Selecting the Right International School in Tokyo for Your Child

There’s no shortage of international schools in Tokyo, capital of the land of the rising sun. If your family is relocating to the country and you have a school-aged child, then you’ll need to start thinking about your child’s continuing education. Here are a few tips on how to determine which international school in Tokyo makes for the right choice.

Know Your Options

First off, research which schools are available. Get a feel for the different kinds of schools in the city offering IB, Cambridge and other curricula. Many of the schools have availability issues so it might be difficult for your child to get in, especially if you are transferring in the middle of the school year. However, academic requirements will also play a factor. If your child has strong academic credentials, then it’s more likely that s/he will get accepted.

Be Prepared

If your first option doesn’t pull through, then you’ll need to switch to plan b or c. That’s why it’s smart to have more than one option, so your child will still have enough time to apply to other schools. Being prepared for this will spare you the panicked dash to a lot of other schools that many parents do who fail to secure applications to other schools. Thinking ahead will give your child a better chance at getting into his or her dream school, and later his or her dream job, too.

Go on a Waiting List

If you’ve found the right school for your child, then go on the waiting list right away. It doesn’t matter if you wait a few months if it’s the perfect school for your child in every way possible. A long waiting list is common, though, so if you already know that you’re going to relocate, it would be ideal if you also start browsing for options and contacting schools by that time. That way, when your family finally moves to Tokyo, you’ve already applied to the school. You’ll have a better idea about the status of your child’s admission to the school, too.

Talk to Your Child

Make sure you discuss this with your child. You’re not just deciding on a school, you are making a decision that will affect your child’s life forever. S/he is going to live with that choice all her life. Asking your little one for his or her input is the least you can do. By talking it out with your child, s/he will also have a good idea what to expect from his or her new school.

Stay Up to Date

Always check the news for any mention of the school. This is also a good time to browse around for comments and feedback. Find out what other parents have to say about the international school in Tokyo, its lessons, it’s teachers, and all the rest of the people who keep it running. What do they think about the curriculum or the extracurricular activities? First-hand accounts will help you determine if you’re choosing the right school for your child.

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