You're Invited to Our First Open School
Morning and afternoon sessions at Shimokita College, a 3-minute walk from Shimokitazawa Station. RSVP required by 14 November.
See details & RSVP ↑
Extending the Reggio Emilia approach to grades 1–5, nurturing curious minds and lifelong learners in our dedicated elementary facility.
Learn MoreBuilding on our successful early childhood programs, our elementary school will provide a seamless continuation of the Reggio-inspired approach, creating an environment where children aged 6–12 can explore, question, and discover their passions through inquiry-based learning.
At its heart, a school that lets individuals shine.
International Elementary School
Students develop critical thinking skills through project-based learning, where their questions drive exploration across subjects including science, mathematics, literacy, and the arts.
Dedicated atelier spaces and specialist teachers support creative expression as a fundamental language of learning, integrated throughout all academic disciplines.
While our program is an immersive English environment, we also focus on preparing students for success in international and Japanese educational pathways.
Our program depends on deep relationships between students and the community around them, facilitated by our class sizes and individual-student focuse approach.
Innovating the space around learners, our new campus features specialized learning spaces not found anywhere else.
While honoring child-led inquiry, our curriculum ensures students develop strong foundations in literacy, numeracy, and analytical thinking aligned with international standards.
Come and see what learning at RST Elementary will look like. You'll hear how the school will work day to day, talk with our team in small groups, and get answers to your questions.
Applications for the 2027–28 school year opened on 1 November, and families who attend Open School receive priority. If you feel RST Elementary is right for your child, you can start your application at the end of the session.
RSVP required by Saturday, 14 November
Our philosophy, the curriculum, and what a week at RST Elementary looks like.
Sit down with members of our team and talk through what matters most to your family.
Ask us anything, including tuition, which we'll go through in detail on the day.
Time is set aside at the end for families who are ready to apply.
Applying at Open School: there's nothing to bring. Our team will help you complete the online application at the end of your session, and we'll send payment details digitally afterward. For families new to RST, an English assessment is scheduled separately at a later date.
Need help in Japanese? Email us.
日本語でのご案内をご希望の方は、メールでお気軽にご連絡ください。
Head of School, RST Elementary
Jamel joins RST bringing nearly two decades of international education experience across the UK, Singapore, Malaysia and Tanzania.
He has held senior leadership positions in both established and founding schools, and brings extensive experience in school improvement, curriculum leadership, safeguarding, and developing strong, collaborative teams and school communities.
He remains a teacher at heart and is passionate about creating learning environments where children are curious, confident and able to take increasing ownership of their learning.
“I am excited by the ambition to take learning beyond the traditional classroom and into the community, nature, and the wider world.”
— Jamel Badaoui
Applications for Grades 1–3 for the inaugural 2027–2028 school year open to all families. Families who attend Open School receive priority.
Our first Open School for the public at Shimokita College: hear how the school will work, meet our team, ask questions, and apply on the day. Details & RSVP
Screening is completed for families new to RST by 15 December, and offers are sent on 16 December. Registration and the Term 1 deposit are due by 31 January 2027.
Final construction and setup of our dedicated elementary campus, including learning spaces, community space, and art facilities.
Let's build the school together! A special founding program for students runs from April to June 2027. It will help children get ready for the project-based style of RST Elementary, and also help them take part in the opening of the school.
Welcome our inaugural elementary students to a new chapter of Reggio-inspired learning, beginning with Grades 1, 2, and 3. Additional grades to be added annually.
The latest updates as we build RST Elementary together.
Morning and afternoon sessions at Shimokita College, a 3-minute walk from Shimokitazawa Station. RSVP required by 14 November.
See details & RSVP ↑Applications for Grades 1–3 are open to all families. Families who attend Open School receive priority, and you can apply on the day.
How to apply ↑We're delighted to welcome Jamel Badaoui as Head of School for RST Elementary's founding 2027–28 year.
Meet Jamel ↑Homeroom, EAL and specialist roles are open for our inaugural year in Shimokitazawa.
View open positions →
The campus is not just in the heart Shimokitazawa, it is a living member of it. One of Tokyo's most beloved and creatively alive neighbourhoods is both the school's address and its extended classroom.
Shimokitazawa sits at the junction of the Odakyu and Keio Inokashira lines, placing the school within easy reach of Shinjuku (4 min), Shibuya (5 min), and central Tokyo. Two underground station exits open directly into the neighbourhood, keeping the streets calm and pedestrian-friendly — a rare quality in the city. For families travelling from further afield, our dedicated bus service covers the wider metropolitan area.
Shimokitazawa has long been Tokyo's home for independent theatre, live music, vintage fashion, and artist-run galleries. Small venues, coffee roasters, ceramics studios, and second-hand bookshops line winding lanes with small independent companies abound. For a school built on the Reggio principle that environment is a teacher, this neighbourhood offers something no purpose-built facility can replicate: a living, breathing creative city at the front door. Students encounter working artists, makers, and performers as an ordinary part of their week.
Shimokitazawa has undergone a quiet transformation since the Odakyu rail tracks were moved underground in 2019. The resulting linear park now runs through the heart of the area, threading new restaurants, open workshops, and community spaces along a car-free greenway. This is a neighbourhood actively reinventing itself while honouring its roots: new architecture coexisting with 1970s shotengai, international residents alongside multigenerational local families. RST's elementary campus is proud to be part of this revival as a new institution in a neighbourhood that believes creativity and community belong together.
Be part of our inaugural elementary school class and help shape the future of Reggio-inspired education in Tokyo.
Join our mailing list for updates, news on information sessions and the application process.
Prefer to contact us directly? Email Us Here