Japanese international schools in Sydney. A quick guide

If you’re a Japanese expat looking to move to the Sydney area, you may be interested in looking for a Japanese school for your children. You may be keen for your kids to learn the Japanese curriculum or ensure that they have influence from Japanese culture.

With 95,000 Japanese residents living in Australia as of October 2022, it’s understandable why there’s a need for Japanese schools, and there are now many Japanese international schools that are accepting students in the Sydney area.¹

In this article, we’ll provide you with everything you need to know about Japanese international schools in Sydney, including life and education in Australia, the benefits of enrolling your children in Japanese international schools, and details on the main Japanese school in Sydney.

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Life in Sydney

Moving to Sydney as a Japanese expat may seem daunting, but there are plenty of things to see and enjoy. Sydney has a rich arts scene with museums, art galleries, and theatres to keep you busy, as well as the Sydney Opera House.

If you’re an expat that loves the sun, you’ll be pleased to know that Australia has an average daytime maximum temperature of 24.3℃, which is warmer than Japan’s average daytime maximum temperature of 19.2℃.²

Sydney offers a great sense of community to locals and expats alike and has excellent transport options including ferries, trains, and buses to get you to work and your new favourite places. It’s also considered to be very safe, with a generally low crime index of 34.28 (between 20 - 40 is considered low).³

Education system in Australia

The education system in Australia is separated into Early childhood education (ages 4-5), Primary school education (ages 6-11), Secondary school education (ages 12-18), and then higher education/tertiary education which includes all official education after secondary school.⁴

Children attending Australian schools adhere to a national curriculum where they’ll learn a range of subjects such as mathematics, science, languages, and health.⁴

Japanese education system

In Japan, the education system begins with Primary education from ages 6-11, Secondary education from ages 12-17, and then higher education from ages 18-22.⁵

Schools follow a national curriculum and encourage students to maintain the classrooms at the end of the school day before enjoying a cultural or sports club activity.⁵

Benefits of enrolling your kids in Japanese international schools in Sydney

There are many advantages of enrolling your children in Japanese international schools in Sydney, here are a few key benefits⁶:

• Opportunities to connect with and be educated on Japan
• Ability to learn Japanese language skills as well as daily English language classes
• Learning about Japanese culture encouraged
• Both Japanese and Australian curriculums offered

Curriculum and language used by Japanese Schools in Sydney

Japanese schools in Sydney generally offer two curriculums, which have been explained in further detail below.

International Division - Australian Curriculum (NSW)

The International Division teaches the Australian curriculum (NSW) in primary education, from kindergarten to year 6. Lessons are taught in English with daily Japanese language lessons.⁶

Children will learn a range of skills including reading, writing, and speaking, plus insight into Japanese culture.⁶

Japanese Division - Japanese Curriculum

The Japanese Division teaches the curriculum taught in Japan delivered by the Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT) from years 1 - 9. Lessons are taught in Japanese, with daily English lessons.⁶

This gives children access to experienced Japanese curriculum experts within Australia, while also bringing them together with those taught the Australian curriculum to learn subjects such as art, music, PE, and coding which are not restricted by a language barrier.⁶

Can anyone apply to Japanese international schools in Sydney?

International schools in Sydney generally welcome students from all nationalities and backgrounds. By offering both Australian and Japanese curriculums, all children can learn at international schools and have the opportunity to learn a second language.⁶

Examples of Japanese schools in Sydney

Sydney is home to The Sydney Japanese International School, some information on this school is detailed below:

Name of school	The Sydney Japanese International School (SJIS)
Location	112 Booralie Road, Terrey Hills, NSW 2084, Australia
Ages catered to	Kindergarten - Year 9
Curriculum followed	The school is divided between Australian Curriculum and Japanese Curriculum. Students in years 1-9 have the opportunity to sit exams that are currently taken in Japan, as well as Australian exams.⁷
Average school fees	School fees for the April 2023 - March 2024 school year are as follows⁸: Application fee: $220 AU (non-refundable) Enrolment fee: $1,000 AU (non-refundable) School Bond: $1,000 AU (refundable) Annual tuition fee: Y1 - Y9 Students: $12,880 AU Kindergarten Students: $12,480 AU Other Expenses: Yearly technology levy: $200 AU PTA membership fee: $40 AU per family Yearly voluntary contribution: Voluntary building fund: $500 AU Voluntary library fund: $200 AU
Application requirements	International Division Kindergarten children are required to turn 5 by 31st July of the commencement year⁹ Families must have correct visas permitting them to live, work, or study legally in Australia. Applicants on tourist visas are not accepted⁹ Japanese Division Students must have access to textbooks from the Japan Overseas Education Services¹⁰ All parents are required to have a visa to stay in Australia. Enrolment is generally permitted if families hold Australian citizenship, permanent residency, or a visa including business, researcher, or student. Tourist visas are not eligible¹⁰
Contact information	Phone: Local: (02) 9450 1833 International: +61 2 0450-1833 Online contact page

As seen on 26 June 2023

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Sources:

1. Japan: number of Japanese residents in Australia 2022 - Statista
2. Climate comparison: Australia / Japan - WorldData.info
3. Safety in Sydney - Numbeo
4. Explore: The Australian Education System - FutureLearn
5. Japanese Educational System - Japan Educational Travel
6. School: Two curriculums, one school - SchoolCompare
7. Japanese Primary Division (Years 1-6) - SJIS
8. Fees - SJIS
9. Kindergarten enrolment - SJIS
10. Enrolment in Japanese Division (Japanese Curriculum) - SJIS

Sources checked on: 26/06/2023