As students and teaching staff take a well-earned Autumn break, it is a good opportunity to look back over a first half-term of exciting and exceptional school trips.
Year 7 students kicked off the term with a five day residential adventure in the Netherlands, a screen-free experience filled with outdoor challenges and friendship-building. From canoeing through calm waterways to tackling team challenges, the trip was a rite of passage – a chance for students to test their independence and form lasting bonds. As one of the school’s most anticipated visions, it marked the exciting transition into secondary life with laughter, muddy boots, and stories that will be told for years.
Also in Year 7, our young innovators headed to the Luxembourg International School for the F1 STEM Racing Challenge – a fast-paced international contest where teams design, build and race model Formula 1 cars. After hours of testing and fine-tuning, our three BSB teams rocketed into the semi-finals and took home 1st place for graphics! Their success built on skills developed in last year’s Blood Hound programme, linking Primary and Secondary creativity through the thrill of design and engineering.
Our Year 13 Drama students took the stage at the ISTA TaPs Theatre Festival in London, joining peers from across the world for an immersive few days of workshops and performances. From experimenting with scenes inspired by Stranger Things and Dracula to exploring new methods of collaboration, the experience fired up their imaginations ahead of their A-Level and IB practical exams. As one student put it, learning directly from theatre professionals “was so inspiring and gave me ideas for what I can really achieve.”
Back on home soil, our IGCSE Geography students turned the High Fens National Park into an open-air classroom on a brilliant fieldwork day along the River Bayehon. Measuring flow rates, river depth and rock size, they saw first-hand the forces that shape natural landscapes – and rediscovered how exhilarating science can be when it comes to life outdoors. Our Y12 IB and A Level Geography students also took field trips to Antwerp and Duisburg in October.
In addition, other trips at BSB this half term have been equally inspiring: Year 1’s day of animal discovery at Plankendael Zoo, Year 4’s artistic exploration at the Folon Foundation, Year 5’s visit to the Tervuren Library, Year 6’s historical immersion at Waterloo, Year 9’s cultural deep dive at the Africa Museum, GCSE Drama students’ theatre experience in London, CAS and Gin students’ community service at Zonien Senior Centre in Tervuren, and Year 11 French students’ language and culture visit to the Théâtre Royal du Parc in Brussels.
School trips at BSB are a core part of the educational experience, expertly designed to enrich learning, nurture essential life skills, and build a vibrant sense of belonging among students. These journeys – ranging from local excursions for young children, to adventurous residentials for older year groups – support academic growth, develop friendships, and foster identification with the BSB community, making them a foundational pillar of school life.
School trips at BSB operate as both academic and social milestones. For Primary students, short local outings and residential trips enhance learning by providing direct, first-hand experiences closely linked to curriculum themes such as their Units of Discovery. Older Primary pupils enjoy annual residentials, building independence, confidence, and teamwork ahead of their progression to Secondary school.
In Years 3–9, annual residential trips become a universal rite of passage, included in the school fees to ensure full participation. Destinations range from Belgian heritage sites to treetop adventures, skiing in Austria, and canal tours in the Netherlands. Trips can extend as far as the Austrian Alps, Southern France, and even North America, with activities built around adventure, discovery, and collaboration.
A strong thread running through every BSB school trip is the school’s commitment to belonging and friendship. Shared experiences outside the classroom foster empathy and resilience, helping students form meaningful bonds and celebrate both their own and others’ strengths. Team-building activities, group challenges, and creative exercises bring together diverse students, allowing everyone to “find their place” in the school’s multicultural community. Students consistently report returning from trips with a deeper sense of connection – not only to their peers, but to the BSB identity itself.
The importance of belonging is woven into broader BSB school life, seen in everything from teachers greeting students by name, to older students mentoring younger ones, to events like Family Day where every member of the school community comes together. These moments – on trips, in enrichment clubs, and at community celebrations – create a supportive atmosphere in which students know they are “part of something bigger”.
School trips are not an optional extra at BSB; they are fundamental to the school’s holistic approach to education. Each journey is meticulously planned and led by expert providers alongside dedicated teaching staff, ensuring safety, enjoyment, and learning are inseparable.
Participation in trips builds crucial life skills such as independence, self-reliance, leadership, teamwork, and respect for others. Students are encouraged to take measured risks in supportive environments, develop problem-solving strategies, and confront new challenges – all essential for growth and wellbeing. Parents and students alike frequently notice the transformative effect of these experiences, returning home more self-aware and confident.
Enrichment at BSB is about extending learning beyond classroom walls, providing over 200 activities every year, including a rich programme of field study trips. School trips complement enrichment clubs and creative events, helping students discover passions and meet new friends in an inclusive setting. Partnerships like the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award further expand opportunities for teamwork and adventure, building on the expedition spirit fostered during group journeys.
By making school trips a central and accessible part of the educational package, BSB demonstrates its commitment to equity and inclusion, ensuring every student can participate fully in defining moments of school life.
Interested in joining the BSB community? Please contact our Admissions team for more details.