Poland, country of central Europe. Poland is located at a geographic crossroads that links the forested lands of northwestern Europe to the sea lanes of the Atlantic Ocean and the fertile plains of the Eurasian frontier. Now bounded by seven nations, Poland has waxed and waned over the centuries, buffeted by the forces of regional history. In the early Middle Ages, Poland’s small principalities and townships were subjugated by successive waves of invaders, from Germans and Balts to Mongols. In the mid-1500s, united Poland was the largest state in Europe and perhaps the continent’s most powerful nation. Yet two and a half centuries later, during the Partitions of Poland (1772–1918), it disappeared, parceled out among the contending empires of Russia, Prussia, and Austria.

Even at a time of national crisis, however, Polish culture remained strong; indeed, it even flourished, if sometimes far from home. Polish revolutionary ideals, carried by such distinguished patriots as Kazimierz Pułaski and Tadeusz Kościuszko, informed those of the American Revolution. The Polish constitution of 1791, the oldest in Europe, in turn incorporated ideals of the American and French revolutions. Poles later settled in great numbers in the United States, Canada, Argentina, and Australia and carried their culture with them. At the same time, Polish artists of the Romantic period, such as pianist Frédéric Chopin and poet Adam Mickiewicz, were leading lights on the European continent in the 19th century. Following their example, Polish intellectuals, musicians, filmmakers, and writers continue to enrich the world’s arts and letters.

Namysłów is a town in Poland, in Opole Voivodeship. Located along the Widawa (Weide) River, it is the capital of Namysłów County. Its population was 18,985 in 2007.

The town began to develop during the 13th century, but was destroyed in 1241 during the Mongol invasion of Europe. It was refounded by Duke Bolesław II the Bald in 1249. As Namslau, it was colonized by Germans during the medieval Ostsiedlung. Until 1294 it was part of the Duchy of Breslau, and from 1312–23 it was briefly the seat of an eponymous duchy. A castle, first documented in 1312, was a residence of King Casimir III of Poland in 1341. The Treaty of Namslau, in which Casimir renounced his claims on Silesia to King Charles IV of Bohemia, was signed in the town in 1348.

The Gothic Church of SS Peter and Paul was built from 1405–41.

Namslau was briefly an independent city during the 14th century and was enriched by the trade route from Breslau (Wrocław) to Kraków, especially with linen. The town was unsuccessfully besieged by Hussites in 1428. A privileged rifleman's guild was established in Namslau in 1434. Besides Breslau, Namslau was the only Silesian town which refused to pay homage to Ladislaus the Posthumous in 1453. As part of the Bohemian crown, the town passed to the Habsburg Monarchy of Austria in 1526.

After a lengthy siege, Namslau was sacked by Swedish troops during the Thirty Years' War. In 1703 Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, granted the castle to the Teutonic Knights, who subsequently created a komturei.

Namslau passed to the Kingdom of Prussia in the 1742 Treaty of Breslau. During the Seven Years' War, it was occupied by Austrian and Russian troops. The town was occupied by French troops from 1806–07 during the Napoleonic Wars; the castle was secularized in 1810. Namslau became part of the new Prussian Province of Silesia in 1815 and was administered within Kreis Namslau, Regierungsbezirk Breslau. The town became part of the German Empire in 1871 during the unification of Germany.

Namslau began to develop rapidly during the 19th century. The first newspaper within the town was founded in 1846, and Namslau was connected with Breslau by telegraph in 1862. It was connected by railway to Breslau and Kreuzburg (Kluczbork) by 1868 and to Oppeln (Opole) by 1899. One of the most well-known companies in the town was Brauerei Haselbach. In 1862 the brewer August Haselbach acquired the castle brewery, built in 1538; he purchased the castle in 1895. The industrial brewery was used as the model for other Haselbach breweries throughout Germany.

During World War II, the Nazis erected a subcamp of Gross-Rosen concentration camp near Namslau. On 21 January 1945 the town was conquered by the Red Army, leaving most of the buildings destroyed. Reconstruction of the old town began after the war, but the Protestant church, completed in 1789, was leveled in 1963.

The Group of Schools of Mechanics in Namysłów is the leader of vocational education in the Namysłów county – we are the school with character and future.

The history of our school starts in 1956, and the experience in education we have, influences on didactic and organisational tasks which reflect the main message - friendly, open school supporting the development of young people.

Our values and priorities:
1. Supporting the students’ development and care of their safety.
2. Effective and modern teaching that suits the needs and expectations of young people.
3. Maintaining regional and national tradition.
4. Adherence of social norms, tolerance and respect.
5. Cooperation with students’ parents.
6. Gaining funds in order to modernise the equipment.
7. Cooperation with employers and institutions.
8. Creation of positive image in the local environment.

The assets of the school:
• Well qualified teachers
• Flexibility in creating an offer adjusted to the needs of local labour market
• Cooperation with local traders and companies
• Modern classrooms
• European Union Projects and vocational practice abroad
• Workshops
• A modern library with the access to the Internet

Moreover:
• School excursions
• Discoes
• Competitions
• Sports club
…. and many others just for students.