The British School in Tokyo - Azabudai Hills Campus

The Azabudai Hills Campus is located at 1-3-3 Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0041, Japan, in the Azabudai Hills development near the Tokyo Tower. The campus opened on 28 August 2023 and houses Nursery to Year 6. It is within a short walk of Kamiyacho Station and Roppongi-Itchome Station via pedestrian routes.

Nursery to Year 6 at the Azabudai Hills Campus (Primary). Year 7 to Year 13 are taught at the Showa Campus (Showa Women's University, Taishido, Setagaya).

Co-educational international day school. (BST operates two central Tokyo campuses for different age ranges.)

The school represents 65+ nationalities. About one-third of BST students are neither British nor Japanese, indicating a substantial international presence; exact ratios of Japanese to other nationalities are not published.

BST offers Learning Support services (academic, social and emotional), English as an Additional Language (EAL), counselling and medical support; ASDAN courses are also offered as an alternative pathway.

The school follows the English National Curriculum and positions itself as a British international school.

Non-denominational.

The school day generally follows a morning and afternoon timetable with breaks and lunch; typical start times for BST primary hours on the Shibuya campus are around 08:50, with 15:25 as the end of the day, and Azabudai Hills is expected to follow a similar pattern. Exact times vary by year group.

BST operates a shuttle bus service between three stops: Azabudai Hills campus, SKG Shibuya, and the BST Showa campus.

The Azabudai Hills Campus houses The British School in Tokyo's Primary School from Nursery (3 years) to Year 6 and opened on 28 August 2023. The Primary curriculum is broad and balanced with foundations in the English National Curriculum, adapted for an international setting; it includes English, Maths, Science, Computing, History, Geography, Art, Design Technology, Religious Education, Music, and Physical Education, with Japanese taught from Nursery and French from Year 4. Secondary education is provided on the Showa Campus, covering Key Stage 3 (Year 7–9) and Key Stage 4 (Year 10–11) with IGCSE examinations at the end of Year 11, and a core of English Language and Literature, Maths, Science, a Modern Foreign Language (French, Japanese, Mandarin or Spanish), Core PE and Learning for Life and Work, plus electives such as Art, Business, Computer Science, Drama, Economics, Geography, History, Music and Spanish. From August 2025, Years 12–13 can pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) with the IB Core and subject groups including Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics and The Arts, with a full enrichment programme. From August 2024 BST also offers a BTEC Level 3 in Enterprise and Sport to complement existing A-Level options. BST emphasises broader curriculum opportunities beyond exams through music, sport, art and drama, and supports independent, inquiry-based learning across the full 3–18 age range.

The British School in Tokyo supports Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) through its Student Wellbeing framework. Student wellbeing is treated as both ongoing individual support and a discrete subject within BST's approach. A multidisciplinary Student Support Services team delivers SEL-related support, including Learning Support Services (Social & Emotional), English as an Additional Language (EAL), Counselling and Medical services. The team collaborates to help each student thrive academically and in extracurricular activities. Pastoral support emphasises a safe, secure, and supportive learning environment to foster emotional resilience.

Learning Support Services (including Social & Emotional) are listed as part of BST's Student Support Services, with EAL, Counselling and Medical teams also included in this multidisciplinary approach. The information does not specify particular categories of Special Educational Needs (SEN) BST can support or indicate a dedicated specialist SEN department. This suggests a broad, school-wide approach to supporting diverse learner needs rather than a standalone SEN institution. Provision is delivered through the Learning Support Services and related teams rather than a separate SEN facility. The campus structure supports these services within BST's central Tokyo campuses.

EAL support is provided as part of BST's multidisciplinary Student Support Services. This EAL component is integrated with Learning Support, Counselling and Medical services to help students access the curriculum. The pages describe EAL as a formal element of Student Support Services but do not detail specific programmes or staffing. EAL support is described as available across BST's central Tokyo campuses. This confirms EAL is embedded within the school's wellbeing and academic support framework.

Mental wellbeing is addressed through BST's Pastoral Support and the inclusion of Social & Emotional aspects within the Student Support Services. Pastoral Support emphasises a safe, secure, and supportive learning environment to promote emotional resilience. The Student Support Services team includes counselling resources to support students' mental health and wellbeing as part of a holistic approach. The school's wellbeing content highlights a holistic framework that links emotional health with academic and social development.

BST is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all students, with all adults in the school sharing responsibility for safeguarding. The school provides a caring, positive, safe and stimulating environment that promotes the welfare and wellbeing of students. BST operates a Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) team to manage safeguarding situations and coordinate responses, supported by a wider staff network. DSLs and staff receive regular training and access best practices internationally. The Safeguarding Policy informs Trustees, staff, students, families and external providers about safeguarding responsibilities, and its guidance aligns with the DfE Keeping Children Safe in Education framework.

1. Admissions Process The British School in Tokyo operates two central Tokyo campuses: Azabudai Hills Campus for Nursery to Year 6 and Showa Campus for Year 7 to Year 13. Applications for the 2026–2027 academic year are open, with a defined timeline that begins in November and runs through summer. The school bases eligibility on age-appropriate UK year groups and a standard admissions policy; parents should confirm the child's year group and ensure eligibility before starting. 2. Complete Enquiry Form To begin, submit the Enquiry Form and create an account. An admissions representative will contact you within 1–2 business days after the form is received. Do not submit a new enquiry if you already have an account. 3. Application Forms Access to the Application Form is provided after the Enquiry Form has been received and reviewed. There is a non-refundable application fee of 40,000 JPY that must be paid on the Application Form. 4. Confirmation of Application After you have submitted all items on the application checklist and a reference is received from the child's current school or teacher, the applicant will be placed in the application pool. The school will schedule any required interview or assessment only if space is foreseen for the applicant. 5. Interview/Assessment If required, the interview or assessment appointment begins in late February and continues into late June. Scheduling depends on the reviewed documents, references, and available space in the relevant year group. 6. English Language Proficiency All subjects are taught in English, so English language proficiency is an entry requirement. If English is not the applicant's first language, the school will assess spoken and written English skills. At least one parent must be able to communicate effectively in English. 7. Admissions Decisions Admissions decisions begin in early March and continue into the summer; for year groups that are full, clarity about openings may not emerge until May or later. 8. Enrollment and Fees If space is offered and accepted, families proceed to enrolment by paying the Enrolment Fee (500,000 JPY) and the Educational Resources Fee (680,000 JPY), which are non-refundable and due within two weeks of the invoice date. The Capital Development Fee is payable for the whole school year (100,000 JPY full year; 40,000 JPY Term 1; 30,000 JPY Term 2; 30,000 JPY Term 3). Tuition is charged as shown in the annual fee schedule (primary: 2,820,000 JPY per year; secondary Year 7–9: 2,840,000 JPY; Year 10–13: 2,930,000 JPY), with term breakdowns of 980,000/990,000/1,030,000 JPY for Term 1, Term 2, and Term 3 respectively. Payments are by bank transfer and not cash, with invoices typically issued 8–14 weeks before the end of the previous term. Existing students' fees are due in full within four weeks after the invoice date. Sibling discounts are not offered, though bursaries may be considered. The Corporate Contribution Programme (CCP) provides a mechanism for organisations to sponsor education expenses for employees' children. 10. Campus and Tour Details BST's Azabudai Hills Campus serves Nursery to Year 6, while the Showa Campus serves Year 7 to Year 13; visits and tours can be arranged to experience a day in BST. English language proficiency, visa expectations (BST does not sponsor student visas; dependents must hold a visa), and space availability all influence the admissions timeline. 11. Documentation For all applicants, references from the current or previous school are required and should accompany the application. 12. Next Steps After an offer, families will receive enrollment instructions and payment details for the enrolment, capital, and resources fees. 13. Final Notes The school publishes annual tuition and enrolment figures in Japanese Yen, and fees are reviewed each year. Invoices, payment methods, and terms are subject to change with notification.

3. Scholarships BST offers bursaries for eligible families who are unable to afford the full fees. The bursary program is limited in scope, up to 7% of the total student roll, and bursaries are not guaranteed from year to year. Eligibility requires meeting normal admissions requirements plus demonstrable financial need, detailed financial information, and a commitment to the British education offered by BST. Bursaries can cover up to 100% of enrolment fees and up to 50% of tuition, but are not available for Nursery and Reception. Bursaries are awarded for one academic year but may be renewed, subject to reassessment of family means and satisfactory student progress; the number of bursaries and criteria may change over time. Applications are reviewed by a bursary committee, and the decision is final. The 2025–26 application window has closed; the schedule for 2026–27 will be published in February 2026. For those sponsored by an employer, the Corporate Contribution Programme (CCP) funds corporate scholarships via donations by organisations.

2. Waitlist/Pool The British School in Tokyo uses an application pool rather than a traditional waitlist. After you submit the Enquiry Form, complete documents, and obtain a reference from your child's current school, the applicant is placed in the application pool. Interviews or assessments occur only when space is anticipated for the applicant. Admissions decisions begin in early March and continue into the summer; in year groups that are full, openings may not be clear until May or later. This pool-based process means that placement depends on space availability and the timing of reviews and interviews. BST has two campuses: Azabudai Hills Campus (Nursery–Year 6) and Showa Campus (Year 7–13), and spaces are allocated according to year group and campus availability.