Background

The School

Hiroshima International School moved to its current purpose-built site in 1986. It is located on the edge of the city in a quiet residential district. The green of the forest is a stone's throw away and the views in all directions are impressive. It is a safe and inspiring environment for children.

The school's facilities include a large gymnasium, a library, a music room, an art room, a dance studio, an I.T. laboratory, a science laboratory, numerous subject specific rooms and an enclosed playground. Five new classrooms were added in 2005 and four more in 2007.

The school year starts in late August and finishes in late June.

In recent years our students have come from Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Estonia, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Syria, the UK and the USA. Some spend only a few years in Hiroshima. Others are long-term residents. About a third of our students have parents of different nationalities. Our graduates have been accepted into universities in Europe, Asia and North America.

The Teachers

Hiroshima International School only employs fully qualified and experienced teachers. Most have worked in other international schools prior to coming here and the majority are native English speakers from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA. Japanese is studied by all students and is taught by fully-qualified native speakers.

Our Curriculum

HIS is proud to be an IB World School. We teach the IBO Primary Years Programme (PYP) in our Elementary School and the IB Diploma Programme to our older students in Grades 11 and 12. (Find out more about the IBO at www.ibo.org)

We are also authorised to offer IGCSEs in Grades 9 and 10. (Find out more about IGCSEs at www.cie.org.uk)

Our Ethos

We strive to be an authentically international school. In other words, we try not to be too ‘American' or ‘British' (or ‘Japanese'!) and we hope we afford all cultures equal respect. That said, our values and educational philosophy are rooted firmly in the Western tradition and English is the language of instruction throughout the school. We are proud that people describe the school as "friendly", "welcoming" and "caring" and we are equally proud of the growing reputation we are earning for high academic standards.

English

While it is helpful for both the student and at least one parent to speak some English this is not essential; HIS has a specialist English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher who works closely with children to accelerate their learning of English. Where students with little English enrol in April the school will place them in a ‘headstart’ program, using the time between enrolment and the new school year in August to focus on developing their English skills. Many people in the school – teachers and office staff – speak Japanese and it is always possible to assist those parents who do not speak English. We are also increasingly communicating in both English and Japanese. In addition, the school runs an English Language Program which we would encourage parents to enrol in so that their English improves also: this is a great model for your children too!  The most important thing is that we all share the same values and support the idea of international education.

All classes (apart from Japanese) are taught in English but HIS is not a ‘language school'. In other words, we do not exist in order to teach children English. Rather, we exist to provide a broad, high quality education in English. Of course, we do offer support and specialized tuition to students who arrive with little English. 

Governance

The school is recognised as a ‘Gakko Hojin' by the Prefecture of Hiroshima. In other words, we are a non-profit making foundation. The school is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees from whose ranks are drawn the members of the Board of Directors.

An International School in Hiroshima

Hiroshima is a delightful city which has risen above - but has not forgotten - the horrors of 1945. Mindful of what can happen when different cultures lose mutual respect and understanding, the city values very highly international links and exchanges. We are very proud to be a part of that vision and among our own contributions towards honouring the past and preparing the future is our Thousand Crane Club which for over twenty years has provided a bridge between Hiroshima and hundreds of schools worldwide.

Enrolling your Child

Application forms can be downloaded from our website (‘Admissions'). Alternatively, they may be collected from the School Office or, upon request, mailed or sent to you electronically. Applications must be in English.

Indeed, we will be happy to answer any enquiries you may have about admission, our curriculum or any other aspect of the school. Please contact us by telephone, by e-mail or in person.

Hiroshima International School

Member of the Japan Council of International Schools (JCIS)
Accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS)
Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
An IB World School

Hiroshima International School welcomes applications from families of all cultures and backgrounds.