Rikkyo School in England, British Academy of Rikkyo

• Location: Guilford Road, England,
• Year of foundation: 1972,
• Number of students: about 180,
• Language of instruction: Japanese, English,
• Type of studying: mixed.

Rikkyo School in England is a Japanese school located an hour's drive from London. About 180 students of primary, secondary, high school students study there.

The educational institution has been operating in England since 1972, offering studying according to the educational system of Japan. Rikkyo School is the first private international school to be certified by the Japanese Ministry of Education as equivalent to Japanese schools. Upon graduation, students receive the same qualifications as graduates in Japan. The school is also recognized by the UK Department of Education, which gives it the right to teach in the country.

The studying is conducted by Japanese teachers in Japanese, but there are also English lessons taught by British teachers. There are many UK staff working here, so students will be introduced to the English language throughout the learning process.

Pupils of Rikkyo School in England receive extensive opportunities to develop individual talents through thematic communities, a variety of sports and creative events, participation in campus and external events. A balanced schedule, including academic disciplines and time for extracurricular activities, allows each student to focus on their goals, gain new experience, and broaden their horizons.

The main language of instruction is Japanese, so students do not need to worry about an unstable language environment that could hinder mental and physical development. English is the second most frequently used, and many subjects combine both languages in the studying process.

The teaching staff provides comprehensive support to each student, offering assistance in extracurricular time: additional classes in subjects, tutoring, language classes, individual lessons in playing musical instruments, personal training in various sports and much more.

Studying at Rikkyo School in England is conducted in three stages of school education - in primary, middle and high school, covering grades 5 to 11.

More than 100 students and teachers are accommodated in a comfortable residence, which does not have single rooms - this approach allows students to make friends, develop their social, communication skills. High school students live in rooms for 2-6 students, and for middle school pupils there are rooms with a capacity of 6-10 people.

During the first week of each semester, summer and spring break, students will stay with a British family living near the school: the one-week homestay experience will give students the opportunity to immerse themselves in culture, language, customs.

Pupils of Rikkyo School are provided with three meals a day. Although everyone eats the same meals, the menu is compiled by an in-house dietitian and chef with the balance of nutrients in mind, so it is balanced, including a wide variety of Japanese and British recipes.

During the academic year, Rikkyo School England hosts various events that help the student community make friends, immerse themselves in the study of the culture and customs of the UK, broaden their horizons and gain new experience. Some of the annual events are:

• Wimbledon Tennis Tournaments – a trip to the famous stadium organized in the second half of the autumn semester,
• Visiting academic classes –  visiting Oxford and Cambridge, famous historical sites of the south of England and viewing exhibitions in the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Houses of Parliament and Madame Tussauds,
• Themed trips: Groups of students visit scenic locations in the South of England to participate in tea ceremonies, sporting events, music festivals,
• Recreational trips: walking around the city, shopping, visiting restaurants and shops every semester,
• Concerts: at the festive concerts organized at the end of each of the semesters, musical student groups perform,
• Field Research: Students from all grades often travel to rural areas in the region to conduct research in the natural sciences.

Rikkyo School England has many sports, cultural, and creative clubs, among which are:

• Cookery
• Tea ceremonies,
• Flower arrangement,
• Dancing
• Photography
• Orchestra
• Instrumental collective,
• Basketball
• Volleyball
• Kendo
• Tennis
• Softball
• Lacrosse
• Dramatic art,
• Public relations, school media.

The Friday Sports event is organized every Friday after classes. Students from all grades and teachers come together to try their hand at new sports or devote time to activities that have already been learned. Activities range from basketball, volleyball and tennis training to horseback riding, dancing, aerobics, golf.

• Accreditations of the Ministries of Education of Japan and the United Kingdom,
• Almost all students are accommodated in residence, and their parents live in the UK, Japan, various countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East,
• Studying in English and Japanese + optional study of other modern languages,
• On average, 15 students are in one classroom, who are led by 2-3 teachers,
• Educational cooperation with UK institutions, exchange programs,
• A wide range of extracurricular directions for talent development.

The Rikkyo School England campus is an hour and a half drive from London, in the countryside of Guilford, covering a vast area full of greenery, walking and sports grounds. During the year, squirrels and rabbits can be seen on campus, for which the learning area is a natural habitat.

The grounds of Rikkyo School England are spread around the mansion of the feudal lord who owned this area more than 100 years ago. Reminiscent of the world of Harry Potter, the imposing building was once the manor house where the lord lived, but it is now used as the main academic building and a residence for girls. In addition to it, the campus includes a garden house, a stable, three buildings where servants used to live. After the overhaul, the buildings are used as residences for teachers, music studios, laboratories. In recent years, modern facilities have been built on the campus: a residence for boys, dining and assembly halls. Recently, the construction of an administrative building was completed, which houses teachers' offices, a medical office and a library, as well as a scientific laboratory building equipped with modern equipment.

Sports facilities include:

• A multifunctional hall with an area equal to three tennis courts,
• 400-meter all-weather athletics stadium,
• Three football fields,
• Eight tennis courts,
• Martial arts halls, kendo.

The music building consists of a main concert hall and eight classrooms for classes, perfectly equipped with musical instruments that students can rent.

The school year is divided into trimesters, lasting from April to March of the following year. The weekday schedule includes:

• 7:00 – wake up,
• 7:20 – exercises in the yard,
• 7:30 – breakfast,
• 8:10 – service in the chapel,
• 8:45-15:35 – start of classes,
• 12:50 – lunch,
• 15:35-18:00 – extracurricular activities,
• 18:00 — dinner,
• 19:40-20:50 – self-study, homework,
• 22:00-23:00 – going to bed.

On Fridays, most of the day is devoted to sports and extracurricular activities, and on weekends - to rest and excursions.

The cost of studying already includes payment for accommodation and meals, textbooks, transport for excursions, and most extracurricular activities. Approximate list of additional costs may include:

• Entrance fee,
• Annual contributions for the use of infrastructure,
• Individual lessons on request,
• Ticket fees for excursions,
• Airport Transfer,
• Personal expenses.

Before applying, staff recommend visiting campus or contacting the admissions office online to ask questions, familiarize themselves with the curriculum and extracurricular opportunities. The admission procedure will consist of the following stages:

• Submission of the application and the required documents,
• Payment of the entrance fee,
• Passing interviews, entrance exams,
• Receiving an official invitation to enroll,
• Payment of part or full of the cost of the first year of study,
• Arrival at the campus for accommodation in the residence, attending introductory events, starting classes.

Completion of studies at Rikkyo School ensures almost 100% enrollment at the university of the same name in Tokyo. Every year, more than 25 places are allocated for graduates of the school in bachelor's programs - students who have achieved high academic performance are automatically admitted to the chosen specialization. Other graduates who are not included in the recruitment of Rikkyo University are willingly accepted to leading universities in the UK, USA and other countries.

Admission of new students is conducted on the basis of entrance tests and interviews. To enter, applicants must provide personal documents: passport, health insurance, visa or residence permit, academic transcripts from the previous place of study. Teaching is conducted in Japanese and English, classes are divided by proficiency levels, so perfect knowledge of these languages is not a prerequisite for enrollment.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision