Seoul Foreign School British School Celebrates 40 Years

Congratulations to AustCham Member, the British School at Seoul Foreign School, for recently celebrating 40 years of exceptional education and service to the international community of Seoul. In the spring of 1981, members of the British Council, the British Businessmen’s Group and the British Women’s Group formed an ad-hoc committee to consider options to provide a British style education in Korea. The committee reached out to Seoul Foreign School, and soon discussions were underway with Head of School Dick Underwood.

Things moved quickly from that point and on August 25 of that year, the British School opened its doors for the first time with two classes, 17 students, and two UK-qualified teachers – Headteacher Denis Suray and Victoria Sargent. In 1984, the British School had built a reputation that was strong enough to be recognised as a permanent entity. With permission granted, a new school building was completed and opened by the British Ambassador Nicholas Spreckly on May 29, 1986.

The British School grew rapidly, reaching 137 students by September 1992. Since then, it has established itself as a school of choice in Seoul, offering a British-focused education to global learners. Alumni have settled all over the world and currently the growing student body is composed of 280 students representing 38 different nationalities.