Korean Deputy Prime Minister visits Coombe

The Deputy Prime Minister of Korea Mr Jin Pyo Kim visited Coombe Girls’ School on Friday 7th October 2005. Mr Kim is the Minister of Education and Human Resources Development in Korea and was visiting Coombe Girls’ School to learn about Performance Management procedures for teachers.

Mr Kim was one of a large group of delegates from Korea who were interested in finding out about the British school system. During the morning the Deputy Prime Minister had been to Ofsted and he had informed them that he was coming to Coombe Girls’ School in the afternoon. Mr Kim added in his speech ‘Ofsted told me I had made a good choice as it is one of the best schools in the country’.

Coombe Girls’ School is one of only 103 Leading Edge Schools in the country and this programme is all about sharing good practice with other school as well as with other countries! Headteacher Mrs Carol Campbell stated in her speech the importance of ‘global communication in the modern world’.

During Mr Kim’s visit he enjoyed a tour of the school led by Coombe Girls’ Head Boy and Girl and then a visit to a Korean class, where pupils presented some of their work. Coombe Girls’ School is a Specialist Language School and Mr Kim was eager to see some of the lessons taking place and the wide range of languages on offer to pupils.

After the tour various teachers from the school discussed with the Deputy Prime Minister the different Performance Management systems in place for teachers and how they assess their progress within the profession. He was keen to bring some of the British elements into Korean policy.

Nick Power, Assistant Headteacher and Director of the Languages Specialism at Coombe commented ‘We have been working closely with the Korean Embassy to establish an International GCSE in Korean and were delighted when the Korean government recently approved funding for itsdevelopment. It should be very useful for our local community.

At the end of Mr Kim visit to the school he was presented with a picture montage by the Head Boy and Girl and in return they received chop sticks which Mr Kim was keen for them to learn how to use.

This visit ends a very international week for Coombe Girls’ School living up to their Language Specialist status. On Wednesday 5th October they enjoyed a visit from the Goethe Institutes PE and German departments who were promoting the World Cup that takes place in Germany next year. Pupils enjoyed a football penalty shoot-out and also virtual travel tours through Germany in languages lessons.