St. Michael's International School

St. Michael's International School is located at 3 Chome-17-2 Nakayamatedori, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0004, Japan. It sits on the edge of the Kitano residential area in central Kobe, described as a safe, family-friendly neighborhood with easy access to Sannomiya and Osaka. The surrounding area is multicultural, with places of worship and a range of shops and services within walking distance.

The school offers Early Years (Ages 3-5) and Primary, covering nursery and Year 1 through Year 6. The Early Years provision serves ages 3-5, and Primary covers the core year groups up to Year 6 (approximately age 11).

St. Michael's is a British international school operating on a co-educational, day-only model in the Anglican tradition. It is described as co-educational and Day, and its Anglican character is noted in official descriptions.

Preliminary data indicate around 19 nationalities are represented, with Japanese being the most common at about 50%, followed by dual nationals (around 21%), and other groups such as Indian and Chinese (around 18%) and rest of world (around 11%). Approximately 76% of students are local, with about 26% international students.

The school runs a Learning Enrichment Service (LES) implemented since 2010, using a three-wave model to monitor and support students' abilities. English Language Learners (ELL) provision is available as part of the enrichment framework.

The school identifies as a British international school, affiliated with the United Kingdom.

Anglican tradition.

The school day runs from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with the office and school communications reflecting these hours. Lunch is offered on-site in three sittings; students may bring lunch or go home for lunch.

The school provides a bus service. Sign-up is first-come, first-served, with priority given to students who use the bus daily; there is no bus service for after-school activities. Bus safety rules include seat belts, orderly boarding and exiting, and staff monitoring. For those using public transport, discounted passes and timetable assistance are available.

Early Years (ages 3-5) blend the British Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) with the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC), with IEYC units starting with an Entry Point and ending with an Exit Point. From Year 1 to Year 6, Primary uses the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) with thematically linked units in Geography, Art, Science, History, Music and Technology, integrated with English and Mathematics. English instruction is based on the National Curriculum for England and Wales, with systematic phonics in the Early Years and a focus on reading and writing across genres. Mathematics follows the UK Primary Framework for Mathematics, with Milepost progressions mapping Years 1-2 to Milepost One, Years 3-4 to Milepost Two, and Years 5-6 to Milepost Three. The Japanese programme runs from Year 1 in two groups and continues through Year 6 with Kokugo where appropriate; a 1:1 Chromebook program supports learning from Year 1 to Year 6, AI is used to enhance teaching and administration, and assessment includes UK Early Years Learning Goals for Nursery/Reception and ISA external assessments for Years 4-6.

St. Michael's International School supports Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) through a structured student leadership framework and a values-based culture. The Student Leadership Council (SLC) comprises Year Four to Year Six pupils who are elected to represent peers, provide a forum for student voice, communicate student opinion to the school administration, and help develop the school's partnerships with other schools and UNICEF-inspired rights assemblies. SLC activities include advocating for rights in assemblies and fundraising, and modeling school values such as Respect, Compassion, Integrity, Tolerance, Honesty, Endeavour, and Responsibility. The school teaches these values to the whole community via Religious Education and assemblies to foster a cooperative, multicultural environment. Wellness and service initiatives, including Wellness Week and Compassion in Action, reinforce SEL by promoting movement, mindfulness, kindness, and empathy in daily life and school routines.

St. Michael's uses a Learning Enrichment Service (LES) since 2010 to monitor and track the abilities of all students and to provide three Waves of support. The LES is described as a school-wide framework for identifying needs and delivering extended or targeted assistance, though the site does not enumerate specific Special Educational Needs categories. The LES is presented as part of Learning Enrichment within a mainstream setting, not as a separate specialist SEN institution. The three waves provide graduated support, with universal strategies and targeted interventions as appropriate. The site does not publicly list the exact SEN types the school can address.

St. Michael's welcomes students who use languages other than English, and English is the medium of instruction. The English Language Learners (ELL) programme aims to develop students' Knowledge, Skills and Understanding of English and is integrated into the mainstream curriculum as far as possible. ELL support is a whole-school responsibility, with strategies to meet individual language needs developed across staff and the learning environment. The ELL programme is provided without charging a fee.

Wellbeing is embedded in school life, with Wellness Week dedicated to promoting physical, mental, and emotional health through movement, mindfulness, hydration, rest, and acts of kindness. The initiative is linked to Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing, and includes a Step Up Challenge to raise mental health awareness and funds for TELL Japan. Wellbeing is described as woven into daily routines, curriculum, and relationships year-round, not confined to a single event. This approach supports calmer classrooms, confident learners, and compassionate global citizens.

The school maintains a Child Protection & Safeguarding policy based on the International Task Force on Child Protection (ITFCP) and the Japan Council for International Schools (JCIS). The policy identifies four abuse types—Physical, Emotional, Sexual, and Neglect—and requires staff to report incidences or suspicions to the Designated Safety Officer Lead (DSOL) or Head within 24 hours. A designated Child Protection Team coordinates safeguarding, with possible involvement of an external multidisciplinary team when necessary, and staff follow a professional code of conduct with annual safeguarding training. Safer recruitment practices include references, identity verification, qualification checks, and police background checks. The policy is distributed to parents annually and reviewed yearly.

St. Michael's International School is located in Kobe, Japan, and is a British international school teaching in English (with a structured British-style curriculum delivered by native English-speaking teachers). The school publishes a clear set of fees and payment policies and notes that fees may be revised by the school. The site also indicates annual tuition/fee-related information is structured around a not-for-profit model with a range of charges beyond tuition (see details below). Fees are stated in Japanese yen and the school can be contacted for current amounts and invoicing. The school's admissions process is described separately for families residing in Japan and for families residing overseas, with a single admissions contact point and a multi-step submission/assessment pathway. The admissions page confirms that the academic year runs from August to June and operates three terms, with a focus on international-mindedness and a British-style curriculum. The page also notes that the school accepts online applications and provides details for online information sessions and tours.

Fees (summary of fees as published):
- Tuition: Tuition Fees are paid per student and are charged in two installments each year, in July and January. If a child joins mid-year (e.g., January or April), tuition is charged from the month of entry; other fees remain payable in full. A 15% sibling discount on tuition is offered to families with multiple children. The exact tuition amount is not shown on the page, and current figures are provided on invoice from the admissions office.
- Maintenance Fee: Paid annually for all students, non-refundable, not pro-rated, and due in August.
- Insurance: Annual per-child insurance covering death, hospitalization, and outpatient costs; non-refundable.
- PTA Fee: Annual per-family fee, non-refundable.
- Technology Fee: One-time fee for Year One and new students in Years Two to Six; non-refundable.
- English Language Support (Immersion English Programme): Available for Year 5 & 6 students joining from overseas with limited English; details and fees are provided on inquiry.
- Other costs and optional items: Library bag and school cap are charged with other school fees; after-school activities are optional; school lunch, bus, and in-house photos are optional. Replacement bags and caps carry extra costs.
- Payment terms and penalties: A late payment penalty of ¥30,000 applies if payments are received 15 days after the due date; accounts unpaid after 60 days may be suspended; reinstatement requires an extra payment of ¥50,000 plus full remaining year's fees. The annual tuition/fee policy also states all fees must be paid in full and that late withdrawal and non-payment can affect enrollment/records.
- Where fees are paid from Japan or overseas: Bank transfer details are provided for both domestic and overseas payments, and the school notes that the payer is responsible for any bank charges.

Admissions Process (Step-by-step, two pathways):
A) For families residing in Japan
1. Step 1 – Online application and fee payment: Submit the online application form and upload required documents (child photo, birth ID, and school reports if applicable). The Application Fee must be paid at the time of application by bank transfer; the application is non-refundable and is not reviewed until the school confirms receipt. The school asks for disclosure of any learning, medical, or behavioral issues at this time and to email related documents if applicable.
2. Step 2 – Confidential Recommendation from current school: The school will contact the child's current/previous school to obtain a Confidential Recommendation Form and conduct a background check. When all documents are received and the report is satisfactory, you will be invited to the next stage; places are subject to availability. If places are unavailable, your family will be placed in a waiting pool and informed of this status.
3. Step 3 – Interview and assessment: You and your child are invited to visit for an interview and initial assessment; a trial day may be arranged to clarify suitability. Additional testing/interview with a Learning Enrichment Programme Coordinator may be scheduled if required.
4. Step 4 – Notification and securing a place: Expect a decision within about two weeks via the email address provided in the application. If accepted, you will receive an Acceptance of Place Form and a school-fees invoice; to secure the place, you must submit the form and pay the fee invoice as specified. If oversubscribed, you may be placed in the waiting pool, and you will be contacted when a space opens.

B) For families residing overseas
1. Step 1 – Online application and overseas documentation: Complete the online application and upload required documents (child photo, birth ID, school reports). The Application Fee must be paid at application time by bank transfer; overseas transfer fees may apply (about ¥4,000). The school asks for open disclosure of learning/medical/behavioral issues and to email any relevant documents.
2. Step 2 – Confidential Recommendation from current school: The school will contact the child's previous/current school for a Confidential Recommendation Form and a background check. If reports are satisfactory and spaces are available, you will be invited to the next step; if not, you'll be placed in the Waiting Pool and informed of the status.
3. Step 3 – Overseas provisional acceptance: The school issues an Overseas Provisional Acceptance, plus an invoice for the Registration Fee and an Acceptance of Provisional Place Form. To secure a place, you must complete the form and pay the Registration Fee prior to the interview and assessment; the Registration Fee is normally non-refundable. If the year group is oversubscribed, applicants will be placed in the waiting pool.
4. Step 4 – Assessment & interview in Kobe: The interview and assessment occur on arrival in Kobe to formalise acceptance. You may join the class on an agreed date with the Head of School; you'll be invoiced for all outstanding school fees after a successful assessment. If the child is not accepted, the Registration Fee is refunded; however, if information was knowingly withheld at Step 1, the refund may not take place.

Waitlist/Pool (oversubscription and placement):
- The school uses a waiting pool when a year group is oversubscribed. Placement in the pool occurs after the interview/assessment process if there are no available places at that time. The pool's capacity to admit wait-pooled students varies from year to year, and families will be contacted when openings occur. This wait pool mechanism is described in both the in-Japan and overseas application procedures.

Scholarships and financial assistance overview:
- The published live site does not list a formal scholarship program with eligibility criteria or application steps beyond the standard tuition and fee structure. The school does publish a 15% tuition sibling discount, which applies to tuition fees (not to all other fees). For families seeking financial assistance beyond the sibling discount, inquiries are usually directed to the Admissions Office for guidance on potential options or humanitarian/Donor-funded funds, as referenced in related school materials (not published as a standard, clearly defined scholarship program on the live site). The presence of a scholarship-focused fund or donor-supported scholarship program is mentioned in development and alumni materials outside the live admissions pages, but it is not published as a formal, on-page scholarship offering with clear criteria on the live site. Families seeking financial aid should contact the Admissions Office to discuss current options and eligibility.

The live site does not publish a formal scholarship program with explicit criteria or application steps. A 15% tuition discount is available for siblings. References to a Miss Lea Scholarship Fund or donor-supported scholarships appear in development or alumni materials outside the live admissions pages, but there is no published, page-level detail on a current scholarship program with criteria on the live site. For families seeking financial assistance beyond the sibling discount, contact Admissions for guidance on current options.

Yes. The school uses a wait pool for oversubscribed year groups. Wait-pooled applicants are admitted only as spaces become available, and capacity to admit wait-pooled students varies from year to year. This wait-pool process is noted in both the in-country and overseas admissions procedures. If you are placed in the wait pool, you will be informed when an opening becomes available.