Lycée Français de Séoul (LFS) operates within the framework of an agreement made between the Parents’ Association (APE) and the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE). This agreement sets out the responsibilities of each party in the governance of the school.
Both the APE Board and the Headmaster, as representatives of the AEFE, therefore take responsibility for the governance of LFS.
PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION (APE)
All parents at LFS are members of APE once their child(ren) is/are enrolled and tuition fees paid. APE is a non-profit legal entity governed by the law of 1901 with statutes registered in France and a Korean branch registered with Korean courts. It is responsible for the management of the school, its buildings, staff, finances, service contracts, and decides on strategy and investments.
Every year a General Assembly brings together APE members for the presentation of annual accounts. The parents also elect Board members who will sit on the Management Board (Conseil de gestion).
The APE Board is made up of 9 members, of which at least 5 members must be elected. They are elected for 2 years and choose among them a President, a Vice-President, a Treasurer and a Secretary.
- The President is the legal representative of the Association and has a decisive vote in the event of a tie vote. He/she represents LFS at official events and presides over the Management Board and the Annual General Meeting.
- The Vice-President replaces the President in case of absence.
- The Treasurer presents LFS financial accounts at the General Meeting and ensures financial management of the school in collaboration with the Chief Administrative and Financial Officer (DAF).
- The Secretary takes minutes of meetings, including Management Board meetings, and is responsible for the communication of the APE Board to parents.
The responsibility of the APE Board consists in making decisions and its commitment is crucial to the smooth running of the institution
THE AGENCY FOR FRENCH EDUCATION ABROAD (AEFE)
The Lycée Français de Séoul (LFS) is the only school accredited by the French Ministry of National Education for all levels from Kindergarten to High School (3 to 18 years old) in South Korea. This certification is renewed every five years and adds to an agreement LFS signed in 2002 with the AEFE which operates under the supervision of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
The AEFE and the institutions of the network have as main missions :
- to ensure the continuity of the French public education service for the benefit of French families living abroad,
- to contribute, through the education of foreign students, to the influence of the French language and culture,
- to participate in the cross cultural education implemented by the Embassy through encouraging understanding and openness with the culture, language and institutions of the host countries.
LFS financially contributes to AEFE and as such partially supports the cost of AEFE staff and real estate projects.
The Headmaster and the Primary School Director work together as a management team assigned and funded by AEFE. The Headmaster, in his/her capacity as head of school, is responsible for the organization and the educational operation of the school. He/she exercises hierarchical authority over all staff.
Find out more about AEFE and its network at A Global Network of French Schools.
MANAGEMENT BOARD
The Management Board (Conseil de gestion) meets once a month and is made of the following members :
- APE Board members acting as voting participants,
- the 3 administrative and educational heads of LFS sitting as advisors: the Headmaster, the Primary School Director and the Chief Administrative and Financial Officer,
- the Cultural Counsellor of the French Embassy in Seoul, in an advisory capacity,
- 2 staff representatives, in advisory capacities.
The Management Board is the decision-making body for:
Human Resources (HR) issues affecting employees on local contracts, after consultation with the HR commission:
- recruitment and dismissals
- compensation policy in accordance with the school’s labour regulations
Financial issues:
- content of financial regulations
- tuition fees and payment terms
- investments and the annual budget prepared by the Treasurer in collaboration with the Headmaster and the Chief Administrative and Financial Officer
Security aspects:
- preventative measures and school safety policy
- investments, after consultation with the LFS Health and Safety Committee
Organizational aspects:
- contracts signed by the school such as insurance, purchase, transport contracts, etc.
- the educational structure and the school plan prepared by the Principal and presented to the LFS Council (Conseil d’établissement)
- communication strategy
LFS COUNCIL
As the second body involved in the running of Lycée Français de Séoul, the LFS Council (Conseil d’établissement) deals with all pedagogical and educational matters at both elementary and secondary levels. It enacts, among other things, the school’s mission, Internal Rules and Regulations, the academic calendar and timetable. It also issues an opinion on the job map (creation, dissolution and changes) of seconded staff, the extra-curricular activities’ program, welcoming new parents and ongoing communications with current parents, the planning and financing of school trips, and any other question relating to school life.
It is made up of :
Members by right
- Headmaster
- Primary School Director
- Cultural Counsellor of the French Embassy
- Chief Administrative and Financial Officer
- Dean of students (CPE)
Elected members
- 3 parents from Primary and/or Secondary school
- 2 student representatives
- 5 staff representatives
Advisory members
- 1 APE Board representative
- the French Consul
- Consular Advisors
- Vice-president of the Council of Delegates for High School Life (CVL)
- 2 local figures
- AEFE’s delegated executive coordinator
The LFS Council meets in ordinary sessions three times a year, in October, March and June. Parent representatives are elected by the other parents in October for a one-year term.
Their role is to pass on parents’ requests and concerns on all pedagogical issues and school life.
Parent representatives also sit on the following committees: Disciplinary Council, Education Commission, Health and Citizenship Education Committee, Health and Safety Commission, Travel Commission, Food Commission.
PRIMARY SCHOOL COUNCIL
Lastly, the Primary School Council (Conseil d’école) is also involved in the running of the school. It deals exclusively with matters relating to the operation and life of the Primary school. It is consulted for its opinion on issues voted on by the LFS Council and in particular on Primary school projects such as ‘discovery classes’ i.e. school trips, teaching material and tools, hygiene, health and safety matters along with issues pertaining to welcoming and providing information for the new parents and their participation in school life.
It includes the following members:
- Primary School Director
- parents’ representatives for Kindergarten and Elementary classes
- the teachers of these same classes
In order to be a parent representative on the Primary School Council, parents must stand for election at the end of September each year in elections organized by the school.
This role is crucial to maintain good communication between the school and the parents. It allows parents to be involved in the life of their child’s class, to get to know the teachers and other parents and to act as a link between all stakeholders.
Parent representatives are elected for a period of one year. The Primary School Council meets once a term, before the LFS Council, in October, March and June.
