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Developing a love of learning — that is the mindset of Ascot International School in Kobe, Japan. “We want students taking their learning one step further, where students look for answers in everything they see and do,” says Darrick Mosser, the Headmaster.
Take one look at this school, and you’ll know what sets them apart. They are the only certified Cambridge International school in the west of Tokyo – allowing students from Nursery to Secondary School pursue the Cambridge International curriculum that provides them with a clear pathway to GCSE and A Levels exams.
It is an education that develops a love for learning and caring among students from a young age. The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum is delivered in an enabling environment that drives intellectual curiosity, builds upon children’s experience of the world around them, and inspires creative learning.
Source: Ascot International School Japan
They start this through Forest School. This entails going into nature, observing the changes in nature and then creating changes themselves. Whether they are looking at insect or Luffa, they create their own meaning from their learning and then expand on these ideas through group discussions and presentations. This happens through the entire school year.
“As a new school, we have a limited number of students right now,” shares James Bird, a Key Stage 2 Homeroom Teacher. “Teachers are able to give more one-to-one attention and cater learning for the students, rather than for the students to catch up with everyone else.”
Forum Doshi, a Years One and Two teacher, agrees. Since the school is smaller, teachers like Doshi can tailor their teaching according to a student’s needs – whether it is improving their fluency with a language or social skills.
These young students will also recognise and celebrate Japan’s rich cultural setting through a comprehensive Japanese Kindergarten and Elementary curriculum that runs together with its international English language curriculum – allowing them to enjoy the best of both worlds.
The faculty and staff are equally diverse. Imagine teachers from Japan, Eastern Europe, France, Vietnam, England, America, the Philippines, Nepal and Cameron. All of them are English speakers and many are bilingual, which helps students to become fluent in the English language and second languages – aligning with Mosser’s vision of a multicultural setting. “We would like our students not only to be bilingual and multilingual but also to be bicultural and multicultural,” explains Mosser.
The multiculturalism he seeks also helps to bridge different perspectives among students from all walks of life – including those with special needs. Ascot International School Japan accepts these kinds of learners. They are included in all classes and have a year of observation. Once they can demonstrate progress in learning, they will be allowed to continue their studies.
Apart from this, tuition fees are relatively low compared to other international schools — offering students an affordable education without compromising quality. Tuition for Nursery starts at 910,000 Japanese yen (about US$6,509) per year and peaks at 1,550,000 Japanese yen (about US$11,087) annually for students in Key Stage 5.
Outdoor learning that nurtures and inspires
Outside the classroom, students immerse themselves in Forest School, a child-centred inspiration learning process that offers opportunities for holistic growth through regular sessions. It is a long-term programme guided by six principles that support play, exploration and risk-taking.
Since it was introduced in the UK in 1993, the Forest School programme has had a developmental ethos shared by thousands of trained practitioners around the globe, constantly developing their learning styles and skills to support new and imaginative students.
At Ascot International School Japan, Forest School takes place on three to four acres of land outside the school – which follows one of the six mentioned principles that place students in a woodland or natural environment to support a harmonious relationship between students and the natural world. It caters to students in elementary and secondary school. Here, students cut wood, garden, harvest vegetables for school lunches, plant cotton and learn the medicinal benefits of the plants.
Source: Ascot International School Japan
Beyond this, students thrive in various athletic programmes. Take the Ascot Football Academy, for example. What started as a football club on the Bangkok campus has quickly evolved into a football academy at the Kobe campus. With an artificial turf pitch, football players can play their hearts out on the field and transform that competitive spirit into becoming confident students.
Regardless of interests, passions and hobbies, the school strives to include all students into one big family. “We work together and we help each other out. We can do a lot for our world and the environment around us,” says Mosser.
To let your child dream, think, and plan for their future, click here to learn more about Ascot International School Japan.
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