About KIST

K. International School Tokyo (KIST), founded in 1997, is a private, co-educational, non-denominational day school serving the international community of Tokyo from pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12. Conveniently located less than one minute from Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station in Koto-ku, Tokyo, KIST offers an affordable international education to more than 630 students representing around 50 different nationalities.

In order to prepare students for their adult life, KIST strives to create a safe and caring environment set firmly within a framework that promotes academic excellence through traditional values, a disciplined approach and a healthy lifestyle. The three guiding principles of Respect, Responsibility and Safety overarch all aspects of school life. All students are required to abide by the school dress code by wearing the school uniform and maintaining a conservative appearance throughout their enrolment. They are also expected to act in appropriate ways that uphold the name of the school. KIST students possess high academic aspirations and the desire to continue “Learning for Life” after they graduate. They also demonstrate their compassion by acting on their desire to help others in need and believe that such actions can make the world a better place.

As an international school, KIST welcomes students of all nationalities from “internationally minded” families who can demonstrate a commitment to our vision, mission, educational philosophy and learning programs. The current student population includes approximately 25% American/Canadian/Australasia, 22% Japanese, 15% UK/European, 15% Indian, 12% other Asian and 11% African/Middle Eastern/South American students. Specifically, KIST caters for:

Non-Japanese children whose families are living in Japan.
Children of dual nationalities.
Returnee Japanese children or those whose families are planning to live in an English-speaking culture.
Children of all nationalities planning to attend international universities, colleges or other institutions of higher education in the future.

Authorized as an IB World School by the International Baccalaureate, KIST was the first school in Tokyo and the second school in Japan to offer all three IB programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the Diploma Programme (DP). This ensures a consistent approach to teaching and learning across all levels and provides a continuous progression for students from the time they join the school in kindergarten until they graduate at the end of Grade 12. Furthermore, for families moving around the world, it also offers an attractive benefit in that it allows children to learn within a basic framework used by other IB schools worldwide.

"We had a great experience in Tokyo. The Experience of K. International was particularly enriching. We were privileged to have our son study at your school." (Former Grade 3 Parent, India)

At all levels, an inquiry-based approach provides students with opportunities to take responsibility for their own learning. Subject areas are integrated where possible into units of inquiry that allow students to acquire knowledge and skills through the context of an ongoing search for meaning and understanding. Priority is placed on developing understanding of concepts and application of knowledge and skills in context. We explicitly teach the skills of understanding, research and inquiry, including how to locate, evaluate and apply information. Through this approach, our aim is for students to become independent learners who have the skills to source and evaluate information in order to make informed, responsible choices throughout their lives and to make a meaningful contribution to the community.

English is used as the language of instruction at all levels of the school, however, English is not taught as a foreign language. With the exception of very young children, students must have reached a certain level in English already in order to enter the school. In particular, secondary students must have a high level of ability in order to cope with the demands of studying specialized subjects in English. To meet the needs of non-native English-speaking students whose level of English is lower than is necessary to access the school curriculum independently, language support is provided throughout the school. The type of support provided varies depending on the grade level of the students. It is important to remember that KIST is not an English conversation school.

In addition to the regular curriculum, students at KIST enjoy a variety of co-curricular activities including a range of after-school sporting and cultural clubs, excursions, school concerts and festivals, camps and more.

Accreditations and affiliations

HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION

Choosing a school that is right for your child is one of the most important decisions a parent can make. There is a large variety of international education options in Tokyo, each with different objectives and programs. Researching and selecting a school with quality programming in which your child will thrive can be a significant challenge.

At KIST, we are committed to delivering education of the highest standard and to the continual development and refinement of our educational programs. The quality of our programming is assured through school accreditation and/or authorization by external organizations. While affiliation with such organizations mandates staff involvement in professional development, KIST also supports staff involvement in continuously reflecting on, and improving, their practice through professional opportunities provided by other membership organizations we belong to and through a comprehensive teacher appraisal system implemented annually.

The Council of International Schools (CIS) is a large membership community of over 1,000 educational institutions in more than 100 countries. CIS works collaboratively to shape international education through professional services to schools, higher education institutions, and individuals. The CIS vision is to inspire the development of global citizens through high quality international education: connecting ideas, cultures and educators from every corner of the world.

As a fully accredited CIS school, KIST has met thorough accreditation requirements in areas including whole-school operations, school governance, and curriculum and is required to participate in ongoing whole-school evaluation inspections every five years.

Founded in 1968, the International Baccalaureate (IB) is a non-profit educational foundation offering highly respected programmes of international education that develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills needed to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world.

Authorized as an IB World School since 2002, KIST offers the Primary Years Programme (PYP) from K1 to Grade 5, and the globally renowned Diploma Programme (DP) in Grades 11 and 12.

To ensure strict adherence to IB developed standards and practices, and to support continued program development, KIST participates in evaluation inspections every five years.

Pearson’s Edexcel is the UK's largest awarding organization, offering academic and vocational qualifications and testing to educational institutions around the world. KIST is authorized as an Edexcel International Centre authorized to offer the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), an internationally recognized qualification for students based on individual subjects of study.

At KIST, students take Pearson Edexcel IGCSE courses in Grades 9 and 10.

The College Board and Educational Testing Service has designated KIST as a Test Center for the administration of the SAT exams in Tokyo. This partnership ensures that KIST students have easy access to sitting the SAT exams held at various times each year right here on our campus. Students aspiring to attend university in the USA are encouraged to sit the SAT exam as it is a prerequisite for entry to some universities and colleges. All KIST students also sit a PSAT exam in both Grades 9 and 10.

KIST is certified as an authorized educational foundation by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Ministry of Education. In meeting the strict requirements in becoming certified by the local authorities, KIST is recognized as an institution delivering quality educational programming. Many benefits result from this recognition, including tax-exempt status for the school, access to secondary school educational support funding for parents, and student eligibility for concession fares on public transportation.

School governance

K. International School Tokyo is a privately owned and run school led by a Board of Directors. Decisions related to the operation and management of the school as a whole lie with the Board. The Board promotes high standards of learning and achievement and ensures that the school's operation is in line with the vision of the school's founding and educational philosphy. Commencing with the appointment of the Head of School, the Board is responsible for determining the strategic direction for the school, allocating the budget and various other duties.

The School Director is responsible for overseeing the business of the school as a corporation. Specific duties are divided between the members of the Board who act to support the School Director. The Board as a whole is responsible for checking that all duties have been performed as required.

Board members are elected according to Japanese private school law. The Head of School must be included as a member of the Board. Board members have a genuine interest in education and a commitment to ensuring the best possible education for students. They undertake their roles on a voluntary basis and are prepared to share their knowledge, skills and experience for the good of the school as a whole.

The Board consists of seven members including the school founders/directors, the Head of School, the corporate office manager, a legal representative, a financial specialist and a parent. Board members make up their own minds about matters that come before the Board and act in the best interest of the school and its students.