The Headmaster and Mr Bell visit Japan

Over Half Term, the Headmaster and Mr Bell had the privilege of visiting Japan to showcase the exceptional opportunities that Shrewsbury School offers to Japanese families. 

Delivered through our distinctive approach to whole person education, combining academic excellence, co-curricular breadth, and outstanding pastoral care within a warm and inclusive community.

The Headmaster and Mr Bell each met with current Shrewsbury and Packwood parents at two separate receptions generously organised by Ayano Tetsuya, Senior Director of the Watanabe Educational Agency.  Ayano, who was herself educated in Shropshire, spoke with great enthusiasm about her time in the county and the many ways Shrewsbury supports international students to flourish academically and personally.

The Headmaster spent time at Keio University with whom we have a long-standing link.  The founder, Fukuzawa Yukichi, was a visionary educationalist whose life-work revolutionized Japanese society. 

You can read more about the Headmaster’s reflections on his visit in his latest Letter From Shrewsbury: Dear Japan. 

The Headmaster and Mr Bell attended the British Boarding Schools Fair, organised by Pippa’s Guardians, at JP Tower in Tokyo, where they spent seven hours meeting families interested in a British education.  They were supported by Old Salopian Towa Nishida, who acted as our interpreter.  Towa, a talented flautist and former member of Shrewsbury’s successful Polo team, is preparing to study Conservation at Queensland University.   She was able to speak first-hand about the transformative experience of boarding at Shrewsbury.

The Headmaster spoke to a packed audience at the afternoon seminar, expounding the numerous benefits of UK boarding, especially in a full boarding community where pupils are busily occupied with ‘serious fun’ seven days a week.  This really does set Shrewsbury in a small group of fewer than 10 UK boarding schools with over 500 boarders (in our case 620) in school on a Saturday night. 

They also attended the English Schools Fair, brilliantly organized by Pippa’s Guardians. They also had the pleasure of visiting Real Education in Tokyo and meeting CEO Ko Haruki.  Mr Haruki kindly introduced us to several families and gave us a tour of his excellent English-speaking school. The gifted horse chestnuts were notably delicious!

Dr Saito, CEO of JPrep, one of Tokyo’s largest and most respected language schools, invited Mr Bell to speak about the benefits of British boarding life and the outstanding opportunities available at Shrewsbury.

The Headmaster and Mr Bell were delighted by the level of interest shown in Shrewsbury.  We were also warmly supported by members of our Salopian community in Japan.  Shrewsbury’s unique whole person education resonated strongly with Japanese families, and we look forward to welcoming further pupils from Japan into our vibrant global community in the years ahead.