English or German, oral German, history, social or religious studies, sports, oral math, geography or biology

Necessary Yes Yes No Yes

Tutor system and teacher/parent cooperation


Tutor 1 teacher for the same class for three years

1 teacher for the same class for one year

1 teacher for the same class for one year

2 teachers for the same class for 3 years

Tutor/students meetings

One lesson pr. week

One lesson pr. week

One lesson pr. week

One lesson pr. week

Teacher/parent meetings

All parents: 5-6 meetingsIndividual: If needed or required

All parents: 1 meetingIndividual: If needed or required

All parents: 1 meetingIndividual: 2(with students)

All parents: 1-2 meetingsIndividual: 1 (with students) With some parents: More

Teacher/parent communica-tion

Messages via the school intranetPhone calls

Phone callsMessages via emails/intranet



Further education after lower secondary education


Upper Secondary Education

Liceum or Vocational School

Bachillerato (same school as Obligatory Secondary Education) orVocational Studies

Lycée or Vocational School or shorter professional training

Gymnasium (general, commerce or technology) orVocational School

Obligatory Yes No Not if you’re 16 No and yes

Years 3/3 2/2 3/3/2 3/3-4 (with training)

Exams Yes Yes Yes Yes

To become a secondary school teacher


School University University University Teachers College

Years 5 4-5 5 4

Degree Masters Masters Masters Bachelor

Specialization One subject One subject One subject 2-4 subjects

How to get a jobCountry Poland Spain France Denmark

Exam No.The teacher certificate is enough.

Regional exams to become a teacher

National exams to become a teacher

No.The teacher certificate is enough.

Written application

Yes. Send to the specific school where you would like to work.

No No Yes. Send to the specific school where you would like to work.

Interview Yes. With the principal.

No No Yes. With the principal and teacher and parents representatives

Who decides where you are going to work?

The principal Regional board of education

Regional board of education

The principal

How much do we work?Country Poland Spain France Denmark

Hours a week 40 37,5 (30 in school)

40 40

Hours a year 1600 1350 1360 1680

Lessons a week 21 (45min.) 20 (50 min.) 18 (55 min.) 25 (45 min.)

Minutes a week

945 min. 1000 min. 990 min. 1125 min.

Preparation At home + at school

At home + at school

At home + at school

At school

Holidays 12 weeks 14 weeks 18 weeks 10 weeks

The four schools• IES Gómez-Moreno, Madrid, Spain• Gimnazjum nr. 17, Wroclaw, Poland• Collège Victor Schoelcher, Torcy, France• Hobro Søndre Skole, Hobro, Denmark

A comparison of the educational systems in Poland, France, Spain and Denmark

Education

Transcript of A comparison of the educational systems in Poland, France, Spain and Denmark