FAQs
What are your school start and end dates?
Our school year must include 180 teaching days, usually beginning the third week in August and ending mid-June. Holidays include Korean national holidays, American Thanksgiving, three weeks for Christmas, a week for Lunar New Year and a week for Spring Break.
What are your school hours?
Students attend school from Monday to Friday from 8:10 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Preschool students attend either 8:10 – 11:10 a.m. or Noon – 3:00 p.m.
What are your class sizes?
British School: The maximum class size is 22 per classroom (with an additional two places reserved for late British passport holder arrivals) for Reception to Year 9.
Elementary School: The maximum class size is 14 students per classroom in half-day Preschool, 20 students per classroom in Junior Kindergarten, Senior Kindergarten and Grade One. For Grades Two through Five, the maximum class size is 22 students. Teacher assistants are provided through Grade Two. In addition, parents and High School volunteers may assist all teachers in the classrooms.
Middle School: The maximum class size is 22 students per classroom. High School: Class sizes range from 5 to 25 depending on the courses. Lower division courses that are not as specialized tend to have more students assigned, while some very specialized upper division courses such as IB Art/Design, tend to have very few students.
Do you provide school bus service?
We have a fleet of buses that serve many of the foreign residential areas of the city and are generally limited to driving routes that do not exceed 45 minutes in driving time. Please refer to School Bus Information for specific bus routes, bus stops and bus policies. Although we do our best to accommodate all families, we cannot guarantee school bus service. We will process bus registration forms on a first-come-first-serve basis..
What school supplies do we need to bring?
British School: All school supplies are included in the cost of tuition and will be provided for students as needed
Elementary/Middle/High Schools: A list of supplies to be purchased for each grade level is available.
Do you have a dress code?
British School: Unlike the other divisions of Seoul Foreign School, the British School requires students to wear uniforms. All British School uniforms must be purchased through The Ivy Club uniform shop located in Itaewon.
Elementary School: Clothes must be clean, safe, modest, and positive in message and the correct size. Hats are not to be worn in school. Children do need a second pair of athletic shoes to leave at school for PE classes. Swim suits and towels are needed for the swimming units. Please do not purchase black-bottom shoes as they leave streaks on the gymnasium floor.
Middle School: While we would like to be able to say “just make it clean and neat,” we have found that a little more specificity is helpful. In short, we say no to sagging, bagging, dragging, displaying of belly buttons or visible underwear. See the Middle School Handbook for specific details.
High School: No dress code except for the basic need to adhere to neat, clean, modest and safe dress. Students are requested to NOT wear “crop tops”, tops with spaghetti straps, tank tops, halter tops, excessively tattered/torn pants, very short skirts or short-shorts to school. All students are to wear shoes or sturdy sandals at all times.
What amount of homework should my child expect?
Elementary School: In order to meet the minimum expectations of the classroom, the amount of time any student spends on homework assignments normally should spend about 30 minutes per night for Grades 1-2 and 60 minutes per night for Grades 3-5.
Middle School: Normally, sixth graders are assigned an average of about 90 minutes of homework daily; seventh and eighth graders about two hours. However, the amount of time your child actually spends will depend on his/her academic background, study skills, maturity, and organization.
High School: Normally, at least 3 to 4 hours of homework per day should be expected; however, at exam times, or when thing pile up, more time may be necessary.
Do you offer foreign languages?
British School: French is offered to students in Year 3 through Year 9.
Elementary School: Korean language is offered to students in Junior Kindergarten through Grade Five as a part of the specialist program.
Middle School: All Middle School students can choose from Spanish I, French I, Korean I or Intensive Korean.
High School: Spanish, French and Korean are offered from level I through IBS/IBH.
Do you have after school activities?
British School/Elementary School: There are several PTA and SFS-sponsored after-school activities going on every day and on Saturday mornings. Programs include Girls Scouts, Boys Scouts, ballet, jazz, gymnastics, Taekwondo, soccer, basketball, softball and various instrumental music lessons. The comprehensive list to too exhaustive to mention and may change from semester to semester depending on the availability of parents and teachers. There is no late bus service provided for Elementary School and British School students below Key Stage 3 who participate in these activities. Parents are responsible for providing transportation.
Middle School: The After School Activity Program is not based on who is the best, but on who is interested. The list includes jazz band, string ensemble, computer club, yearbook club, drama club, basketball, soccer, swim club, cross-country, arts & crafts, student senate, Knowledge Master Open, intermezzo chorus, Christian students club, intramural sports, as well as PTA sponsored programs. Four late bus routes are available to Middle School students who participate in these activities.
High School: The extensive list of activities, special events, clubs, athletic programs, music programs and drama co-curricular activities can be found in the High School Handbook. Four late bus routes are available to High School students who participate in these activities. See the School Bus Information for details.
Are parents involved with the school?
They certainly are! Parents help us in many different ways by providing snacks, helping on field trips/special events, assisting with make-up and costuming for plays and musicals, helping students publish their books, substitute teaching, serving on committees, coaching, sponsoring activities and clubs , and the list goes on!
Once offered enrollment, how do we schedule classes for Middle and High School students?
Middle School: Students will complete a course selection scheduling form to choose electives such as band, chorus and foreign language. Each student will then be assigned to core curriculum classes plus electives and will receive an individual schedule indicating the periods, teachers and room numbers of each class on New Student Orientation Day. New students can meet with the Middle School counselor to discuss options and to finalize the schedule prior to New Student Orientation.
High School: Students will provide an official transcript of all High School courses taken to date so that full credit for previous course work can be awarded. A math placement test may be required if a student comes from a school that offers combined algebra/geometry courses. Students must meet with the Academic Counselor in person to schedule classes prior to New Student Orientation Day. The letter of acceptance from the Admissions Office will outline in detail the steps involved in preparing for this scheduling meeting.
Where are your teachers from?
In the British School, the majority of our teachers are from the UK. In the Elementary, Middle and High School, while the majority of our teachers are from the U.S. and some are from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Most of our foreign languages teachers are from their native countries. Over half of our teachers have earned their Master’s or higher degrees and the average number of years of teaching experience is 12 years.
What is your student breakdown by citizenship?
This varies from year to year, but on average of the 1500 students on campus in the four divisions (British School, Elementary School, Middle School and High School), about 50% are US citizens; the remaining represent 54 nations with significant representations from the UK, Canada, Japan, Australia, Taiwan, India, and Germany. The one thing all students have in common is that they are from somewhere other than Seoul, and that the majority of them are “Third Culture Kids.” The booklet entitled “The Third Culture Family” is research-based but parent-friendly, and will give you insights to the characteristics of families like yours. Please contact the Business Office if you would like to purchase a copy.
Do you have cafeteria services?
British School: Students in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 bring a snack from home and then may choose to have either their own packed lunch or the set menu from the school’s cafeteria. These meals are eaten in the British School lunchroom. Students in Year 3 to Year 9 go to the cafeteria for either their own packed lunch or a hot set meal prepared by our cafeteria. Both a Western and a Korean menu are offered. Menus are available a month in advance.
Elementary School: Students in Junior Kindergarten and Senior Kindergarten bring their lunches from home or purchase the school’s hot lunch program and eat in the classroom with their teacher. Students in Grade One through Grade Five eat in the cafeteria and have the choice of bringing their lunch from home or purchasing a hot set meal. Menus are available a month in advance.
Middle School and High School: Students bring their lunch from home or buy lunch in the cafeteria. Menus are provided a month in advance.
What is IB (International Baccalaureate)?
The IB Diploma is a two-year pre-university course of studies with syllabi and external examinations developed by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) in Geneva, Switzerland. The IBO awards an internationally recognized diploma that facilitates college admissions worldwide (based on a country’s prerequisites). Many students who score high on IB exams receive college placement and credit in American colleges and universities. Students will need two years (grades 11 and 12) to complete the requirements for an IB Diploma.
Where do SFS graduates go to university?
The majority of our graduates enroll in universities in the U.S. and Europe, with the remaining students entering universities in their home countries. The goal is to find an appropriate match for each student – academically as well as socially. A wide range of universities, including the most selective, hold SFS in high regard; they know that a student who graduates from SFS is well-prepared to succeed in the most competitive of environments. A detailed list of college and university acceptances for the previous school year is available upon request.
Do you administer standardized tests?
British School: The National Foundation for Education Research (NFER) standardized tests in mathematics, reading and spelling are administered in October and again in March. Children in Year 2 and Year 6 also complete the Standard Assessment Tests (SATS) in May. These are externally marked and moderated. Children in the intervening years complete the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) optional test in English and Mathematics.
Elementary School: The Comprehensive Testing Program by ERB (Educational Research Bureau) is administered in early February to Grade 2, 3, 4, and 5 students.
Middle School: The Comprehensive Testing Program by ERB is administered annually to Grade 6, 7 and 8 students.
High School:
- Grade 9: CTP (Comprehensive Testing Program)
- Grades 10 and 11: PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test)
- Grades 11 and 12: SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Tests) I & II, ACT (American College Test), International Baccalaureate Exams (IB)
- Grades 10 – 12: Advanced Placement Tests (AP)
How long does the application process take?
Typically we begin accepting new student applications in August and begin processing them in January. However, we do accept transfer students mid-year as well. As soon as all of the supporting documents and fees (application processing fee) have been received, the applicant can be considered for admission if space is available at the appropriate grade level and the applicant meets our academic and behavioral requirements. It normally takes three working days to make an admissions decision. If a grade level has reached capacity, we have to wait until a student withdraws before we can consider an applicant on the waitlist. We understand that your child’s education is a major concern in your accepting the move to Seoul. Hence, our best advice is for you to complete the application process as early as possible.
When will I find out whether my child is accepted to the school?
For the new school year, admissions decisions are typically made in April. However, as we do have a rolling enrollment policy throughout the year, at anytime during the year if space is available, we do enroll students accordingly.
How will you help my child make the transition to Seoul and SFS?
For new students who begin school in August and January, the New Student Orientation program takes place a day before school starts. This is an opportunity for the students to tour the campus, meet other new students, teachers, counselors and the principal. In addition, this it is an opportunity to view their schedule, hook up with an assigned buddy, locate and learn their locker combination, and traverse the campus in search of their many classrooms. Students who begin school after the first day of school will also have an assigned buddy who is responsible for helping him/her through the first week of school. “The Third Culture Family” booklet (available upon request) has many suggestions for parents to help make the transition as smooth as possible.
If our family is not Christian, can we be excused from religion classes?
Believing that any well-educated person should be exposed to Christianity, Seoul Foreign School requires that all children participate in the school’s religion curriculum. This curriculum introduces children to Christian teachings and values, but is non-denominational and not evangelistic in orientation. SFS students come from a wide variety of religious and non-religious backgrounds including Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, atheism and agnosticism. They have participated in the school’s religion curriculum without experiencing discrimination or demand for conformance to a particular personal belief system. The format of the religion curriculum varies among the four divisions: With younger children the instructional program introduces students to Bible stories and Christian values, attempting to apply these stories and values practical to daily life. For example, discussions about responsible decision-making, life-long value formation and the formation of positive interpersonal relationships flow naturally from Biblical illustrations. High School religion courses not only inform students about Christianity but also encourage comparisons and contrasts with other points of view. High School students select their religion courses from a variety of options. The school’s underlying Christian ethos is an important aspect of the Seoul Foreign School experience. Through the religion curriculum students learn the basic tenets of Christianity and come to have a deeper understanding of their own spirituality, which is worthy objectives for all of humankind.
Are there English Christian church services available in Seoul?
Yes, there are many. Seoul Foreign School would like to encourage your family to maintain contact with the Christian faith by attending the church of your choice during your stay in Seoul. You will find a list of church services on the next page. As schedules are subject to change, please contact the churches to confirm service times.
