Excellence in Education for More Than 34 Years

The Szkoły Społeczne im. Unii Europejskiej w Zamościu are among the most respected non-public educational institutions in south-eastern Poland. For over three decades we have combined academic excellence with personal development, preparing young people for successful studies, professional careers and responsible citizenship. Our educational community includes both a Primary School and a General Secondary School (High School), where every student is treated individually and encouraged to develop their full potential.

Outstanding Academic Results

Academic excellence is one of our greatest strengths. For many years our students have consistently achieved some of the highest examination results in the region, both in the national Grade 8 Examination and the Polish Matura (secondary school leaving examination). These achievements place our schools among the leading educational institutions in the region and in high positions in educational rankings.

Our success is built on:

• highly qualified and dedicated teachers,
• individual support for every student,
• small class sizes,
• modern teaching methods,
• extensive preparation for external examinations,
• a wide range of additional classes and academic competitions.
   

Learning Beyond Borders – Erasmus+

International cooperation is an essential part of our educational philosophy.  For many years we have actively participated in Erasmus+, the European Union programme supporting education, training and international mobility. Through our partnerships with schools and educational institutions across Europe, our students and teachers regularly take part in:

• international student exchanges,
• educational projects,
• workshops,
• cultural programmes,
• teacher training,
• collaborative international initiatives.

These experiences help our students improve their language skills, develop intercultural competences and gain confidence in an international environment. Erasmus+ also enables our teachers to exchange best practices with colleagues from across Europe, ensuring continuous improvement in teaching quality.

Why Students/Parents Choose Our Schools?

• Over 30 years of educational excellence
• Excellent Matura and national examination results
• High positions in regional educational rankings
• Strong international partnerships through Erasmus+
• Small classes and individual approach
• Friendly and supportive learning environment
• Modern educational facilities, including our own sports hall
• Rich programme of extracurricular activities
• Comprehensive psychological and educational support
• Beautiful green campus in the historic city of Zamość

Our Mission

We believe that education is about much more than academic knowledge. Inspired by the words of Heraclitus:

"Much learning does not teach understanding."

we educate young people to learn, think, cooperate, create and take responsibility for themselves, their communities and the world around them.

Our graduates leave school not only with excellent academic preparation but also with the confidence, skills and values needed to succeed anywhere in Europe and beyond.

Our history

The political upheaval of 1989 in Poland – the country’s democratisation – paved the way for a return to the idea of independent thinking about how to educate young people, and thus for freeing schools from the rigid constraints of organisational and curricular structures. A group of teachers gathered in Zamość at that time, including, amongst others: Eugeniusz Jakubas, Andrzej Śnieżko, Stanisław Nowakowski, Anna Sokołowska, and parents interested in establishing a new type of school, a so-called ‘community school’. It was in these circumstances that, on 16 January 1992, the Zamość Educational Society was founded; on 16 May 1992, it decided to launch the First Community Comprehensive Secondary School and the First Community Primary School.

The beginnings were full of enthusiasm. Several meetings of the ZTO were held, at which the structure of the school, teaching methods and the selection of teaching staff were discussed. It was agreed that graduates of our schools should receive a high standard of education, but should also be socially active individuals with a sense of belonging to the civic community. The school – both as a concept and as a physical space – came into being literally through the efforts of those who were to build it: teachers, parents and pupils. It was a kind of mass mobilisation. We strive to preserve that spirit, and despite the passage of 30 years, these values remain very important to us, which is why we continue to work with our pupils in precisely this direction.

The official opening of the schools took place on 1 September 1992 at the school’s premises on Szczebrzeska Street. For the first two years, the schools were run by headteachers Eugeniusz Jakubas and Stanisław Nowakowski. In September 1994, Andrzej Śnieżko became headteacher of the schools; in 1996, he appointed his two deputy headteachers: Agnieszka Jaczyńska and Agnieszka Kowal. Subsequently, in 2010, Agnieszka Kowal took the helm of the schools, and since 2012, Bogusław Klimczuk has been in charge of the schools, supported by Andrzej Garbacik and Agnieszka Jaczyńska. During this time, the chairpersons of the ZTO also changed. This role was held in turn by: Andrzej Śnieżko, Alicja Kurys, Zenon Podsiadło, Andrzej Dworzycki, Marek Segit, Bogusław Klimczuk, Agnieszka Jaczyńska and Andrzej Mazurkiewicz – the current chairperson of the ZTO.

Over the course of 30 years of operation, the schools have become well-established both organisationally and financially. In 1999, as a result of the education reform, the First Community Lower Secondary School was established. With the increasing number of pupils and the full-scale operation of the primary school since 1996, it became necessary to relocate the schools. In 1996, the primary school was moved to a building on the Koszary site, and a year later the secondary school also began operating at this location. The schools are still based there today, although for the past three years we have been working in a new building, which has significantly improved our working conditions.

The late 1990s were also a time when our schools undertook very intensive efforts to be named after the European Union. Choosing such a patron for our schools was obvious and natural to the school community. From the turn of 1989, Poland’s accession to the European Union had been one of our country’s priorities, and we understood the values of the Community as a natural guide to what should shape a contemporary, modern society, all the more so as they aligned with our understanding of patriotism and love for our homeland, and were reflected in the model of education and upbringing we had developed. In 2002, these efforts were crowned with success – our schools were named after the European Union, and the ZTO funded a banner for the schools – a symbol around which we unite during every important ceremony and significant event.

Over the years, the schools have gained increasing recognition within the local and national communities, thanks to: the educational model we offer, final examination results, and successes in subject Olympiads and competitions. Our schools have a very long tradition of effective teaching. As a result, every pupil achieves success commensurate with their abilities, and often makes significant progress when comparing the start and end of their educational journey at our schools. For some pupils, this means taking part in competitions and academic contests; over the past 30 years, our pupils, under the guidance of their teachers, have achieved a wealth of successes. For others, it has been sporting or artistic success; in these areas too, our pupils have achieved a great deal over the years. The high standards of our schools are also evidenced by our positions in national rankings. For years, the secondary school has been ranked as a ‘gold shield’ school.

We are schools that are open to new opportunities and challenges. Our schools also teach through hands-on learning. We have a long-standing tradition of active tourism, which enables us to explore areas in Poland, Europe and beyond that are often difficult to access. We are constantly carrying out educational projects in collaboration with international partners. Initially as part of the Socrates programme, and now under Erasmus+. This is an excellent opportunity to broaden horizons, improve practical foreign language skills, and also to showcase our country’s cultural, historical and educational heritage to our international partners. In an education system that seeks to meet the challenges of the modern world, collaboration with universities, renowned cultural institutions, science centres at home and abroad, and numerous educational and scientific institutions offering interesting ways of working with pupils is invaluable. The school also has a rich sporting tradition. We are known for the fact that physical activity is an important part of our educational programme. Our pupils take part in various sports, achieving success in both team and individual disciplines. Skiing, tennis, sailing and chess are also our hallmarks. The pupils and staff at our schools, as befits institutions whose name includes the word ‘community’, are deeply committed to helping those in need. Volunteering and charitable initiatives are deeply ingrained in the philosophy of our educational system.

One could go on at length about this, recounting a host of situations and people… To conclude, I would like to emphasise the unique spirit of our schools – a sense of community and connection that was a given when we were a community of just over 100 people, when everyone knew one another. As the schools grew, it became harder to maintain that atmosphere, but I think that, even so, we are schools in which we have largely managed to preserve that spirit. For me and many of my colleagues, for whom the Community Schools marked the start of our teaching careers, it was also incredibly important to come into contact with a whole host of experienced and legendary teachers from Zamość. Each of them was a master of their profession and an example of the teacher’s work ethic. We learnt a great deal from them.