British ambassador celebrates opening of new facilities at Seoul Foreign British School

By Bahk Eun-ji

Seoul Foreign British School has opened new facilities that will maximize students' learning and collaboration.

British Ambassador to South Korea Simon Smith and British Embassy deputy head of mission Nikesh Mehta took part in the opening ceremony, Monday, with other dignitaries including school principal Andy Freeman and the head of Seoul Foreign School Colm Flanagan.

The facilities include a reception area, gym, multipurpose area and expanded design lab.

During the ceremony, the ambassador spoke of his passion for the community, saying the embassy values its partnership with the school. Smith and Mehta also met with parents, teachers and staffers to speak of the school year, events, sports and lessons to come.

Afterward Smith talked about the need to be open to persuasion with students in seventh to ninth grades during a special session. “To be a diplomat is to be somebody with a message. A good conclusion is one where both sides are happy,” Smith was quoted as saying by the school.

Mehta also had a meeting with fifth and sixth grade students and talked about climate change, pollution, and sustainable and renewable energy sources.

“The ceremony is a great example of how the school values its links with the community ― bringing thinking, collaboration and relevance to international families of Seoul,” Freeman said.

Seoul Foreign British School, established in 1981, offers the English national curriculum within the International Primary Curriculum, International Early Years Curriculum and International Middle Years Curriculum frameworks for students of different ages. It is part of Seoul Foreign School, one of the leading international schools in Seoul with a legacy reaching back to 1912. The campus is located in Yeonhui-dong, adjacent to Yonsei University.