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Hi Everyone! Are you concerned about your children's educational environment in your life in Japan?

It is said that as of May 2021, about 10,000 foreign children living in Japan may not be attending school. The reality surrounding the education of foreign children and the need to create a system that allows them to receive an equal education is an indispensable topic.

Today, we would like to introduce an environment that would be most comfortable for foreign children: international schools, albeit expensive.

If you are relocating to Japan with children, you need to prepare in advance to choose the right school. Schools that provide education for foreigners and schools where classes are taught in English are generally called international schools, and include American School, British School, Indian School, etc., schools that operate according to the curriculum of the home country and schools that provide education in English according to their own educational policies, as well as international schools.

There are schools that operate according to the curriculum of the home country, such as American School, British School, Indian School, etc., schools that provide education in English according to their own educational policy, and schools with International Baccalaureate qualifications.

Expats considering assignment to Japan usually visit their child's school during a pre-assignment trip to Japan to confirm the educational policy, curriculum, tuition, etc., and to decide which school to enroll their child in. After returning to Japan, the student will prepare for his/her full-scale visit to Japan by preparing the necessary documents for enrollment, such as a school report card and health certificate, and completing the enrollment procedures.

Since the documents required for admission vary from school to school and may take some time to obtain, please do your research and prepare for admission as soon as possible. Many schools have waiting lists for admission and may have difficulty accepting more than one child at a time. In general, it is a good idea to start preparing for enrollment no later than June before the start of the school year.

If your child's language is not English, a certain standard of English conversation may be required.

Also, please note that some schools, kindergartens, and preschools in Japan that are called international schools are attended by Japanese parents who want their children to receive an English education, and although the teachers are Westerners, most of the students are Japanese.

International Baccalaureate Certified Schools 
The International Baccalaureate Certificate is a system that grants internationally accepted university entrance qualifications to graduates of international schools and local schools in various countries. Students who have completed a certain program at an IBAC accredited school are awarded an IB Diploma.

In Tokyo and Yokohama, the following schools are accredited by the International Baccalaureate (from the website of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology). (From the website of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)

PYP: (Primary Years Programme): 3 to 12 years old

MYP: (Middle Years Programme) 11 to 16 years old

DP: (Diploma Programme) 16 - 19 years old

Tokyo

St. Mary's International (DP)

Seisen International School (PYP, DP)

Kay International School (PYP, MYP, DP)

Tokyo International School (PYP, MYP)

Tamagawa Gakuen Middle and High School (MYP, DP)

Canadian International School (PYP)

Tokyo Gakugei University International Secondary School (MYP)

Yokohama

Sunmall International School (DP)

Yokohama International School (PYP,DP)

Tuition fees for international schools vary from school to school. Schools that provide education in English generally charge higher tuition, with annual fees ranging from 1.5 to 2.3 million yen. The enrollment fee is typically 300,000 yen, and other fees such as uniforms, school bus fare, and miscellaneous expenses are also charged. International schools in Tokyo are scattered throughout the city and suburbs.

If a school offers a school bus service, we recommend that you check the bus route in advance and find a house near a bus stop.

How was your experience?

Although international schools are expensive, parents with foreign children and their children will be able to quickly adjust to the language barriers and culture.

We hope you will use today's information to help you in your search for a school!


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