The Yorkshire and Humberside Japanese School provides language education for children who speak Japanese, ranging from 6 to 15 years old. The school is supported by the Japanese government. There is also a pre-school section for children between 4 and 6 years old who speak Japanese. The school offers education in accordance with the curriculum guidelines established by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT). The school is located in Leeds, and classes are held every Saturday from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM. This school is a non-profit organisation operated by the parents of the students.
The History of YHJS
The Yorkshire and Humberside Japanese School was established in 1991 with the support of Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds City Council, Yorkshire Forward, the Japanese government, and Japan Overseas Educational Services. Although the school began with only seven students at its opening, it has now grown to have over 50 students with more than 1,000 students having graduated.
School Class Structure
The Yorkshire and Humberside Japanese School is divided into three sections: Pre-school, Elementary, and Middle School. Here’s a brief overview of the learning objectives in each class:
Preschool – Age 4 to 6
In the pre-school section, our focus is on enhancing conversational skills and introducing children to Japanese culture in a playful and enjoyable learning environment.
Primary – Age 6 to 11
In the elementary section, classes are conducted following the curriculum set by MEXT. We work on improving the four language skills: speaking, writing, reading, and listening.
Secondary – Age 11 to 15
Similar to the elementary section, the middle school classes adhere to the curriculum outlined by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan. However, the content becomes more advanced, enabling students to express themselves freely in Japanese, both orally and in writing.
If you would like to know more about our course structure, please click here or contact us using the form below.
School Events
To give students a taste of Japanese culture, we hold a number of events throughout the year. This includes an annual opening ceremony, the annual bazaar, the Christmas party, recitations, the new year’s party and the graduation ceremony. To find out more about the many events YHJS offers, please click here.
YHJS Teachers
At our school, we are proud to have a team of highly experienced teachers, some of whom have been teaching for over a decade.
If you would like to meet more of the teachers at YHJS, please click here.
Protecting Your Children
At YHJS, we take both your safety and your children’s safety very seriously. For this reason, we have a dedicated safeguarding officer, a dedicated health and safety officer and a variety of different insurance policies to give you peace of mind. For more information about how we protect your children, please click here.
YHJS Testimonials
If we would like to see the full testimonials, please click here.
YHJS Admissions Policy
To be eligible for admission to our school, applicants must understand that classes are conducted in Japanese and that the school operates on a non-profit basis relying on parental volunteering to operate the school. Children of parents willing to cooperate under this principle are welcome to apply.
Pre-school Section Eligibility: Admission is open from April following the child’s 4th birthday. The child should demonstrate adequate Japanese language proficiency and have the basic life skills required for taking part in the activities conducted in the pre-school section.
Elementary and Middle School Section Eligibility: Admission to the elementary section is open from April following the child’s 6th birthday, and for the middle school section, from April following the child’s 12th birthday. The child should be able to understand instructions given in Japanese and comprehend lessons conducted in Japanese.
If you would like to know which grade your child qualifies for, please contact us using the form provided below. Thank you.
School Commitment
YHJS runs from 10 am to 12:30 pm on Saturdays for 42 weeks a year. Children who enrol at YHJS will be expected to attend every week unless they are unable due to illness. Furthermore, all students enrolling at YHJS must commit to at least of four hours of homework each week. This is the minimum required to keep pace with the Japanese curriculum. In addition, student parents will be expected to volunteer some of their time each week to help manage and run the school.
YHJS Blog
Check out the latest posts from the Yorkshire and Humberside Japanese School blog. Here you will find news about our students, events we have hosted and any new recruits. To see all our posts, simply click here.
Enrol at YHJS
If you would like to enrol your child at the Yorkshire and Humberside Japanese School, please complete the form below. We look forward to hearing from you.
