The British School of Brussels is the anchor British option among the international schools in Brussels, and the school many families from the United Kingdom shortlist first when a posting to Belgium is confirmed. It teaches the English National Curriculum adapted for an international cohort, which lets children slot into familiar year groups and exam milestones, and it then opens up an unusually wide set of sixth form routes. BSB leads our roundup of the best British schools in Brussels, reflecting its scale and long record in the city.
British School of Brussels at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | English based curriculum and IGCSE; sixth form choice of A Levels, IB Diploma or International BTEC |
|---|---|
| Stages | Early years through to the final two years before university, ages roughly 1 to 18 |
| Founded | 1969, opened 1970 |
| Accreditation | Authorised IB World School; follows the English curriculum and IGCSE |
| Language | English medium, with French and other languages taught, plus bilingual IB options |
| Fee band | Premium for Brussels |
| Campus area | Tervuren, eastern edge of Brussels, near the Royal Museum for Central Africa |
Curriculum and academics
The academic spine is an English based curriculum, adapted for an international student body, running from the early years through to IGCSE in upper secondary. What sets BSB apart is the sixth form, where it is the only school in Belgium to offer three routes side by side: A Levels, the IB Diploma with bilingual options, and International BTEC vocational courses in fields such as sport, business and hospitality. Some students even combine A Levels with a BTEC, which gives families a genuine choice of academic and applied pathways under one roof.
That breadth is unusual and suits a mixed community in which some children are heading to UK universities, others into European or international systems, and some towards more vocational routes. As an authorised IB World School with a long sixth form record, BSB has reported strong Diploma averages in past cohorts. Confirm the current subject lists for A Level, Diploma and BTEC in the school's sixth form guide, since the available combinations shape which route fits your child best.
Work out the real cost of a Brussels place
Use the fee calculator to add registration, extras and the year by year tuition into one honest annual figure.
British School of Brussels fees
British School of Brussels fees sit at the premium end of the Brussels international school fees range, among the most expensive options in the city, which reflects the scale of the campus, the breadth of the sixth form and the all through provision from the early years. Tuition rises by year group from nursery to sixth form, and the senior years carry the highest fees, so ask for the schedule covering your child's stage before you budget.
On top of tuition, plan for a registration or enrolment fee, lunch, uniform, examination entries in the upper years and the trips a large British school builds in. A school bus network serves the surrounding municipalities given the out of town Tervuren location, and bus fees are a real line in the annual budget rather than an afterthought. Confirm which charges are one time and which recur each year so the first year holds no surprises.
Admissions
The main intake is in late August at the start of the academic year, with mid year places offered where a year group has room, a frequent occurrence given the movement of European Union, NATO and corporate families through Brussels. The school reviews previous school reports and assesses readiness, and because it follows the English system it can usually place a child arriving from a British school straight into the matching year. An application or registration fee applies, and a place is confirmed once the school's enrolment steps are complete.
Families joining for IGCSE or the sixth form should apply earlier and share full records, since subject choices already taken shape what is possible at A Level, Diploma or BTEC. As a large and popular school, certain year groups can carry waiting lists, so register as soon as a move to Brussels is confirmed and ask about availability for your child's stage.
Location and who goes there
BSB occupies a large wooded campus in Tervuren, on the eastern edge of Brussels near the Royal Museum for Central Africa, around twenty minutes by car from the city centre. The green, spacious setting is part of the appeal and a contrast with the more central schools, and it places BSB within easy reach of the eastern residential belt where many British and international families settle.
The community is broadly international, with British families forming the largest single group alongside dozens of other nationalities drawn from the European institutions, NATO and the corporate sector. Families tend to live in Tervuren itself and the neighbouring municipalities of Kraainem and the Woluwe districts, all served by the bus network. For how these eastern suburbs compare with Ixelles, Uccle and the rest of the city, the Brussels city hub sets out the neighbourhoods and their options.
Reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and accepts no payment from schools, so we publish parent reviews only after confirming the reviewer is part of the school community. If your family knows the British School of Brussels first hand, please share your experience through our school reviews hub.
Frequently asked questions
What curriculum does the British School of Brussels follow?
BSB teaches an English based curriculum to IGCSE, then offers a choice of three routes in the final two years: A Levels, the IB Diploma or International BTEC vocational courses. It is the only school in Belgium to offer all three side by side.
How much are British School of Brussels fees?
BSB sits at the premium end of the Brussels range, among the most expensive international schools in the city. Tuition rises by year group, with a registration fee and extras on top. Confirm the current schedule with the school before budgeting.
Is the British School of Brussels a good school?
It is the largest and longest established British school in Brussels, an authorised IB World School, and one of very few schools anywhere to offer A Levels, the IB Diploma and BTEC together. We do not publish a star rating without verified parent reviews, so we describe its programme and standing rather than score it.
When do British School of Brussels applications open?
The main intake is in late August at the start of the academic year, with mid year places where a year group has room. The school reviews previous reports and assesses readiness, so apply early and send full records.
Where is the British School of Brussels?
BSB sits on a large wooded campus in Tervuren, on the eastern edge of Brussels near the Royal Museum for Central Africa, around twenty minutes by car from the city centre.
When was the British School of Brussels founded?
BSB was founded in 1969 and opened in 1970, which makes it one of the oldest international schools in Belgium.
