The British School in Tokyo, almost always shortened to BST, is one of the most established of the international schools in Tokyo and was opened in 1989, having been set up as an educational trust the year before. It teaches a fully British programme in English from the early years to the sixth form, an offer that remains relatively rare in the city, where most international schools follow the IB or an American model. Today it educates more than 1,300 pupils drawn from over 60 nationalities across two campuses, one for younger children and one for older year groups.
British School in Tokyo at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | English National Curriculum, IGCSE in Years 10 and 11, A Level in Years 12 and 13 |
|---|---|
| Stages | Nursery to Year 13 (roughly age 3 to 18) |
| Founded | 1989 (trust established 1988) |
| Accreditation | British international school following the English National Curriculum; confirm current inspection and membership status with the school |
| Campuses | Azabudai Hills (Nursery to Year 6) and Showa in Setagaya (Year 7 to Year 13) |
| Fee band | Premium, in the upper part of the Tokyo range |
| Campus area | Azabudai in Minato and Komaba area of Setagaya, central and western Tokyo |
Curriculum and academics
BST delivers the English National Curriculum from Nursery upwards, which makes it a natural fit for families moving between the UK and Japan or following a British pathway across postings. Pupils work towards IGCSE examinations in Years 10 and 11, then specialise in three or four subjects for A Level in Years 12 and 13. For how the stages, key stages and examinations fit together, our British curriculum pillar sets out the framework in full.
The school has also signalled a move to broaden its sixth form offer, so families weighing a British route against the International Baccalaureate should ask admissions about the current and planned pathways. English is the language of instruction throughout, with structured support for pupils still developing their English alongside additional languages. Leavers progress to universities in the UK, North America, Japan and beyond. Parents comparing options will find the wider best international schools in Tokyo guide useful for building a shortlist.
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British School in Tokyo fees
British School in Tokyo fees sit in the premium part of the Tokyo international school fees range, with annual tuition that runs into the millions of yen and rises by stage from Nursery to the sixth form. The school publishes its current tuition by year group, which is the figure to rely on, since fees are reviewed annually and third party listings can fall out of date.
Beyond tuition, plan for the charges a parent must budget separately. These typically include an enrolment or registration fee, a building or educational resource levy, uniform, school lunches, trips and certain activities. There is no compulsory capital bond at most British schools in Tokyo, but examination fees apply in the IGCSE and A Level years. Because every figure changes annually, confirm the exact tuition and ancillary costs with the admissions office before you commit.
Admissions
BST admissions run across the year around a late August or early September start, with mid year entry where places exist in a given year group. Families apply through the school's admissions team, submitting prior school reports and references, and younger applicants may have an informal assessment of readiness while older pupils provide academic records. English fluency is the main expectation, in keeping with the British programme.
The school is well used to families arriving on corporate and diplomatic postings and to transfers within the British system, which the shared curriculum makes straightforward. Overseas families should factor in the paperwork needed to settle in Japan and think about which campus their child will attend when choosing where to live, since the early years and senior sites sit in different parts of the city.
Location and who goes there
BST teaches its youngest pupils at the Azabudai Hills campus in Minato, close to Tokyo Tower and the embassies and corporate offices of central Tokyo, while pupils from Year 7 attend the Showa campus in Setagaya in the west of the city. The two site model means families weigh the commute to whichever campus matches their child's stage when they choose a neighbourhood.
The community is strongly international with a large British contingent, reflecting Tokyo's expatriate population in business, finance, technology and the diplomatic sector, alongside globally minded Japanese families who want an English medium British education. For how Minato, Setagaya and the other districts compare and where expatriate families tend to settle, the Tokyo city hub maps the city and the schools that serve each area.
Reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and accepts no payment from schools, so we publish parent reviews only after confirming the reviewer is part of the school community. If your family knows BST first hand, please share your experience through our school reviews hub.
Frequently asked questions
How much are British School in Tokyo fees?
BST sits in the premium band for Tokyo, with annual tuition that runs into the millions of yen and rises by stage from the early years to the sixth form. On top of tuition, budget for an enrolment fee, a building or resource levy, uniform and lunches. Confirm the current figures with the admissions office before applying, as fees are reviewed each year.
What curriculum does the British School in Tokyo follow?
BST follows the English National Curriculum throughout, leading to IGCSE examinations in Years 10 and 11 and A Levels in Years 12 and 13. It is one of the few schools in Tokyo to deliver a fully British programme, and English is the language of instruction.
Is the British School in Tokyo a good school?
BST is a long established British international school with over 1,300 pupils from more than 60 nationalities and a record of sending leavers to universities in the UK and worldwide. We do not publish a star rating without verified parent reviews, so we set out its programme, curriculum and campuses rather than score it.
When do British School in Tokyo applications open?
BST runs admissions across the year around a late August or early September start, with places filled as they arise by year group. Families relocating to Tokyo should apply as soon as a posting is confirmed, as popular entry points can have waiting lists.
Where is the British School in Tokyo?
BST teaches younger children at its Azabudai Hills campus in Minato near Tokyo Tower, and older pupils from Year 7 at the Showa campus in Setagaya in western Tokyo.
