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About BSB

An international learning community in the heart of Europe.

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A message from Principal James Penstone

Welcome to the British School of Brussels, a vibrant, dynamic, and inclusive learning community where every individual is known, valued, and supported to thrive.

Since my arrival, I have been struck by the extraordinary sense of care and commitment that defines BSB. From the moment you step onto our beautiful, state-of-the-art campus, you immediately sense an authentically international culture that inspires excellence, sparks curiosity, and nurtures mutual respect. This ethos is reflected in our outstanding academic outcomes, diverse enrichment opportunities, and a steadfast commitment to creating a welcoming environment where every student feels they belong.

What sets BSB apart is the strength of its relationships. These connections extend far beyond the classroom, building a resilient and connected community where students, staff, families, and our governing board work together to achieve a shared vision of success. Whether a child is with us for a few months or many years, they are embraced as part of a community that prioritises holistic development, cultivates leadership, and ignites a lifelong passion for learning.

We are equally committed to preparing students to meet the challenges of the future with creativity and responsibility. By seamlessly integrating sustainability and innovation into our curriculum and campus life, we inspire students to think critically about their role in shaping a better world. Whether addressing global ecological challenges, navigating the complexities of an interconnected world, exploring the ethics of new technologies, or contributing to transformative community initiatives, our students graduate as leaders with purpose and impact.

I am immensely proud to lead and serve a school where collaboration, inquiry, and openness underpin every aspect of our work. Our exceptional professionals are deeply aligned with the vision and values of BSB and invest thoroughly in their ongoing growth and learning. This commitment to excellence ensures our staff are at the forefront of educational best practices, enabling them to deliver an unparalleled experience for our students. Together, with our families, we co-create an environment that inspires a commitment to shaping a better tomorrow.

Whether you are exploring our Early Childhood CentrePrimary School or Secondary School, I warmly invite you to discover what makes BSB so special. I look forward to welcoming you to a community that empowers every student to grow in character and confidence, engage in meaningful learning, and contribute to a brighter future.

James Penstone
Principal

Why we’re different

Our curriculum is unique, offering the widest choice

BSB is the only school in Belgium to offer three pre-university routes from age 16: A Levels, IB Diploma and BTEC. Our Primary curriculum offers a bespoke, skills-based, inquiry-driven approach adapted from the UK national curriculum to meet the needs of our diverse student population.

Our academic results are amongst the highest of any international school in Europe and well above the worldwide average

99%+ pass rate in A Level and BTEC in 2023, with an average IB score of 35, compared to the world IB average of 30. Independently ranked as one of the best schools in the world.

We are the only international school in Belgium to have its own swimming pool

Our facilities are superb, providing the best indoor sports’ facilities in Europe, including a 25m swimming pool. Our state-of-the-art new Sports Centre opened in Autumn 2016.

Graduating students continuously gain impressive university places worldwide

Every year, superb results across the range of ability translate into impressive university places worldwide on a huge variety of competitive courses for our graduating students.

We were the first international school in Belgium to offer truly bilingual classes

We offer a French-English bilingual programme (not immersion), which is available to students aged four to 14 years.

Our school fees represent the best value amongst international schools in Belgium

We have the lowest fees overall, including application fees, compared to schools of a similar size.

What parents say

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The Azim family, Swedish/Pakistani

“My children and I have loved every minute of being in Brussels, largely due to the welcome and support we found at BSB! Amazing staff and teachers. My children were so well looked after from day one. I was also very happy with the teaching methodology and what my children were learning.”

— The Azim family, Swedish/Pakistani

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The Ziegler family, Dutch and Indian

“[Our child] was encouraged throughout and found a new area to excel in (film). He has also been able to make some very close friends in a relativey short period of time, undoubtedly, the social fabric of BSB has contributed to this. As far as I am concerned, BSB was the best choice I could have made for him.”

— The Ziegler family, Dutch and Indian

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The Strobel How family, British and German

“The respectful environment at BSB has deeply impressed me. It’s been a privilege to be part of this community.”

— The Strobel How family, British and German

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The Van Trappen family, Belgian

“BSB has really good values: the spirit of being one family, one community where the interaction with different cultures and the respect for each other is important.”

— The Van Trappen family, Belgian

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The Downing family, British

“[Our son] has enjoyed his time at BSB, he is leaving it a confident, well rounded and successful student. The teaching staff have encouraged him greatly, allowing him to develop excellent knowledge and understanding.”

— The Downing family, British

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The Kiikeri family, Finnish

“BSB has very good teachers and good academic standards. Teachers are very committed to their work, they encourage and motivate all students to do their best. Instead of pointing out the problems, they search for solutions and concentrate on the strengths of the students. This positive atmosphere is very important for learning. Students also enjoy school and have fun.”

— The Kiikeri family, Finnish

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The Miller family, British

“The school is a very positive environment not only for the children attending but also for their parents. It is supportive and encouraging and provides excellent choices in both academic and sporting options.”

— The Miller family, British

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The Eickhoff family, Belgian

“My four daughters have loved their experience at BSB and it was a pleasure to see the beautiful development of the school both in terms of facilities as well as quality of education since 1992 (all four started in Kindergarden)!”

— The Eickhoff family, Belgian

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Anonymous, British

“Both our children have enjoyed the theme-based learning approach that BSB takes to academic learning. Their musical and dramatic performances have also provided some memorable highlights.”

— Anonymous, British

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The Bruyninckx family, Belgian and French

“The best school we have ever known! There is an individual understanding of each child according to his/her character, gifts and possibilities. In fact, this gives the impression that every child has a chance at BSB.”

— The Bruyninckx family, Belgian and French

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The Sané family, French

“BSB challenged our son to go further, and also helped him to develop his global personality through the activities and the ‘community’ mindset. He arrived at BSB in Year 9 coming from a French system. The integration in a small classroom and the EAL support provided him with the confidence and the skills to integrate into the overall programme.”

— The Sané family, French

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The Oikonomou family, Greek

“We appreciate the educational system of BSB, which is very well suited to help our child grow up in an international environment.”

— The Oikonomou family, Greek

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The Ampolini family, USA

“We changed schools and joined BSB because we felt our son needed to be challenged more academically. The tour of the school gave us a wonderful impression (the facilities, the professionalism of the staff, the size, the Admissions staff). I just wish I had considered the British School when we came two years ago. As Americans we sometimes shy away from British schools because they are different from what we are traditionally used to but on the international scale BSB is very highly regarded.”

— The Ampolini family, USA

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The Stockman family, USA

“The atmosphere and interaction with initial BSB personnel was very warm and friendly. Our communications with the Admissions team were both efficient and very helpful.”

— The Stockman family, USA

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The Pillay family, Seychellois

“From day one we had excellent service and a very warm welcome from the devoted staff of BSB. The school’s location provides a conducive environment for learning. The academic aspects of the BSB are superb, and so are the sports facilities and recreational activities supported by the school. I would definitely recommend it to my colleague diplomats in need of an English-speaking school in Brussels.”

— The Pillay family, Seychellois

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The Malhotra family, British

“When we first visited BSB, we found the staff were very welcoming and friendly and the facilities were amazing. We felt that this would be the best environment for our twins.”

— The Malhotra family, British

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The Pandian family, Indian

“Teachers set high standards, and the level of pastoral care has been equally high. My daughter felt safe, valued and excited at BSB. I want to thank all her wonderful teachers for taking such good care of her physically, academically, socially and emotionally. Her two years at BSB passed like a dream. She came into BSB as a promising child, and here, she found her voice and learnt how to think for herself.”

— The Pandian family, Indian

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The RajeshKannan family, Indian

“The past two years have been wonderful years at BSB for our children. With the state-of-art facilities and great teachers, the school has amazed us every day. The teachers motivate the children by encouraging self-confidence and embracing their positive qualities and capabilities. BSB concentrates on the overall growth of the child, to be confident and responsible. We wish that our children could have another chance to study in this great, positive environment. We will surely miss BSB”

— The RajeshKannan family, Indian

An atmosphere of learning

Interested in a place at our school?Please get in touch with our friendly Admissions team


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