Our School | History
Sydney is the proud location of the first overseas Japanese school in a developed country.
The Japanese Society of Sydney identified the need to have a Japanese primary education available to children of Japanese expatriates, and in May 1969, the Sydney Japanese School was established on a church site in Lindfield and consisted of just one classroom with 33 students.
In 1971, the school relocated to its current site in Terrey Hills to accommodate the rapidly growing number of enrolments.
Until 1975, SJIS offered only one stream of education for students in Years 1 to 9 – the Japanese Government Curriculum, which predominately catered to Japanese families. In 1975, the school recognised a growing need for a cultural-based private primary school in Sydney’s Northern Beaches. As a result, SJIS established the International Division for students in kindergarten through to Year 6, providing an education that followed the Australian curriculum.
In 1984, the school purchased the neighbouring five acres of land for further expansion and has continued to develop, with a 200m running track completed in 1993, followed three years later by a new administration building and additional classrooms. SJIS has continued to go from strength to strength, growing in popularity.
Celebrating 50 years of nurturing excellence
In 2019, SJIS celebrated 50 years of providing a world-class education to our students. Our education is not just limited to academic excellence, but also includes an enriched education alive with Japanese and Australian arts and culture.
Children immerse themselves in a global classroom and playground, giving them the opportunity to embrace a global mindset and become equipped to thrive in an ever-changing and inter-connected world.
We are proud of the value we place on Japanese and Australian cultural traditions, combined with a desire to lead the way in providing quality, innovative education.
