Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - OWIS Tsukuba

Our academic year will span from August to June.

The renovation of the OWIS Tsukuba campus is progressing at full speed. The first phase of the renovation is scheduled for completion in June. School tours will be available starting from June, allowing parents to see the upgraded facilities firsthand.

Each classroom is designed to accommodate a maximum of 16-18 students, ensuring a focused and engaging learning environment.

AEP teachers will diligently monitor the progress of each student within the programme. Should a student exhibit substantial improvement and proficiency in English language skills, the AEP teacher may propose transitioning them from the programme to regular studies. There is no fixed duration for enrolment in the programme; rather, it is contingent upon the individual performance of the child.

One World International School, Tsukuba distinguishes itself by crafting its own curriculum rather than adhering strictly to national standards. Our curriculum is meticulously developed, drawing insights from various international curricula worldwide to create what we believe to be the most robust and comprehensive approach. Emphasising conceptual understandings over individual standards, our curriculum fosters a deeper, more nuanced comprehension of each subject.

Currently, we are deliberating on the selection of devices to be integrated into our educational framework. Technology is seamlessly integrated into the core curriculum. We will have coding and STEM activities. In the Middle Years Programme (MYP), dedicated computer science classes are included within the curriculum to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of technology.

We will provide after-school childcare starting from day one. As for after-school clubs and extracurricular activities, more details will be shared soon.

The school operates from 8:45 AM to 3:30 PM.

For students participating in after-school activities:

3:30 PM to 5:00 PM – Regular after-school programs.

3:30 PM to 6:00 PM – Extended after-school care for those enrolled.

Please check with the school administration for specific program details and availability.

Japanese language instruction will consist of three periods per week.

We have access to medical clinics and hospitals to ensure prompt medical assistance in case of emergencies. Additionally, we have protocols in place for immediate response, including a certified nurse, on-campus first aid support and efficient transportation arrangements to the nearest medical facility when needed.

Our afterschool programmes will also be available to students from outside our school.

We are continually open to expansion. For example, our school in Tokyo has grown from a single campus to four campuses. And OWIS Osaka is also looking at expansion opportunities for thier campus. 

We will have a diverse group of teachers, with the majority being native English speakers. All teachers will be fully qualified in their home countries and will undergo training specific to our school’s requirements.

Yes, OWIS Tsukuba provides a school bus service for students, operating on two routes to support families commuting from different areas around Tsukuba.

The bus service includes morning pick-up and afternoon drop-off, with designated stops near major stations and residential areas. Pick-up and drop-off times vary by stop and route.

Bus fees are charged per term, per student, and vary depending on the distance of the selected stop. A one-way service (morning only or afternoon only) is also available at 70% of the termly fee.

Please note:

• Bus arrival times may vary by approximately 5–10 minutes due to traffic conditions.

• Routes, stops, timings, and fees are reviewed periodically and may be adjusted.

Because details change regularly, if you are interested in more information such as bus stop names, schedules, routes, and fees, please contact our admissions team. 

Yes, we offer a school lunch service, provided by our trusted catering partner La Petite Fourche.

Lunches are delivered daily as nutritionally balanced lunch boxes, designed to support children’s health and well-being. Meals are nut-free, cater to common allergies, and include vegetarian options, as well as no pork or no beef choices. Lunches are served warm using heated lunch boxes, and families place orders on a monthly basis with a rotating menu.

Please note that while we strive to accommodate a wide range of dietary needs, halal and vegan meals are not currently available.

OWIS Tsukuba does not have an on-site cafeteria. Students eat their lunches in their classrooms or designated eating areas under teacher supervision.

For families who prefer to bring food from home, we also have healthy lunch and snack guidelines, and all food brought to school must be nut-free.

The tuition fee is payable in three terms. Should the full year’s payment be made upfront, the tuition fee for the current term, in which the child is enrolled, will not be subject to refund. However, the tuition fees for the subsequent terms will be refunded accordingly.

Transfers within OWIS will be given priority. However, some countries enforce a nationality cap, limiting the number of students from one nationality. If a transferring student’s nationality exceeds the cap for OWIS in that country, the child will be placed on a waiting list.

At our school in Osaka, we prioritize the individual needs and progress of each student. Our teachers are dedicated to providing personalized attention and ensuring each child’s success. Below are some key points that set our Osaka school apart from others. We believe these aspects are important to share with parents:

1. Excellent learning environment
The school is located on the site of a former public elementary school and has a large schoolyard, a spacious gymnasium, and beautifully renovated classrooms.

2. Experienced principal and multi-national and experienced teachers
Experienced and professionally trained teachers mostly from English speaking countries like the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, South Africa, etc.

3. Small-group instruction
Because of the small number of students, the teachers are close to the students in a small-group environment, this allows them to understand each student individually and tailor their instruction to meet each student’s unique needs, providing extensive guidance and personalised support.

4. English Language Support (AEP)
We have several professional AEP English support teachers and offer an English Preparation (AEP) programme designed to help students quickly improve their English skills.

5. After-School programme
After-school programme from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. offers educational and fun after-school activities, clubs, extracurricular activities, seasonal programmes, and aftercare.

6. Integrated school, All IB programme
We offer a comprehensive education programme starting from early childhood at age 3, through primary and secondary school, culminating in graduation from grade 12. Our curriculum is based on the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme, ensuring an international standard of education.

7. Parent-school communication
We use Toddle to maintain close communication with parents and support our students and their families. In addition to sharing learning content, we regularly update parents on school activities, keeping them well-informed about all that is happening at the school.

We will have one homeroom teacher responsible for teaching Literacy, Mathematics, social studies and science. Additionally, specialized teachers will cover music, arts, and physical education. At the EC1, EC2, and Kindergarten levels, a support staff member will assist the homeroom teacher.

We strive to accommodate as many students as possible in our school. If a class becomes overenrolled, we will add sections to the grade as needed. Rest assured, we do not reject students based on the number of applicants for a particular grade.

We offer a trial class for the child once the school academic year begins. However, we currently do not have any plans to organise school camps before the official start of the school year in August.

At present, we have leases for the main building and the gymnasium. However, we do not currently have a lease for the pool.

For the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the school must have students to become a candidate, which requires a 2-year process. Regarding the Middle Years Programme (MYP), we are in the process of adding the program and obtaining authorization. As for the Diploma Programme (DP), we will have the authorization in place before students commence the program.

Generally, international schools are not considered part of ‘compulsory education’ in Japan. Therefore, students must remain enrolled in their local school to enter a junior high school, which is an Article 1 school in Japan. We plan to discuss this matter with the local boards of education around OWIS to align on how to handle the school registration of OWIS students in Japan.
We will share the insights from our discussions with you.

Yes, the assessment tests will be in English. We understand that the majority of our students come from non-English backgrounds. The purpose of the assessment test is to gauge the child’s English proficiency level. This helps us determine the level of English support needed for each student. It’s important to note that the assessment test is not an entrance exam for the school.

For subjects like Maths or other non-language-centric subjects, students are grouped together. However, in subjects that require more language proficiency, students receive specialized assistance in the AEP class.

We will maintain separate classes regardless of the number of students enrolled in each grade. We anticipate that the number of students in each grade will grow over time.

The decision to advance to the next grade won’t hinge solely on test scores. Parents will be well-informed before their child reaches a point where retention is considered. By then, the child will have received ample support from teachers to ensure every opportunity for success.

At present, we’re unable to accommodate children with special needs. However, we may consider admissions for those requiring mild support, depending on the level of assistance needed.

Given the size of our school, we won’t have a dedicated counsellor. Instead, our teachers are trained to offer counselling support to our students. Our curriculum encourages a mindset of openness to diverse cultures, fostering an understanding that there isn’t a single ‘right’ culture, but rather, many different perspectives and approaches.

We have 68% students who are Japanese, followed by 20% Chinese and the rest are students from other Nationalities. With respect to controlling the use of Japanese by the students within the campus, we foster a culture of inclusivity where students understand that English is the language of inclusion. However, we do not diminish the value of any other language.

We do not have a nationality cap. However, based on our survey, we anticipate that more than 50% of the students will be Japanese.

Yes. All OWIS Schools share the same uniforms.