Our school

St Jadwiga Polish Saturday School Forest Gate–Ilford provides education for children and youth living in Great Britain. Children are admitted to our school from the school year in which they turn 5.

Classes are held on Saturdays from September (except Saturdays during mid-semester breaks) to June between 9:30 - 13:00 (classes 0-III) and 9 : 30 - 13:15 (classes IV ‑ A2). There will be 31 Saturdays in the school year 2025 / 26.

Educational activities in our school are in the form of full-time studies, although in exceptional situations, e.g. a pandemic or similar events beyond the school's decision, we reserve the right to conduct classes online, in compliance with all existing terms of cooperation (fees, presence of children and youth in class, etc. .)

Online classes may constitute an additional educational offer for individual examination classes at the request of the school headmistress.

History of the School

St Jadwiga Polish Saturday School Forest Gate–Ilford was established in the fall of 1956 on the initiative of a group of parents living in Forest Gate and with the help of the Main Board of the Polish School Society operating in London.

The school had 15 children, and its management was assumed by Ms Irena Pawlak. The first school celebration was a meeting with St. Nicholas in December 1956. The first president was Mr. Jerzy Gradosielski, whose wife, Mrs. Danuta Gradosielska, is still in constant contact with the school.

As the years passed, thanks to the tireless work of the teachers and parents as well as the dedicated and selfless work of the authorities of the Circle, the school grew: the number of children increased, the number of teachers increased, and new classes were created. The school radiated and covered the entire "East End" from Poplar and Leyton to Romford and Upminster. The life of the Polish community developed around the school thanks to the organization of school events, national celebrations and dance games.

In the years 1964-69, the number of children in the school increased to 96, and the teaching staff consisted of 5 people. At the PMS Annual Meeting in 1966, the Forest Gate Circle was listed as a distinguished cultural and educational center in East London.

In the early 1980s, the number of children attending school began to decline. In September 1984, the school moved to Goodmayes Parish House.

The next stage in the life of the School was the beginning of the new millennium. In May 2004, Poland joined the European Union . The influx of new families with children meant that St Jadwiga Polish Saturday School Forest Gate–Ilford began to flourish again. The number of children increased from year to year, which meant the need to rent additional rooms. For some time, the classes were held simultaneously in three different places. In order to integrate the whole school, the Board decided to rent the building to one of the local high schools.

In February 2006, the school moved to Downshall Center in Seven Kings, and a year later to Ursuline Academy in Ilford, where classes continue to date.

In the school year 2025/26, about 500 boys and girls will study at our school.

School operation

Parish House at 2 Ashgrove Road, Goodmayes, is registered as an official school site, and classes are held at the Ilford Ursuline Academy building on Morland Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 4JU.

The school functions as an organization of a social nature and is based on close cooperation of the entire school community, i.e. children, parents / guardians, teachers, the Principal and the Board.
The activities of the school are regulated by: the School Statute, the Information Bulletin (otherwise the School Prospectus - School Regulations), Student Regulations and Parent Regulations, school schedule and other current regulations. The Information Bulletin also concerns current regulations and supplements the School Statute.

At the end of the school year, there is a meeting summarizing the past year with the participation of Parents / Guardians, the Board of Directors and the Board. Reports on the activities of the institution are then provided, the school's achievements are presented, and important issues concerning the program for the next year are discussed.

The President's and Director's reports are emailed to the parents / guardians prior to the meeting. During the Meeting, Parents / Guardians who participate have the right to submit motions and inquiries to the Management Board and the Directorate.

A General Assembly is held in the new school year; it is compulsory for the entire school community. A new Management Board is appointed there. Any changes to the structure and organization of the school and amendments to the school charter are also considered and approved. The Treasurer's report is sent by e-mail, and the Audit Committee reports on the financial activities of the School.

The management and administration of the school is carried out by the Board. It consists of: the President and his Deputy, Treasurer, Secretary, a person responsible for raising additional funds (Fundraiser) and Coordinators of: Saturday's shifts, events, first aid and a school shop. The members of the Management Board perform their functions for a charity. Other parents also join in helping to organize school events.

The Director of Education deals with substantive matters, who recruits teachers and teacher assistants, cooperates with volunteers and supervises student internships organized in our school. The Education Director also checks the compliance of the level of teaching in classes with the core curriculum for students studying abroad of the Ministry of National Education and the AQA core curriculum for teaching Polish as a foreign language. The headmaster is appointed and dismissed by the teaching staff and the school board.

Financial matters are handled by the Treasurer. The school's accounting and bank settlements are meticulously checked once a year by the Audit Committee appointed for this purpose.

School funds come from fees charged for studying at school, income from school events, school shop and various types of subsidies that we have to apply for ourselves.

The school is not responsible for items lost or damaged by students on the school premises.

The remuneration for the Teaching Staff employed at the school is financed from the school's fund.

Studying at our school

Our School’s aim is to promote broad knowledge of Polish culture, traditions and the Polish language.

Our primary objective is to strengthen in children a sense of Polish identity and patriotism, to nurture the Polish language, and to deepen their knowledge of literature, Polish traditions, history and geography.

Teaching at the School covers three subjects: Polish language, the history of Poland and the geography of Poland. Religious education is also taught.

The curriculum is designed to prepare pupils for UK examinations GCSEs and A levels in Polish as a foreign language. Our pupils enter these exams in significant numbers and achieve impressive results.

The programme also includes preparing children for performances at school assemblies marking Polish historical anniversaries (Independence Day and the Constitution of 3 May), seasonal celebrations (the Nativity Play) and Family Day.

The school calendar regularly features induction ceremonies for Nursery Pupils and for Pupils, various competitions, Teddy Bear Day and much more.

The School Schedule also provides for the formal presentation of School Reports and Commemorative Diplomas to GCSE leavers and A-level graduates. From this academic year the calendar includes a Prom and Teatr Bajka, organised and staged by the School. Regular highlights also include St Nicholas Day, class Christmas Eve gatherings, Christmas Fairs, the Easter Bunny visit and Easter egg hunts for the youngest pupils, Patron’s Day, the School delegation with its standard at the Katyn Memorial, and a joyful Children’s Day at Laxton Hall.

Our School has 23 classes, with class sizes of around 25 pupils.

Our teaching team working with the School numbers around 70 and includes form teachers, support teachers, teachers designated for cover, teaching assistants and 1:1 assistants (supporting pupils with educational/medical needs). The work of the teaching staff is further supported by parent volunteers, alumni volunteers and university trainees. Teachers at our School hold degrees from higher-education institutions in the UK, Poland and other countries worldwide. Many work in English schools as teachers or in support roles that enable close collaboration with pupils.

By working with our School, the teaching staff have continuous opportunities for professional development through training delivered in-house (drawing on our own training capacity) and externally. The senior leadership team offers collegial support to develop pedagogical skills, model and peer lessons, and ensures that any interested staff member can build knowledge and experience through seminars, workshops, training courses, conferences, supplementary programmes and more.

In the last academic year we offered the teaching staff over 100 varied and high-quality training opportunities. We work with the Polish University Abroad (PUNO) and the University of Social Sciences (operating in Poland and in London). We belong to the Teachers’ Club, which offers workshops and webinars twice a week for teachers and support staff. We cooperate with the Association of Polish Teachers Abroad, are members of Edukatora (a training centre for leadership and teaching staff) and the Polish Educational Society in the UK. We also benefit from the support and programmes of Wspólnota Polska and the Centre for the Development of Polish Education Abroad (ORPEG). We have begun cooperation with the Local Methodological Centre (LOM) established in the UK for Polish diaspora education. Our School is connected with many professionals in the field of education and draws on the invaluable expertise of Professor Jacek Gołębiowski, Anna Jurek and our Headteacher Monika Hoch-Zielonka.

All those who have contact with children hold DBS checks and regularly take part in safeguarding workshops and training.

In early-years and lower-primary classes (i.e. classes 0–III), we additionally employ assistants.

The curriculum for these classes also includes outdoor lessons/trips, for example to a farm or into the forest.

In classes IV–VIII we offer history and geography taught by an additional specialist teacher.

In classes 0–IV we offer religious education delivered by a priest and an additional teacher.

Our pupils represent the School in a range of inter-school competitions and events, for example the Beautiful Reading Competition at POSK, “Być Polakiem” in Poland and many others. The School also hosts events that broaden pupils’ general knowledge of the world, current events and notable Poles. We run engaging in-school competitions such as the Reading and Deduction Champion contest and the spelling competition “Walka z Bykami”.

Throughout the year we organise additional activities and events to enrich pupils’ experience at school, including a meeting with St Nicholas in December and with the Easter Bunny before Easter, a carnival party for the youngest pupils, theatrical performances, an open day and other events to extend our educational offer. We also invite distinguished guests who share their experience and knowledge to motivate our pupils. We organise coach trips to Polish Saturday School gatherings at Laxton Hall or to well-known, popular leisure venues for children and young people.

We offer:

a wide range of extra-curricular clubs enabling pupils to develop in selected sporting and artistic fields,
catch-up/support classes for pupils with educational needs,
additional tuition for exam-year classes.

We also run a school shop, which is very popular with both pupils and parents/carers.

School classes

School classes are held:

The Ursuline Academy
Morland Road, Ilford IG1 4JU

Check how to get there

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