What the official information confirms
- Age range
- 3 to 18
- Educational foundation
- The National Curriculum for England, adapted for an international environment
- Campuses
- Primary at Azabudai Hills Campus; Secondary and Senior School at Showa Campus
- IGCSE-based studyYears 10-11
- IB Diploma ProgrammeYears 12-13orBST DiplomaYears 12-13
According to BST's official website, BST offers a curriculum based on the National Curriculum for England, adapted for an international environment.
In Years 10-13, external qualifications and graduation routes weigh heavily in choosing a school. You can also check the address, grades and key application points on BST's school profile (a Japanese-language page).
Campuses and grade structure
Primary is at the Azabudai Hills Campus, which opened in August 2023, and Secondary onwards is at the Showa Campus, which has been in use since 2007. The campus changes when a student moves from Year 6 to Year 7, which is easy to overlook when you think about the journey to school.
The official website states more than 1,400 students, about 70 nationalities and a maximum class size of 22.
Students are placed in year groups by age, and the official FAQ says that out-of-year placement, skipping a grade, is not considered.
| Campus | Grades | Approximate ages | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azabudai Hills Campus | Nursery to Year 6 | 3 to 11 | Azabudai, Minato-ku |
| Showa Campus | Years 7 to 13 | 12 to 18 | Taishido, Setagaya-ku |
Where IGCSE fits
In Years 10-11, IGCSE-based subject study is central.
IGCSE is a subject-by-subject qualification, so it is important to check the optional subjects, the exam board and the weighting of assessment.
If you transfer mid-stage, check early how the subjects your child took at their previous school connect to the subjects required at BST.
The two main routes in Years 12-13
BST's official guide to the Senior School describes two main pathways: the IB Diploma Programme and the BST Diploma.
For this reason, assuming that a British school means A-levels only does not match the current information.
| IB Diploma Programme | BST Diploma |
|---|---|
A two-year programme made up of six subjects and the core. | A WASC-accredited High School Diploma. It is designed so that students can combine IGCSEs, individual IB Diploma courses, BTEC and school-based subjects. |
Application timing for 2026-27
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Mid-November | Applications open |
| Early February to late June | Review |
| Early March through summer | Admissions decisions |
BST's Applications page sets out the sequence above for the 2026-27 cycle.
Availability varies by year group, so check seat availability as well as the deadline.
What to check for eligibility
BST's current eligibility checklist sets out conditions such as the following.
- The applicant's English proficiency
- English proficiency of at least one parent
- A valid non-Japanese passport held by a parent
- Living with the parent and attending school from home
The school also states that it does not sponsor student visas. Before you apply, check the family's residence status and attendance conditions.
The application process
BST explains in its official FAQ that it is "not an academically selective school". At the same time, it requires the applicant to have age-appropriate English and at least one parent to be able to communicate in English.
For year groups that are full, the school says it may not be clear whether a place is available until May or later. For places that open up during the school year, the official FAQ directs families to contact the admissions office.
- Check the eligibility conditions in the Admissions Policy.
- Submit the Enquiry Form through OpenApply (the official reply time is 1-2 working days).
- After approval, submit the Application (non-refundable Application Fee of ¥40,000).
- Arrange a reference from the current school or class teacher.
- After the documents are reviewed, an interview and assessment are scheduled if a place is likely to be available.
Fees for 2026-27
BST publishes its 2026-27 Fees.
Fees are reviewed every year, so check the latest page when you apply.
| Item | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | At application | ¥40,000 |
| Enrolment Fee | One-time | ¥500,000 |
| Educational Resources Fee | Other published fee | ¥680,000 |
| Annual Tuition: Primary | Annual tuition | ¥2,960,000 |
| Annual Tuition: Years 7 to 9 | Annual tuition | ¥2,980,000 |
| Annual Tuition: Years 10 to 13 | Annual tuition | ¥3,070,000 |
The amounts are from the official information for 2026-27. Check first-year costs and annual tuition separately.
How to read first-year costs
The totals are a simple sum of the Application Fee of ¥40,000, the Enrolment Fee of ¥500,000, the Educational Resources Fee of ¥680,000 and Capital Development of ¥100,000 (the same for all grades), plus tuition. The official page does not make it clear whether the Educational Resources Fee and Capital Development are charged every year, so please ask the school.
Tuition covers items such as books used by all students and residential and day trips that are part of the curriculum. Items listed as not included are lunch, residential and day trips outside the curriculum, SEN support, some exam fees, some sports tournaments, instrumental lessons and some optional activities.
New students must pay in full within two weeks of the invoice date, and payment is by bank transfer only. There is no sibling discount, though a bursary may be considered for younger children.
Primary tuition is set out by term as ¥1,050,000, ¥960,000 and ¥950,000.
| Grade | Tuition | Total published first-year costs |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | ¥2,960,000 | About ¥4,280,000 |
| Years 7 to 9 | ¥2,980,000 | About ¥4,300,000 |
| Years 10 to 13 | ¥3,070,000 | About ¥4,390,000 |
School bus fees are not included here. Check travel costs separately.
Travel and school life: what to check
Extracurricular activities include more than 160 clubs, as well as music, sport, art and drama programmes. BST Outdoors uses facilities in Hakuba, Minakami, Okutama, Kawaguchiko and elsewhere, and the school says that Senior School students are expected to take part in summer and winter Japanese Alps trips.
We could not find an explanation of English support (EAL) in the official FAQ. If you are concerned about English, we recommend asking the school specifically about its support arrangements before you apply.
| Travel to school | Languages and uniform |
|---|---|
A shuttle runs between Azabudai Hills, SKG Shibuya and the Showa Campus. According to the official FAQ, it runs from 7:15 to 9:00 in the morning and from 3:15 to 5:35 in the afternoon. Seats must be booked in advance and paid for term by term, and Nursery students cannot use the service. | Japanese starts in Nursery and French in Year 4. In Secondary, students can choose from French, Japanese, Spanish and Chinese. A uniform is required except in the Senior School. |
The 2026-27 school year
| Term | Dates |
|---|---|
| Term 1 | 24 August to 11 December 2026 |
| Term 2 | 5 January to 19 March 2027 |
| Term 3 | 6 April to 25 June 2027 |
These dates are based on BST's Term Dates page. Term 1 starts in late August, so the school year breaks very differently from the April entry of Japanese schools. If you are moving from a Japanese school, allow for a period of preparation across the change in year boundary.
How it differs from other international schools in Tokyo
BST is distinctive in being based on the National Curriculum for England, so it is designed differently from schools that are IB only or centred on an American-style curriculum. For American School in Japan and a comparison by curriculum, please also see the related articles.
BST also takes students aged 3 to 18 across two campuses, so the campus and the journey to school depend on when your child transfers. Fees, application conditions and the start of the school year differ from school to school, so check each candidate school's official pages.
Petra Tutors' practical view
What follows is not official school information. It is our practical view when thinking about learning support.
At BST, the support students need changes between school-based catch-up up to Year 9, IGCSE preparation in Years 10-11, and support for the IBDP or the BST Diploma in Years 12-13.
For IGCSE, understanding exam technique and mark schemes matters. For the IBDP, it is the IA, the EE and subject-specific assessment. For the BST Diploma, it is checking the requirements for each optional subject.
A checklist before you transfer
In summary
BST is based on the British curriculum, and its Senior School now offers more than one graduation route.
Do not assume that what follows IGCSE is A-levels alone. Check the latest structure of the IBDP and the BST Diploma.
Application timing, eligibility and fees may change, so always re-check the school's official information before you apply.
Sources
- The British School in Tokyo | Home
- The British School in Tokyo | Applications
- The British School in Tokyo | Fees
- The British School in Tokyo | Year 12-13
- The British School in Tokyo | IB World School
- The British School in Tokyo | The BST Diploma
- The British School in Tokyo | FAQ
- The British School in Tokyo | Term Dates
