A winning approach THE BRITISH SCHOOL OF BRUSSELS
This school combines enhanced multilingual learning with state-of-the-art facilities and a rich extracurricular programme
The British School of Brussels was proud to be named British International School of the Year at the Independent Schools of the Year 2022 Awards.
“This award is a marvellous recognition of the whole BSB community: my colleagues, parents, our school governors and of course our wonderful students,” said Principal Melanie Warnes. “To have the very high quality of BSB recognised globally makes me very proud indeed.”
The British School of Brussels (BSB) is an all-through international school with 1,380 students from 70 nationalities aged from one18 years.
BSB is the only school in Belgium to offer three pre-university routes: A-levels, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and BTEC vocational courses in applied science, business, hospitality and sport. The primary curriculum offers a bespoke, skills-based, inquiry-driven approach adapted from the UK national curriculum to meet the needs of the school’s diverse student population.
BSB has a dedicated English as an Additional Language (EAL) department that provides
EAL support for non-native English speakers and English language immersion courses for children who speak little to no English. Students quickly progress in this intensive environment and go on to be some of the school’s highest achievers.
A wide variety of languages are taught, with bilingual programmes available at both primary and secondary level. French is taught from the age of three in kindergarten, and Dutch is taught from the age of seven.
Additionally, BSB has a French-English bilingual programme from year seven.
The school offers a bilingual International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma (English with French or Dutch) for students aged from 16 to 18 years. BSB also offer significantly enhanced French in secondary school.
In terms of extracurricular activities, dedicated enrichment teachers and coaches offer a diverse range of around 200 activities, ranging from debating to tag rugby and social campaigning to creative writing.
For those pursuing their dreams in the arts, students benefit from the use of the purposebuilt Brel Theatre with its 240 seats, state-ofthe-art equipment, lighting, workshop, green room and a dedicated costume department. Musicians, meanwhile, enjoy access to 12 practice rooms, a music technology suite and a fully equipped recording studio.
The school offers top-of-the-range sports facilities including outdoor pitches, a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, a multi-purpose sports hall, a competition standard gymnasium, dance studio and fitness suite. BSB is the only international school in Belgium to have its own swimming pool, and plays host to the largest artificial bouldering installation in Europe.
The extensive and beautiful grounds, with plenty of open space and wooded areas, allow teachers to cultivate a sense of environmental consciousness in their students.
BSB’s goal is to be an educational force for good. Its teaching staff aim to inspire and motivate responsible, engaged students who have respect for themselves and each other. The school’s governance, leadership, staff, curriculum, and facilities all work in support of this philosophy. It values scholarly endeavour alongside student agency and enjoys consistently excellent academic outcomes, with students going on to some of the top universities in the world after graduation.