Our youngest students join our Pre-Kindergarten programme. At three years old, students join Kindergarten in Lower Primary. Year 3 marks the beginning of Upper Primary, which culminates in Year 6. Secondary School incorporates Year 7 to Year 13, from around 11 up to 18 years of age.

Year group placement at BSB is based on a child’s date of birth relative to our academic year (1 September–31 August), following the British system. This sometimes means a placement that differs from what a family expects, particularly if a child’s birthday falls close to these dates or they’re coming from a different educational system abroad. We follow this approach because it helps ensure your child is learning alongside peers of a similar developmental stage.

Getting started is straightforward. After an initial enquiry, our Admissions team will arrange a tour so you can see the school and meet the team in person (or virtually, if you’re not yet in Belgium). From there, you can submit a formal application through our online system, along with your child’s previous school reports and any relevant documentation.

Once your application is reviewed, we’ll be in touch with next steps. This might include a short assessment or informal conversation, depending on your child’s age and year group. On confirmation of a place, you’ll receive an offer and contract to sign to secure your child’s spot.

Yes! We welcome new students throughout the school year, not just in September, and many families join us mid-year as part of a relocation. Our team is experienced in helping children settle in quickly, whatever point in the year they arrive.

If you don’t yet have a confirmed relocation date, which we know is common for diplomatic, military and internationally mobile families, you don’t need to wait for certainty before starting the conversation with us. We’re happy to begin the process, hold a provisional place where appropriate, and stay in touch as your plans firm up.

All students at BSB take GCSEs at the end of Year 11- a broad, internationally recognised foundation that serves as a school-leaving qualification and prepares students for whichever post-16 route suits them best.

From there, BSB is the only school in Brussels offering all three post-16 pathways all under one roof – A-Levels, IB Diploma and BTEC. This means your child doesn’t need to know at age 11 which route they’ll want at 16; the right choice can be made when the time comes, based on how they learn best and where they’re headed next.

We are happy to talk through which pathway is likely to suit your child and if your family relocates again in future, having studied at a school offering multiple post-16 pathways often makes transitioning elsewhere easier too.

We operate a supervised school bus service that covers many routes, across Brussels, Tervuren and surrounding areas. The bus service is available for students aged four years and above. The annual bus fees can be found on our website. Additionally, many children arrive by tram (Tram 44 from Montgomery) or cycle.

We do not currently offer scholarships, and we don’t have a financial assistance programme for new or prospective families. If you have specific circumstances you’d like to discuss, our Finance team is happy to talk them through – please contact [email protected].

BSB is an inclusive school, and every child is encouraged to succeed regardless of background or learning profile. AEN support is available for students who need something extra beyond regular classroom teaching which includes children with learning differences, processing or attention difficulties, and other barriers to learning, as well as high-achieving students who need further challenge and extension.

Some more intensive support may carry an additional cost, which we’re happy to discuss based on your child’s specific needs.

English language level isn’t a barrier to joining BSB. We welcome students from all over the world with a wide range of starting points in English, and our EAL team provides substantial support to help every child settle in and thrive.

Depending on your child’s current level, this may include small, intensive, immersive classes designed to bring them up to the required level as quickly as possible, alongside their regular class and school life. Our team has extensive experience supporting newly-arrived international students, and helping children build both confidence and fluency is very much part of what BSB does well. More information can be found here.

As an international school, we offer a wide range of language learning, including bilingual programmes at both Primary and Secondary level. French begins in Kindergarten, from as early as age three, with Dutch introduced at age seven.

In Secondary School, students choose an additional language from Spanish, German or Dutch. Other languages may be available on an ad-hoc, extra-curricular basis, with some students going on to gain formal qualifications in these.

For students wishing to study a home or additional language not formally taught at BSB, we may be able to support self-study options at GCSE, A-Level or IB level, considered on a case-by-case basis.

Our Bilingual (BL) Programme has been running since 2011 and is a real strength of BSB offering a genuinely bilingual, biliterate and bicultural education in French and English from Year 1 to Year 9. Rather than French being taught only as a subject, BL students study part of their curriculum including History, Geography and Art in French itself, alongside core subjects like Maths and Science in English.

Students joining need age-appropriate development in English and/or French, along with genuine aptitude and motivation for the second language. All students are assessed at admissions, and reassessed in Year 6 before moving into Secondary.

The programme is excellent preparation for students continuing to the IB Bilingual Diploma post-16.

For primary school children, we offer supervised after-school options for younger children through Garderie (available at an additional cost).

Secondary students who remain on campus after school may complete homework or relax in a supervised environment at no additional cost. Many students also participate in our enrichment programme, with over 100 activities each week, most of which are included in the school fees.

BSB offers one of the broadest enrichment programmes of any school in Brussels offering over 100 different activities each week, spanning sports, music, drama, environmental clubs, public speaking and much more. Unlike many schools, the vast majority of these are included in the annual fees, with no extra charge. The only exceptions are tennis, golf and individual music lessons.

Perhaps your child has a specific interest that isn’t part of our on-campus programme –  in many cases, families combine what’s on offer at BSB with an external club nearby, and we’re always glad to point families in the right direction.

In addition to all the holistic benefits that a BSB education provides, we have some specific ways of ensuring that BSB students have the best possible start to the world beyond school. A dedicated Higher Education department provides quality information and advice for students in Year 12 and 13, and career skills and advice are also taught via PSHE lessons as part of our curriculum. Additionally, our BSB Futures programme is committed to building connections with the professional world that enrich student learning, empowering students of all ages to explore and develop their career aspirations.

Families of BSB (FoBSB) is our vibrant, active parent community based in its own building on campus, Cavell House. FoBSB runs social events, classes for parents, and a friendly on-site café where the community regularly comes together.

FoBSB also has a volunteer network of class representatives, who act as a warm, informal link between families, teachers and the school – a familiar face to turn to as you settle in, alongside your Admissions contact.

It’s often one of the first places new families find their feet at BSB, and a big part of why so many describe the school as feeling like home from very early on.