Employment
Working at The British School in Tokyo
The British School in Tokyo, located on two sites at the heart of this vibrant, exciting city, is a happy thriving school that has built a reputation for excellence and high standards since 1989. Run as a not-for-profit trust, BST is the only school in Japan offering A Levels and the National Curriculum of England. All instruction is in English and we currently have over 1,000 British and international students aged 3 to 18.
We follow the UK academic year from September to July and our recruitment for teacher positions follows this cycle. All BST teachers, with a few subject-specific exceptions, are expected to have qualified in the UK, or to have taught in the UK or at another British International School within the past five years. We are an accredited COBIS member school, compliant with BSO standards and inspected every three years.
Why Choose BST
Although we are still a comparatively young school, we have made great strides forward in the last few years. Our latest inspection report was highly impressive but, far from encouraging complacency, it has served to heighten our ambition to be one of the world’s leading international schools. To achieve this goal we need teachers who will share our enthusiasm and passion – and our determination to be the best we can be. Successful applicants will be caring professionals, fully committed to their teaching and to life-long learning, and willing to challenge themselves at the highest level.
In return we can offer outstanding opportunities for professional development and career advancement. There is a generous package for teachers including highly-subsidised accommodation, a relocation allowance and annual home flights, comprehensive health insurance and other significant benefits. Above all, of course, there is the opportunity to live in one of the most vibrant and exciting cities on the planet, the chance to explore this rich and diverse country and, with the rest of Asia on our doorstep, an open invitation to discover a whole new world.
A Brief History of BST
The British School in Tokyo was officially opened in 1989 by the incumbent British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher with just 63 girls and boys on roll. The school was established to meet the needs of parents who wished their children to receive a British-style primary education in Tokyo. Today, based on two campuses in the very heart of Tokyo, BST is a thriving school of 1,100+ students, providing a stimulating and challenging education from Nursery through to university entrance. High academic standards and a positive, values-driven ethos have earned the school an excellent world-wide reputation: in March 2015, for example, the UK Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) once again rated BST ‘Excellent’ in all areas, a fitting testament to the hard work and dedication of our talented staff.
Academic
The purpose of BST is to provide an outstanding British education to the international community in Tokyo. We do this by focusing on the BST learner attributes:Teaching and Learning builds on the English national curriculum, eventually leading to the study of IGCSE and A-Level in a wide range of subjects; we do, however, tailor the curriculum to reflect the unparalleled opportunities available in Tokyo. Teachers coming to BST find a school of high attainment, reflected both in examination results and an impressive range of achievements beyond the classroom. Although academic excellence is a priority, we are similarly passionate about the personal development of our students and we work hard to encourage artistic and sporting endeavour.
Activities, trips and events
Extra-curricular activities form a significant part of student development at BST. From Year 1 onwards students participate in a wide range of sports and activity-based ECAs before, during and after school. Music and Drama are particular strengths and students are encouraged to perform from an early age. In upper primary and secondary a wider range of sports clubs are coached and there are competitive opportunities for all.Our BST Outdoors programme is impressive in its scale and scope. From Year 1 upwards all students are able to enjoy overnight residential trips outside Tokyo. All Primary teachers are expected to play a part in leading activities beyond the classroom and this holistic approach is continued into Secondary where again the opportunities are almost limitless: the whole school spends two weeks in the Japanese Alps every year, the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is especially popular and many students participate in the skiing and climbing clubs.
Campuses, classrooms & facilities
BST is a two site school: our Shibuya campus is very much in the heart of the city, while the Showa site is a little way into the suburbs of Setagaya-ku, situated on an extensive university campus about a 10 minute drive or short train journey from BST Shibuya. Classrooms at BST are all equipped with projectors and smart-boards linked to computers, and there are a number of laptop/iPad sets on both sites for student use. Specialist facilities include Art & Design and Photography rooms, a Drama Studio and well-appointed music rooms. At Showa there are excellent PE, swimming and outdoor learning facilities. For 6th Form students there is also a dedicated study area. Maximum class sizes range from 18 in Nursery and Reception, to 20 in Year 1 and 22 in Year 2 and above. They are usually considerably smaller than this in the Sixth Form.Our new state-of-the-art Primary School campus is under development in conjunction with the Toranomon-Azabudai Project and is scheduled to open in 2023.