For the benefit of established, new and potential new British international schools across Japan, we are delighted to share that COBIS has received formal recognition of our COBIS Accreditation and Compliance scheme by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in Japan. Representing school communities, this official endorsement of COBIS Accreditation as meeting the standards expected for educational institutions in Japan, demonstrates COBIS's dedication to rigorous quality assurance and the promotion of the highest educational and safeguarding standards. 

 The MEXT Higher Education Bureau said of the recognition: “In August of this year, we made it possible for students who have completed courses accredited by COBIS to be admitted to universities in Japan. We hope that COBIS Accredited schools will continue to provide high quality education and will cooperate with Japanese universities to ensure a smooth admissions process”.

COBIS member schools can now confidently promote this recognition as a key value proposition, making their learning centres more attractive to prospective students and parents seeking high-quality education that can lead to university pathways in Japan as well as in the UK and other countries worldwide.

Colin Bell, COBIS CEO, said: “We are pleased that MEXT has formally recognised our COBIS Accreditation and Compliance scheme, which has been in operation since 2017. At COBIS, our mission is to support and empower all British international schools in their provision of high-quality education, and this acknowledgement only bolsters us in that mission. Our dedication to high standards, safeguarding and school improvement is central to COBIS, and we are proud that is being recognised around the world.”

This acknowledgement highlights the growing importance of international education systems and their integration into national educational frameworks, reflecting Japan’s openness to global standards.

COBIS was pleased to exchange the views with Ministers and Senior Officials at MEXT including KITAYAMA Koji, Deputy Assistant Minister, International Affairs Division and also with Matthew Knowles the now former British Council Director for Japan (pictured). We are proud of our work supporting and empowering schools for the benefit of students, and of our work to establish this long-term relationship – which is firmly built on friendship and mutual respect.

COBIS Members in Japan, as well as colleagues at the Department for Business and Trade shared their thoughts of the news:

“We are absolutely delighted that COBIS has received official recognition from the Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT). This milestone underscores that the education provided by our school not only meets global standards but also holds the endorsement of our local authority. COBIS Accreditation has always been significant to us, but this recognition amplifies its value and clarity even further. As we serve the world’s largest metropolis here in Greater Tokyo, with a population of 38 million, we are excited to advance our commitment to whole-person education in the Far East.”

Fei-Fei Hu
Founder and Chair of the Governing Board of Rugby School Japan and Phoenix House International School (Tokyo), COBIS Member (Compliance) Schools

“We at Phoenix House are thrilled to hear that COBIS has been recognised by MEXT. This is a true testament to their commitment to providing high-quality education in collaboration with schools worldwide. This recognition reflects COBIS' dedication to maintaining the highest standards in international education”

Claire Fletcher
Founding Head
Phoenix House International School, Tokyo, COBIS Member (Compliance) School

“We are delighted to learn that COBIS and the values that it stands for have been recognised by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in Japan. This represents a major step forward for COBIS and for the British School in Tokyo. It means that the education that we provide is now fully recognized by MEXT and shows that we are meeting the exacting global standards. The fact that MEXT now identifies the COBIS standards alongside the other global benchmarks is great news for British based education in Japan”

Ian Clayton
Principal
British School Tokyo, COBIS Accredited Member

“COBIS provides the framework for international schools to continue to raise the bar on quality. We are very proud of the support that COBIS affords British schools around the world, and I’m delighted that Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has recognised the COBIS Accreditation programme. I know that this will benefit schools, teachers, and, most importantly, students across the country.”

Thea Wiltshire | EdTech, Schools, Early Years, and SEND Specialist
Consumer, Creative, Sports and Education

Department for Business & Trade