British School of Brussels

Admissions Philosophy: Inclusion Over Selection

The British School of Brussels takes a deliberately open-access approach to admissions — a policy that sets it apart from many high-performing international schools. BSB does not operate entrance exams or selective academic criteria, and it accepts applications at any point in the academic year. This rolling admissions model is especially valued by expatriate families whose relocation timelines rarely align with traditional September intake windows.

Who BSB Is For

BSB primarily serves the international expatriate community in Brussels — diplomatic families, corporate transferees, and other globally mobile professionals — but has increasingly attracted local Belgian families drawn by the school's bilingual programme and academic reputation. Approximately 90% of students hold non-Belgian passports, representing 70 nationalities.

What to Expect

• No entrance exam — admissions are non-selective
• Rolling intake — applications accepted throughout the year
• Standard documentation required: school reports, birth certificate, vaccination records
• Application fee: €750 (one-time, non-refundable)
• EAL support — available for students whose first language is not English, making English-medium instruction accessible to a broad range of learners

Fees (2024–25)

Tuition ranges from €20,600 (Kindergarten) to €46,700 (Years 10–13), reflecting BSB's position as a premium international school. No additional deposit or recurring enrolment fees are listed. A single €750 application fee is required.

The Bilingual Advantage

For families with French- or Dutch-language connections, BSB's bilingual programme (Reception through Year 10 in French-English; Dutch from Year 3) adds particular value to an already comprehensive international education. The IB Bilingual Diploma is available at the top of the school.

Philosophy and Values at BSB

The British School of Brussels positions itself as more than an academic institution — it aspires to be an educational force for good. This phrase, drawn directly from the school's published philosophy, encapsulates a commitment to holistic development that goes well beyond examination results.

The Six Core Values

BSB structures its community culture around six interlocking values:

• Confidence — empowering students to take intellectual and social risks
• Caring — building empathy and a sense of responsibility to others
• Courage — encouraging students to stand up for what is right
• Curiosity — nurturing a love of inquiry and lifelong learning
• Resilience — equipping students to navigate challenge and setbacks
• Respect — for self, peers, and the broader world

These values are not merely aspirational statements; they are woven into daily school life through pastoral structures, enrichment programmes, service activities such as Amnesty International and the Global Issues Network, and the school's open-access, non-selective admissions policy.

A Learning Community, Not Just a School

BSB's philosophy page describes the school as an inclusive international learning community. This framing is significant: BSB is not just educating individual students, but building a diverse, interconnected cohort drawn from 70 nationalities. The school's vision — "a centre of learning excellence and an educational force for good, every day for every child" — sets an ambitious, egalitarian benchmark.

Philosophy in Practice

The school's non-selective admissions policy is one of the clearest expressions of its philosophy. Unlike many high-performing international schools that admit only the academically strongest applicants, BSB welcomes students of all backgrounds and abilities, including those requiring English as an Additional Language (EAL) support. This inclusive stance is paired with genuinely strong academic outcomes (IB average of 36 in 2025, A-Level 100% pass rate), suggesting that high performance and inclusivity are treated as complementary rather than competing goals.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, mindfulness clubs, and a formal focus on wellbeing (yoga, massage and relaxation sessions) further reflect a philosophy that values the whole child — academically, socially, emotionally, and physically.

Life on Campus

The British School of Brussels occupies an expansive 18-hectare campus in Tervuren, a leafy residential suburb southeast of Brussels. The setting provides a distinctive contrast to urban school life: green open spaces surround modern purpose-built academic, sports, and arts buildings.

Flagship Facilities

Sports (Jacques Rogge Sports Centre, opened 2016)

• 25-metre indoor swimming pool
• Fitness suite
• Gymnasium
• Dance studio
• Multi-purpose sports hall

Academic

• 10 science laboratories (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
• 3 libraries
• Modern Languages Centre
• Design and Textiles Workshops
• Food & Nutrition Teaching Kitchens

Arts and Performance

• Purpose-built theatre spaces (including the historic Brel Theatre)
• Music recording studio

Enrichment: Over 200 Clubs and Activities

BSB's enrichment programme is a defining feature of campus life. With more than 200 clubs and activities across all year groups, students can pursue interests in:

• Sports: Football, swimming, netball, basketball, gymnastics, tennis, tag rugby, volleyball, cross-country, golf, table tennis, ultimate frisbee, karate, and more
• Music: Junior and Senior Choir, Concert Band, Orchestra, Strings, Flute Ensemble, Barbershop Chorus, Percussion Ensemble
• Drama: Drama Club, LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art), School Musical Productions
• Arts: Art & Design Club, Breakdancing, Modern Dance, Sewing
• Academic: Chess Club, Public Speaking, Debating, Science Practical Club, TT Rockstars (Coding), Library Club
• Service and Awareness: BSBees Eco Club, Amnesty International, Global Issues Network
• Wellbeing: Mindfulness, Yoga, Massage & Relaxation Club
• Languages: Italian Club, French Homework Club, French Games Club
• Outdoor/Leadership: Duke of Edinburgh's Award (Years 9–13)

This breadth ensures that every student — whether athletically, artistically, or academically inclined — can find a meaningful community within the school.

A Curriculum Designed for Global Destinations

BSB follows the UK National Curriculum through to age 16, when students sit IGCSE/GCSE examinations. From Year 12, students choose from three distinct pre-university pathways:

• A-Levels — the traditional British university preparation route
• IB Diploma Programme — with unique bilingual options (French/English or Dutch/English)
• BTEC — vocational qualifications for students with applied learning preferences

This breadth of provision is unusual among international schools and ensures that students with different learning styles, career aspirations, and home languages can find an appropriate route.

Standout Exam Results

IB Diploma (2025)

• Average score: 36 points (global average: ~30.6) — the school's best result since 2017
• ~93% of candidates exceeded global averages
• Pass rate: approximately 99–100% over the past three years

A-Levels (2022)

• Pass rate: 100% (third year running)
• ~25% of grades awarded at A*
• ~50% of grades at A*–A

IGCSE (2022)

• 62% of grades at 7–9 (equivalent to A*–A)
• 97% of grades at 4–9 (equivalent to C or above)

Bilingual and Multilingual Distinction

BSB is notable for its longstanding bilingual French-English programme, running from Reception through Year 10 — one of very few international schools in Europe to offer this from as young as age 4. Dutch is introduced from Year 3 (age 7), and Spanish and German are available as additional languages. The IB Bilingual Diploma (French/English or Dutch/English) is a particularly distinctive offering for students targeting French- or Dutch-speaking universities.

University Destinations

Nearly all BSB graduates proceed to higher education. Destinations include Russell Group universities (Oxford, Imperial College, UCL, Warwick), leading European institutions (KU Leuven, TU Delft, ESADE), and North American universities (Boston University, McGill, UBC). Oxford offers have been confirmed in recent cohorts (PPE). The school reports that over 95% of leavers applied to university and substantially all received offers.

A History Built on Community

The British School of Brussels traces its origins to 1969, when a small group of British expatriate families — led by Sir Dick Pantlin — established an English-medium school in the leafy Brussels suburb of Tervuren. The school's first Principal, Alan Humphries, oversaw an institution that deliberately kept classes small and operated on first-name terms, reflecting a founding belief that belonging and personal connection were as important as academic instruction.

Key Milestones

• 1969 — BSB officially created by British expatriate community
• 1970 — School opens to first students
• 1981 — King Baudouin attends the official opening of the school's theatre (later known as the Brel Theatre), marking BSB's growing cultural ambition
• 2004 — Authorised as an IB World School, adding the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme to its British curriculum
• 2010 — BSB celebrates its 40th anniversary of official opening in Tervuren
• 2016 — The Jacques Rogge Sports Centre opens (October), adding an indoor 25-metre swimming pool, fitness suite, gymnasium, dance studio, and multi-purpose sports hall — the largest single addition to the campus
• 2019 — BSB marks its 50th anniversary
• 2023 — Named Spear's School of the Year 2023, recognition of its consistent academic and community excellence

Growth and Transformation

What began as a modest community school for diplomatic and corporate families has grown into a 1,350-student institution drawing from 70 nationalities across an 18-hectare campus. Yet BSB has maintained the ethos of its founders: a close-knit, values-driven community where every child is known. The adoption of the IB Diploma (alongside A-Levels and BTEC) and the development of a French-English bilingual track reflect the school's evolution from a purely British expatriate institution into a genuinely international one, serving families of diverse nationalities and educational expectations.