Applying to an international school in Tokyo. Make sure that you ask for teacher references well in advance.
Updated: Oct 7
Before you apply to an international school, I can help you understand your child's current academic and learning profile, identify the skills that may need attention, and give you time to work on them before you apply.
Why does that matter?
When your child applies to an international school in Tokyo, their current school will usually be asked to provide a confidential teacher reference.
You can't control what a teacher writes. But you can control what your child is working on now.
I know this because I have spent years teaching in international schools in Tokyo and have written these confidential references myself.
When I wrote a reference, I didn't rely on memory. I looked at grades and assessment results, reviewed report cards and classroom work, and checked student records.
A proper reference looks at the whole child: academic progress, strengths, areas for growth, classroom behavior, relationships with other students, independence, and development over time.
Sometimes the picture is straightforward.
Sometimes it isn't.
A child's grades may not tell the whole story.
Assessment results may reveal something that isn't obvious from daily classroom work. A child may also have made significant progress since their last report card.
Teachers have a responsibility to be honest and accurate about what they have actually seen.
So if your child needs reading support, work on reading before you apply.
If they need math support, work on math before you apply.
If they need help with independence, organization, or learning habits, work on those skills before the application.
The earlier you understand what your child needs, the more time you have to help them develop it.
Kinota Braithwaite Learning & Assessment Specialist More Than Just Tutoring Tokyo kinota@morethanjusttutoringtokyo.com
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