Polish education is seen as higher and I can testify, first hand, that young Poles are generally very bright and sharp.
hehe, trying to put the thread back on the track :)
I think the problem with perceiving who is more or less educated is the bias. If you're encircled with people with high education you might tend to extend that point of view on the whole population. If the first people you meet are uneducated boors ( dresiarze) it can induce a feeling of being superior to them and their countryman.. All of my friends are highly educated, well mannered people and sometimes, unknowingly - during a heated debate, I tend to stretch these traits onto other Poles...
My question is, what happens to them?
Nothing happens, if they want they shine :) If somebody wants to study and gather knowledge, he will despite the odds. Of course there's a difference in luxury between polish and british schools. Laboratories are not as well equipped and teachers are not as friendly and some of the things they teach are close to being depracate, but still, the knowledge is there and if somebody has the strength to reach for it, he will.
. I think, that's good idea to get GCSE in English either.
I think it's good to have any certificate you can get ;) Of course if you've got the money to get them. Some employers won't care, some will test you at the job review anyways, but some will take a look at your CV and your skillset and it might make a difference.