Founding Primary Teacher for Small Community School

Primary Teacher – Inquiry, Project-Based & Outdoor Learning | ¥4M~5M | Visa Sponsorship

SOTOBO Community School
Ichinomiya, Chiba, Japan
Sotobo Coast – approximately 60 minutes from central Tokyo

Employment Type: Full-time
Annual Salary: ¥4,000,000 ~ ¥5,000,000
Preferred Start Date: September 2026
Visa Sponsorship: Available, subject to immigration eligibility
Overseas Applications: Welcome

About SOTOBO Community School

SOTOBO Community School is a small bilingual primary school located in Ichinomiya on Chiba’s Sotobo coast, an area known for Tsurigasaki Beach, surf culture, coastal farms, rivers, and shrine forests.

Since opening in April 2026, we have been building a learning community centred on inquiry, authentic projects, and meaningful connections with nature and the local community.

Our educational approach is inspired by international and child-centred practices, including:

-Inquiry-based learning
-Project-based learning
-The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP)
-Outdoor education
-Place-based learning
-Concept-based learning

We believe education begins with children’s encounters with the real world.

At SOTOBO, the beach, forests, rivers, farms, local businesses, and wider community become part of the learning environment. Through authentic experiences, children learn to observe deeply, ask meaningful questions, think independently, collaborate with others, and contribute positively to the places they belong.

We are now looking for an experienced primary educator with an exceptional command of English who wants to help shape the next stage of our school.

This is not a conventional English teaching or ALT position.

You will work alongside a Japanese homeroom teacher to co-design and facilitate inquiry across the curriculum, using English as an authentic language for learning, communication, research, creativity, and exploration.

Key Responsibilities

-Co-plan and co-teach inquiry units with a Japanese homeroom teacher
-Design and facilitate project-based learning connected to the local environment and community
-Support children’s learning through dialogue, research, hands-on experiences, creativity, and reflection
-Create a rich English-speaking learning environment throughout the school day
-Develop learning experiences based on children’s questions, interests, and emerging ideas
-Document children’s learning through observations, photographs, reflections, and portfolios
-Contribute to curriculum design and the ongoing development of the school’s learning framework
-Collaborate closely with the teaching team to reflect on children’s learning and improve practice
-Support a small, mixed-ability and diverse community of learners

-Essential Qualifications & Experience

We are looking for someone who:

-Has an exceptional command of spoken and written English, sufficient to teach, plan, and create curriculum in an English immersion environment
-Has classroom experience with primary-aged children
-Can design and facilitate learning rather than relying primarily on pre-planned or textbook-based lessons
-Is confident leading inquiry, discussion, projects, research, and hands-on learning
-Enjoys working collaboratively with other educators
-Is reflective, adaptable, and comfortable working in a growing school
-Is interested in contributing not only as a teacher, but also as a member of a developing educational community

A recognised teaching qualification or licence such as a B.Ed, PGCE, QTS, or state teaching licence is strongly preferred.

However, candidates without a formal teaching licence may also be considered if they have substantial and relevant classroom experience in inquiry-based, international, alternative, or child-centred education.

Relevant Experience

Experience in one or more of the following areas would be particularly valuable:

-IB Primary Years Programme (PYP)
-Inquiry-based learning
-Project-bas