Here is a list of frequently asked questions about Tsukuba International School. If you have a question about our school and you don’t see the answer here, please feel free to contact us.
Who?
What is an international school?
An international school is a school that offers an international curriculum (or a curriculum that is different from that of the host country) and that is open to students of all nationalities. Many schools offer international programmes such as those administered by the International Baccalaureate.
Many international schools use English as their language of instruction, but some schools are bilingual, or use languages other than English.
In Japan, reputable international schools are usually registered as “educational organizations” (gakkou houjin, 学校法人) with their prefecture and they are usually accredited by an external agency such as the Council of International Schools (CIS) or the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Is TIS affiliated with a particular religion?
No, Tsukuba International School is not affiliated with a particular religion. The school is religiously neutral and we welcome students from all races, religions, and cultures.
This is our pledge of non-discrimination:
Tsukuba International School is an equal opportunity educator and employer. We will not discriminate against any student, prospective student, employee, or job applicant on the basis of race, color, gender, nationality, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We will take measures to ensure against such discrimination in all of our services and practices.
Are your teachers licensed to teach?
Yes, our teachers are licensed to teach at the elementary and/or secondary high level (as defined in their home countries). Our current teachers are from Australia, Canada, India, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, United Kingdom, and United States.
How is the school funded?
The school is a non-profit educational organization (学校法人, gakkou houjin) and is funded primarily by the tuition paid by the parents along with any donations we are able to obtain through our “Annual Giving” campaigns.
Please contact us if you would like to make a donation to support our school!
Are there any other international schools in Tsukuba? In Ibaraki? In Japan?
TIS is the only international preschool, elementary, junior high, and high school in Tsukuba that offers a curriculum designed and implemented by qualified teachers.
We were the first school to offer the PYP (2011), MYP (2014), and DP (2017), respectively, in Ibaraki. In 2017, we became the only school in Ibaraki, and the sixth school in Japan, to be authorized to offer the IB Continuum of PYP, MYP, and DP.
We are the only international school in Ibaraki that is fully accredited by the Council of International Schools.
In addition, we are the only international school in Ibaraki that is registered as a school corporation (学校法人) by the Ibaraki Prefectural Goverment and as a member of the East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS), the IB Association of Japan, and the Japan Council of International Schools (JCIS).
You can see a list of IB schools in Japan on the IBAJ website.
You can see a list of the highest quality international schools in Japan on the JCIS website.
Why?
Why should I send my child to an international school?
There are many reasons why parents might want to send their children to an international school.
Parents need to think very carefully about the education that they provide for their children. It is important for the values of the parents to match the values of the school. Therefore, the most important reason for parents to send their children to an international school (or to any particular school) is because the school is offering a program that is in line with the parents’ own values and hopes for their children. At Tsukuba International School, our program focuses on developing the creativity, independence, and critical thinking skills that will allow our students to adapt to many different people and situations in the world. This focus is what some parents are hoping for in a school, and will, therefore, lead them to choose an international school such as TIS.
Also, some international families may prefer to send their child to an international school if they need to be able to communicate in English with the teachers and staff of their child’s school.
In addition, some international schools, such as TIS, have small class sizes, which is conducive to developing a compassionate and vibrant learning community.
Finally, for parents who are planning to stay in Japan for a short time (e.g. one or two years or less), it may be difficult for their children to adjust to the Japanese school environment and keep up with their studies. In cases like this, where parents have concerns about their children keeping up with their cohorts back home (in cases where they study in English in their home country), an international school like TIS can be a good option.
Programs
Is TIS a preschool? An elementary school? A middle school? A high school?
TIS is a full continuum school that currently offers the following:
- A preschool curriculum (ages 3 to 5) in line with the Primary Years Programme (PYP) of the International Baccalaureate (IB).
- An elementary curriculum, covering grades 1 through 5 (ages 6 to 11) in line with the Primary Years Programme (PYP) of the International Baccalaureate (IB).
- A junior high (middle school) curriculum covering grades 6 through 10 (ages 12 to 16) in line with the Middle Years Programme (MYP) of the International Baccalaureate (IB).
- A high school curriculum covering grades 11 and 12 (ages 17 to 18) in line with the Diploma Programme (DP) of the International Baccalaureate (IB).
What kind of curriculum do you use?
Tsukuba International School is an IB World School authorized to offer the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), and the Diploma Programme (DP) of the International Baccalaureate, so our curriculum is aligned with the PYP, MYP, and DP. In addition, we use curricular documents from Australia, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom to inform our curricular programmes.
What is the difference between Regular Enrollment and April Enrollment?
Our school year starts in late August but Japanese public schools start in April, so parents sometimes prefer to enroll their children from April instead of August. April Enrollment provides us with a way to accept students who are transferring from Japanese schools and gives the students a chance to get used to studying at our school before starting a new school year in August. April Enrollment is available to all students who are eligible for the preschool, elementary school, and junior high school (age 3 to Grade 10).
In fact, students can enroll at any time during the year if there is space in the grade. (We only accept up to a specific maximum number per grade.) Please check the waiting pools, and if you see there is a space in the class that your child would join, please follow the admissions procedures to find out if our school is a good match for your child’s needs.
Why does your middle school start from Grade 6?
Tsukuba International School is an IB World school that is authorized to offer the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), and the Diploma Programme (DP). The PYP is for students from pre-kindergarten (age 3) to Grade 5. The MYP is for students from Grade 6 to Grade 10. The DP is for students from Grade 11 to Grade 12.
Is TIS an English conversation school?
No, we are not an English conversation school. We offer a complete curriculum, teaching all regular subjects, for full-time preschool, elementary, junior high, and high school school students. All classes are taught in English.
Japanese is also offered as a language class.
Admissions
Can Japanese students enroll in TIS?
We welcome students from all cultural backgrounds, including Japanese, as long as they can communicate in English and they have a clear need to be educated in English (e.g. they have returned from a stay abroad, or their family is planning to move overseas).
This is our pledge of non-discrimination:
Tsukuba International School is an equal opportunity educator and employer. We will not discriminate against any student, prospective student, employee, or job applicant on the basis of race, color, gender, nationality, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We will take measures to ensure against such discrimination in all of our services and practices.
Can I enroll my child in April?
Yes, you can enroll your child in April. In fact, students can enroll at any time during the year if there is space in the grade. (We only accept up to a specific maximum number per grade.) Please check the waiting pools, and if you see there is a space in the class that your child would join, please follow the admissions procedures to find out if our school is a good match for your child’s needs.
Our school year starts in late August but Japanese public schools start in April, so parents sometimes prefer to enroll their children from April instead of August. April Enrollment provides us with a way to accept students who are transferring from Japanese schools and gives the students a chance to get used to studying at our school before starting a new school year in August. April Enrollment is available to all students who are eligible for the preschool, elementary school, and junior high school (age 3 to Grade 10).
April Enrollment is from April to June. Please see the School Fees page for information about tuition fees for April Enrollment.
How old must my child be to enter Grade 1?
Students entering the preschool must be 3 years old by December 31 of the current school year in order to be eligible for admission into the Pre-Kindergarten 1 class. (They must also have completed their toilet training by the time of entry.)
Students entering the elementary school (Grade 1) must be 6 years old by December 31 of the current school year in order to be eligible for admission into Grade 1.
Age requirements may be waived for transfer students who have completed at least one term of schooling elsewhere.
Please see our list of eligibility requirements for more information.
Also, please note that due to the fact that we only have one class per grade, it can be difficult to gain acceptance from Grade 1. We recommend that you consider enrolling your child in our preschool so they can matriculate to Grade 1 smoothly from one of the lower grades at our school.
What if my child doesn’t speak English?
Students at TIS are immersed in English and under ideal circumstances can be brought up to a high level of fluency by the time they graduate. However, for non-native English speakers, we require basic English ability in the younger grades, with increasingly higher expectations for older grades. In addition, at least one parent must be willing and able to communicate with the school in English.
Schedules
How long is the school day?
Pre-kindergarten starts at 8:30 am and finishes at 2:15 pm every day.
Elementary (Kindergarten to Grade 5) students start at 8:30 am and finish at 3:05 pm every day except Thursday, when they finish at 2:15 pm.
Secondary (Grades 6 to 12) students start at 8:15 am and finish at 3:55 pm every day except Thursday, when they finish at 2:15 pm.
When does the school year start and finish?
The school year starts in late August and finishes in late June. Please have a look at our school calendar for more details.
What does an average day look like for students?
The students’ weekly timetables can be downloaded from this website to give you an idea of how they spend their days.
Services
Do you provide lunch for the students?
No, we do not provide a school lunch. Students bring packed lunches every day.
Do you have school buses?
Yes, we do. Students can be picked up from several locations in and near Tsukuba.
Do you offer any after school programs for children in the community?
Occasionally we run events that are open to the local community; however, the majority of our programs are for current, full-time students enrolled in our school.
I am Japanese and I just returned from a stay overseas with my family. I would like my children to continue their education in English. Can TIS help?
We only offer full-time enrollment, so we welcome any Japanese students whose parents want them to pursue an international education in English on a full-time basis. We do not offer after-school English programs for students who are not studying at TIS full-time.
Can students board at the school?
We currently only offer a day student course. We do not have a boarding option.
College Counselling / Guidance
What are my child’s options after they graduate from TIS?
Our full-time guidance counsellor (college counsellor) is available to discuss various post-secondary options with students and parents.
Please see the university acceptance page for information about universities where our students have gained acceptance.
Your child’s options will depend on their English language ability, Japanese ability, ambition, study skills, and a variety of other factors. Graduate options are considered on a case-by-case basis, so it is important to communicate with your child’s teacher about your child’s future as early in his/her academic career as possible.
Jobs
How can I get a job at TIS?
Please see our jobs page for information about working at Tsukuba International School.
Please note that in order to apply for a teaching position, you must possess a degree in education with a specialization in early childhood, primary, or secondary education, and have native-level English proficiency. A degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) is not a sufficient qualification for teaching core subjects at this school.
Can I volunteer at TIS?
We welcome qualified people who are interested in acting as teachers’ aides in the classrooms. Volunteers must be willing to commit to a long-term arrangement (e.g. coming in once a week for a full day for the whole school year). If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the school and explain in detail how your skills and experiences will be an asset to our programmes.