Families of BSB - British School of Brussels | International School in Belgium
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Families of BSB

A parents' association that you will want to be part of.

Families of BSB (FoBSB) is the parents’ association of The British School of Brussels.

Families of BSB is run entirely by parent volunteers, who design, plan, and deliver a wide variety of events, groups, and support services alongside busy professional and family lives. Every parent at BSB is welcomed into this network, which functions both as a social hub and as a support system, helping families navigate the school and life in Belgium.

FoBSB coordinates:

  • a family matching service that can be accessed even before arrival in Belgium, giving newcomers a personal contact for questions on everything from housing to local doctors;
  • an active online community via its Facebook group, which is an invaluable source of connections and advice on life at BSB and in Belgium, especially for new families;
  • a network of over 50 class representatives, which ensures every class and tutor group has a parent contact linking families with teachers, the wider community, and each other;
  • regular coffee mornings and informal community drop‑ins, where parents can meet others in similar situations, share experiences, and pick up practical tips;
  • language conversation groups, which help parents practise English, French, Dutch, and other languages in a relaxed setting;
  • interest‑based groups including two book clubs, an art club, a walking group, a padel/pickleball group, and a cookery club, giving parents a way to pursue hobbies while building friendships;
  • skills and wellbeing workshops, often led by parents who share their own professional expertise;
  • themed events, seasonal fairs, picnics, and cultural celebrations that bring together the school community, many of which raise vital funds for FoBSB’s charity partners;
  • off‑campus excursions that help parents discover their host country together.

FoBSB volunteers also support school‑wide events and organise drives for local charities and community partners, often in conjunction with student groups, using Cavell House as their planning and logistics base.

Supporting new and transitioning families

Many parents arrive at BSB with limited local knowledge, no established network, and children who are anxious about a new language, curriculum, or country. FoBSB plays a particularly important role in helping families who are new to Belgium or moving between sections of the school by offering or facilitating:

  • practical guidance on housing areas, transport, healthcare, and everyday logistics, often distilled from the lived experience of long‑standing parents;
  • informal “how things work at BSB” conversations, covering everything from communication platforms to school lunches and extracurricular activities;
  • a friendly place to drop in after morning drop‑off, which can be especially valuable for parents who are not (yet) working;
  • opportunities to get more involved in the parent community – and perhaps learn new skills – by joining groups or volunteering;
  • peer support for parents navigating separation from extended family, culture shock, transition years at school, or the challenges of raising multilingual children.

For families who may only be in the country for a few years, these connections offer a fast track to belonging and relationships that often outlast their time at the school.

Meet BSB families

What families say about BSB

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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 Kayaoğlu Family, Turkish

“The past four years at BSB were undoubtedly the best time both our kids had throughout their academic lives. We really are grateful for the wonderful, embracing atmosphere BSB provided them with. We are definitely going to miss BSB.”

— The Kayaoğlu Family, Turkish

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The Inoue family, Japanese

“Our whole experience at BSB was excellent. The teachers always encouraged and respected our child’s efforts towards learning. So he enjoyed his school life at BSB and now he is really proud of being part of the BSB community.”

— The Inoue family, Japanese

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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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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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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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Anonymous, Belgian and Chinese

“BSB’s strengths are innovativeness, creativity, individual development of students, introducing to them all aspects of lives, providing a wide range of subjects with professional guidance.”

— Anonymous, Belgian and Chinese

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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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Anonymous, Spanish

“My daughter was welcomed and felt very at home when she arrived at Secondary School. The school organisation is amazing. Everything has been thought of.”

— Anonymous, Spanish

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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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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 Van Trappen family, Belgian

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

— The Van Trappen family, Belgian

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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 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

Families of BSB

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


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