High school is a post-secondary [post-junior high] school. Learning period at high school lasts 3 years and ends with the Polish school-leaving examination [Matura, equivalent of English A-level]. After passing the Matura examination, the student receives the maturity certificate which authorizes him for further studying. Two types of secondary schools are distinguished: comprehensive high schools and profiled secondary schools which are educating in profiles of the general-professional education. There are also 2-year supplementing secondary schools meant for graduates of vocational schools. Learning in them also ends with the Maura examination. Person who left the secondary school and did not pass Matura examination has the incomplete secondary education. Person finishing the secondary school with successfully passed Matura has the secondary education.
Technical Vocational School
The technical vocational school is a post-secondary secondary school. Learning period at the technical vocational school lasts 4 years and ends with two examinations: vocational qualifying examination, after passing which student receives a diploma confirming professional qualifications, and with maturity examination. There is also a possibility of taking up learning in 2- or 3-year supplementing technical vocational school which graduates of primary vocational schools can attend to. The graduate of the technical vocational school can have the technical secondary education (if he passed the Matura examination successfully), or an incomplete technical secondary education.
Primary Vocational school
A primary vocational school is a post-secondary school which is implementing the school curriculum in the general education and the vocational training. Learning period at this school can last two up to three years. The vocational training is held on the apprentice level, according to the profile of the given institution. It is possible to leave a fundamental vocational school receiving only a certificate, or the diploma certifying professional qualifications, provided the pupil enters the optional vocational qualifying examination, passed in front of the District Examination Board [Okręgowa Komisja Edukacyjna]. After completing a fundamental vocational school, it is possible to continue studying at the supplementing comprehensive secondary school or at the supplementing technical vocational school.
