The latest safeguarding policies and an insight into teacher training were well received by an audience of 20 agents at a joint English UK - British Council, Japan - JAOS agent briefing session in Tokyo today.

Demand for overseas English programmes for young learners and teacher training is growing in Japan and the Japanese Government aims to double the number of senior high school students studying abroad by 2020 from 30,000 to 60,000.

English education reform at elementary, junior high and senior high levels has been gathering pace throughout the country – for example, senior high school students are now expected to demonstrate CEFR B1 Level English proficiency before graduation. English teachers at junior high schools and senior high schools are expected to teach English in English.

The Japanese Government has also launched a competitive funding programme for the internationalisation of school education. It funds more than 100 "top global high schools", which will enhance the provision of classes taught in English and expand study abroad opportunities and advice for students.

In response to the growth of both markets in Japan, English UK's Sarah Wang and British Council Japan's Robin Skipsey were joined by Emma Buckby from International House London and Gary Clark from Babylon School Of Languages on Friday 11 December 2015 to discuss safeguarding and to hold a panel session on teacher training.