James Penstone
Principal
We offer a British-based curriculum, adapted to our European context and international student body. BSB is an environment where students can grow as individuals and make confident decisions. Exam results are important, but becoming well-rounded individuals and global citizens is important, too. We are one of the only schools in Belgium to offer truly bilingual courses: we offer a French/English bilingual programme across 10 Year Groups, starting in Year 1 (age 5-6). We also offer Dutch lessons for children as young as seven years old.
All students follow a British-based curriculum up to the age of 16 (GCSE and International GCSE). Post-16, BSB is the only school in Belgium to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, A Levels, and BTEC vocational courses. Students can also choose to study for a Bilingual IB Diploma in French/English or Dutch/English.
Learning is at the heart of our curriculum but we also value personal growth and development. At BSB, we help students to achieve their goals inside and out of the classroom, discovering talents through a diverse range of Enrichment activities from music and drama to science clubs, mathematical quests, sports and the Arts.
The school offers the option to follow a Bilingual French/English stream in the Primary and Secondary schools. It also offers students a Dutch/English Bilingual International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, and Dutch lessons for children as young as seven years old.
We have organised the information available for this school into 10 sections and 40 questions. Click or tap on the name of each section to read more.
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Number of students
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1200
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Number of nationalities represented in the school
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65+
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Most common nationality
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British
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Native English speaking teachers
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Yes
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Language support for students not fluent in English
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Yes. BSB offers comprehensive EAL (English as an Additional Language) support from day one, tailored by age and ability. In Primary, specialist EAL teachers work alongside class teachers, with dedicated EAL lessons replacing French in Years 1–2. In Secondary, students are placed in small classes matched to their language level, progressing toward mainstream lessons at their own pace. Support extends beyond the classroom through homework clubs, after-school sessions, and exam-focused help — with the option to sit the Cambridge IGCSE in English as a Second Language in Year 10.
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Additional language classes offered by the school
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BSB offers a rich multilingual experience. French begins in Early Years and remains a core subject throughout, with differentiated groups from beginner to first-language level. Dutch, German and Spanish are available in Secondary, including at IGCSE, A Level and IB. BSB's bilingual English-French pathway — available from age 4 — sees a significant proportion of lessons taught in each language. Students can also work towards the DELF B2 French diploma, keeping options open for francophone universities.
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Max. number of students per class
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Class sizes are intentionally kept small: a maximum of 21 from Years 1–11, and just 16 in Years 12 & 13 — ensuring every student gets the attention they deserve.
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Average number of students per class
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Class sizes are intentionally kept small: a maximum of 21 from Years 1–11, and just 16 in Years 12 & 13 — ensuring every student gets the attention they deserve.
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Does the school employ teaching assistants?
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Yes.
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Use of technology in the classroom
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Technology is woven into everyday learning at BSB. All classrooms feature digital whiteboards, and a fully connected ICT system supports a rich Virtual Learning Environment. From Years 3–10, every student is provided with their own device — laptop or iPad — while Sixth Form and Year 11 students bring their own, preparing them for independent study and beyond.
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Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online during emergencies)
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Absolutely. BSB has proven its ability to switch seamlessly to fully online learning — as demonstrated during the Covid-19 pandemic. With our Virtual Learning Environment and connected device programme already in place, we can transition to virtual classrooms quickly and confidently whenever the need arises.
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Do students practice religion at the school? What religion?
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BSB is non-denominational and welcomes families of all faiths and none. Students gain a broad understanding of world religions as part of a balanced, inclusive curriculum.
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External examinations or assessments available
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IGCSE, IB Diploma, A level and BTEC
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Results in these examinations
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BSB's 2025 results are outstanding across the board. In the IB Diploma, students achieved an average score of 36 — significantly above the anticipated global average of 30.6, with over 93% of students outperforming expected international averages. At A Level, over a third of grades were awarded at A or A*, while BTEC students put in an equally impressive performance. At IGCSE, 52% of grades were 9–7, with BTEC Level 3 achieving a 100% pass rate and 60% of students earning a Distinction or Distinction*.
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Do teachers assign homework to their students?
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Yes
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Approximate hours of homework given
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Homework expectations grow with age. In Primary, tasks are light and manageable. In Years 10–11, students can expect around 40–50 minutes per subject per week. At Sixth Form level, independent study becomes central, with students managing their own workload across reading, research, coursework and exam prep. If the balance ever feels off, BSB encourages parents to get in touch so adjustments can be made.
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Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation
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80% to 90%
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Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs
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Yes
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Learning support offered
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BSB's inclusive approach means every child — whatever their learning profile — is supported to thrive. Specialist staff including educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, counsellors, and learning mentors work alongside teachers to provide tailored support from Early Years through to post-16.
In Primary, help is woven into daily classroom life through small-group work, targeted interventions, and extension tasks for high achievers. In Secondary, dedicated learning support lessons focus on literacy, numeracy, and study skills, with homework clubs and in-class assistance also available. At Sixth Form, personalised programmes run alongside A Level, IB, or BTEC studies.
Parents are treated as partners throughout — involved in assessments, support planning, and regular reviews every step of the way.
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The school supports gifted, able and talented students
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Yes
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Student access to education psychologist
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Yes
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Entry evaluation for students
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BSB's admissions process is welcoming and straightforward. Entry is non-selective for most year groups — no entry exams required. Instead, the Admissions team works closely with families to find the right starting point for each child.
Post-16 pathways (A Level, IB and BTEC) do have entry criteria to ensure students are well prepared. For students with additional educational needs or language support requirements, sharing relevant reports early helps the school plan the right support from day one.
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Brief description of entry evaluation required
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Interview required.
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Waiting list
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No
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Deadline for registration (new academic year)
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There's no registration deadline at BSB — we welcome new students throughout the year. Whenever your family is ready, our Admissions team is on hand to make the transition as smooth as possible.
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Students can join after academic year begins
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Yes
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School start time
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The school day at BSB starts at 8.45.
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School finish time
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The school day ends at 15.50 for most students, with Kindergarten finishing at 14.00. Reception through Year 2 enjoy a free Wednesday afternoon — a lovely chance for younger children to rest, play, and recharge mid-week.
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Supervised care before/after school
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Yes, we provide morning supervision from 8.00 and evening supervision until 19.00. Students also regularly stay later for clubs, sports, and music or drama rehearsals.
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School bus service available
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Yes — BSB operates a supervised bus service covering Brussels and beyond, including longer-distance routes such as Antwerp and Mons. Transport is an optional, separately charged service. For full details on routes and fees, our Admissions team is happy to help.
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School provided lunches
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Yes — freshly prepared hot meals are served daily in BSB's on-site cafeteria, with vegetarian options, a salad bar, sandwiches, and more. For younger children (Kindergarten to Year 2), hot lunches are included in tuition fees. From Year 3 upwards, meals are available to purchase, and students are also welcome to bring a packed lunch. The cafeteria caters for allergies and diets, ensuring every child is well fed and ready to learn.
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Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc)
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Yes
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Uniform required
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No
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Facilities at the school
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BSB's campus is exceptionally well equipped. Highlights include:
A world-class 240-seat theatre with professional lighting and sound, a green room, workshop and costume department. There are also 10 science laboratories, three libraries, a Modern Languages Centre, Food & Nutrition kitchen classrooms, specialist Design & Textiles Technology workshops, and a music recording studio. Technology facilities include a CAD suite with 3D printer, woodworking workshops, and film-editing suites — all supported by campus-wide WiFi and interactive whiteboards in every classroom.
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Sports facilities at the school
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BSB's sports facilities are among the finest of any international school in Europe. The state-of-the-art Jacques Rogge Sports Centre houses a 25-metre indoor swimming pool (the only one at an international school in Belgium), a gymnastics arena, dance studio, fitness suite, and multi-purpose sports hall. Outdoors, students benefit from two full-size football pitches, a rugby pitch, three tennis courts, basketball and netball areas, a 300-metre running track, a sprint lane with long jump pit, and Europe's largest traverse bouldering wall at an international school — all with floodlit facilities.
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Qualities and characteristics best defining the school
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The British School of Brussels is an inclusive, international learning community set on a beautiful 10-hectare wooded campus in Tervuren, just 20 minutes from Brussels and Leuven. BSB is the only school in Belgium to offer three pre-university pathways — A Levels, IB Diploma and BTEC — alongside a French-English bilingual programme from age 4 and outstanding academic results year after year.
Guided by the belief that every child deserves to be confident, caring and courageous, BSB nurtures curious, resilient learners who engage actively with the world around them. World-class sports facilities, a 240-seat theatre, state-of-the-art technology and a rich enrichment programme ensure students can discover and develop talents in every direction.
Above all, BSB is a warm, welcoming community — with a hugely supportive family network that helps new families settle in quickly and feel genuinely at home.
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Teaching approach of the school
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BSB follows a British-based curriculum thoughtfully adapted for its diverse, international student body. In Primary, students benefit from a unique, bespoke curriculum that blends academic rigour with inquiry-based learning — nurturing curiosity, creativity and a genuine love of learning from the very start.
The approach is inclusive and non-selective: every child is supported to reach their potential, with teaching that is sensitive to the wider needs of students and their families. The goal goes beyond academic achievement — BSB aims to develop well-rounded young adults who are responsible, resilient and ready to engage purposefully with the modern world; people who respect themselves, respect others, and are inspired to make a difference.
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Primary School | Ages 3 to 11
Primary education at BSB runs from age 3 to 11 and we are committed to supporting children through this remarkable period of growth.
The whole school has worked together to develop a set of learning and teaching principles for BSB and these, along with the specific developmental needs of different ages of children, are what we intend for your child to experience in class:
We provoke wonder and joy in learning We build and nurture strong relationships and know our learners well We are experts in our field, engaging learners to discover more to make a difference We create inspiring and supportive environments that promote creativity and enable ownership of learning We develop knowledge and skills for life and learning.
Secondary School | Ages 11 to 18
In Years 7-9, students gain a solid foundation in a wide variety of subjects. Students largely follow the same curriculum, but have a choice of Dutch, German or Spanish as their second foreign language after French.
Years 10 -11 are the first exam years at the school. Students typically take 9 or 10 GCSEs or iGCSEs. Students have increasing choice and can tailor their curriculum to suit their skills and interests. In addition to the core subjects of English, French, Math and Science, students can choose from a wide variety of subjects including languages, humanities, arts and design technology subjects.
The final 2 years of school, Years 12-13, represent the greatest choice for students as they prepare for higher education or the world of work. BSB offers 3 routes – IB, A Levels and BTEC – representing a wide variety of subject and learning styles.
Bilingual
We are one of the few schools in Belgium to offer truly bilingual classes. Our French-English bilingual programme begins at age four in Primary School and continues until age 14 (Year 9) in Secondary School.
The content of the curriculum and the assessment for the bilingual tutor class in Years 7-9 are exactly the same as for the other tutor groups. Some subjects are delivered 50% in English and 50% in French; others are delivered solely in French and the remainder are delivered in English. Subjects delivered only in English still have selected resources and activities in French.
The bilingual programme in Years 7-9 is ideal for those students who will continue to the IB Bilingual Diploma in French-English after the age of 16. Students also have the option to study for a bilingual IB Diploma in Dutch-English.
Our Campus
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.
Check out the facilities in this interactive virtual tour.
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