Belgium · Tervuren
British School of Brussels is an English-medium international day school in Tervuren for ages 2.5–18. Its main distinctions are a French-English bilingual route through Year 9 and three different post-16 qualifications.
The British School of Brussels (BSB) is a co-educational international day school at Pater Dupierreuxlaan 1, 3080 Tervuren. The school says it enrols more than 1,200 pupils from over 65 nationalities.
BSB suits families seeking one English-medium school from early childhood through age 18. It is especially useful when a pupil may prefer A Levels, the IB Diploma or a vocational BTEC route at 16.
The tradeoff is location and cost. Tervuren lies east of central Brussels, and there is no boarding. A family must arrange a workable daily journey and suitable Belgian residence status.
Year placement follows the British academic-year cut-off of 1 September to 31 August. The FAQ places Kindergarten at age three, Upper Primary in Years 3–6 and Secondary in Years 7–13.
Primary follows a curriculum adapted from the English National Curriculum. Its “Units of Discovery” combine subjects around broader questions while retaining subject-specific content. French begins in the early years, and Dutch starts later in Primary.
Years 7–9 provide a broad British-based curriculum. Pupils study French and can add Dutch, German or Spanish. English as an additional language or learning support may replace part of the language programme.
Years 10–11 lead to GCSEs and IGCSEs. Most pupils take nine or ten examinations, including English, French, Mathematics and Science. Options cover languages, humanities, arts, technology and BTEC Level 2 Business.
GCSE means General Certificate of Secondary Education; IGCSE is its international version. These are subject qualifications usually taken around age 16, before the advanced courses described below. BTEC Business is an applied qualification in business studies.
The full two-year examination programme normally requires entry at the start of Year 10. A pupil arriving for Year 11 may instead follow the one-year pre-BTEC, A Level and IB course.
That course targets GCSEs in English, Mathematics and Science. French may also be examined after previous study. Other subjects provide preparation but do not necessarily lead to examinations.
All main Year 12 programmes run for two years. New pupils must normally start in September and complete a diagnostic assessment before arrival.
These routes are not interchangeable for university entry. BSB warns that the Extended BTEC Diploma is accepted more narrowly outside the UK. Check the exact country, institution and course before choosing.
A Levels are advanced British subject qualifications; the Extended Project Qualification adds an independent project. The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma combines broader subject study with a compulsory core. Its core includes a course on knowledge, a research essay, and creative, physical and community activities. BTEC qualifications focus on applied study in a vocational field; the Subsidiary and Extended Diplomas differ in size.
BSB applies direct-entry guidelines. A Level applicants normally need at least three GCSE grades of 6 and two grades of 5. These GCSE grades run upwards: 9 is the highest.
The current guide sets additional subject thresholds:
For Biology and Chemistry, the guide also describes a Mathematics grade of 6 as desirable; for Physics, it specifies 7. These expectations apply to both the A Level and IB Higher Level routes. Ask how results from a different examination system will be assessed.
IB applicants normally need three grades of 6, including English, Mathematics and Science, plus two grades of 5. Higher Level subjects have separate thresholds. The guide permits case-by-case consideration when a pupil misses a threshold narrowly.
BTEC applicants are normally expected to show five GCSEs at grade 4 or above. Equivalent prior results are considered for pupils arriving from another system. Continuous assessment can allow more flexibility, but BSB decides suitability.
Post-16 applicants who are not native English speakers usually need at least CEFR B2, an upper-intermediate level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The school assesses language before admission. A mid-year “Year 12 taster” must restart Year 12 the following September.
For 2026, BSB reports an IB average of 36. It says 60% scored at least 36 and almost 25% scored at least 40.
The school reports a 98% A Level pass rate, with 66% of grades at A*–B. Its BTEC pass rate was 100%, with 39% at Distinction* or Distinction.
For GCSE, BSB reports 93% of grades at 4 or above and 52% at 7 or above. These are school-reported outcomes, not a measure of an applicant’s admission prospects.
The bilingual programme runs from Year 1 to Year 9. It follows the same curriculum as the English classes and requires a separate judgement of language aptitude and attitude. The page pairs Year 1 with age four; confirm placement using your child’s birth date rather than relying on that age label.
In Primary, the current bilingual page says Mathematics and English are taught by the English-speaking teacher. Other subjects are taught in French, with immersion adjusted for younger classes.
In Years 7–9, some subjects use both languages equally. Other subjects are entirely French or entirely English, although English-only subjects may still use selected French materials.
The admissions FAQ still prints an older, more specific subject split and a Year 6 reassessment. The dedicated bilingual page does not. Ask admissions to confirm the current selection and continuation rules in writing.
After Year 9, pupils enter the GCSE programme. Later, eligible pupils can work towards a French-English or Dutch-English bilingual IB Diploma. This does not mean every IB subject is taught in two languages.
BSB describes itself as inclusive and non-selective, and accepts applications throughout the year. That does not guarantee a place. Bilingual, post-16 and additional-support decisions still depend on suitability and available provision.
The process is:
The €750 application fee is payable once for each main-school applicant. The fees page calls it non-refundable. The application page adds one important exception: BSB refunds it in full when the school cannot offer a place.
The school provides English-language and additional educational needs support. Its current support page also lists an educational psychologist, counsellors, speech and language therapists and nurses.
In Upper Primary, intensive English immersion can precede gradual entry into more mainstream lessons.
In Years 7–9, early English learners may leave mainstream English, History or Geography for specialist lessons. Learning support may replace an additional language. In Years 10–11, it may replace one GCSE option.
Admission with additional needs depends on the school’s ability to provide suitable support. The Post-16 guide requires a review by the Head of Learning Support. The FAQ warns that intensive provision may cost extra.
The reviewed pages do not offer scholarships or financial aid to new or prospective families. Families who need assistance should establish any exception before paying the application fee.
| Year group | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten | €20,600 |
| Reception and Years 1–2 | €36,500 |
| Years 3–6 | €38,350 |
| Years 7–9 | €45,500 |
| Years 10–13 | €46,700 |
The fee schedule says annual fees are paid in one instalment each May. Parents remain responsible when an employer or another organisation is expected to reimburse them.
The current fee page lists no capital charge and says BSB does not intend to add a building levy. That statement is not a promise about future schedules.
Tuition includes core learning materials, public examination entries other than resits, and most enrichment. It also includes curriculum trips through Year 9 and a first PE kit.
The school provides devices in Years 3–9. Hot lunch is included from Kindergarten through Year 2. Trips in Years 10–13, external activities, individual music and several competition costs are extra.
ECC means Early Childhood Centre. Its fees include hot lunch, nappies, specialist music teaching and the preschool programme. The fee page says it becomes Pre-Kindergarten in September 2027, although other current pages already use that name. Confirm which provision and fee schedule apply to a child entering in 2026–27.
| Published item | 2026–27 charge |
|---|---|
| Brussels school bus | €3,650 a year |
| Antwerp or SHAPE school bus | €4,300 a year |
| ECC half day | €70; charging unit not stated |
| ECC full day | €128; charging unit not stated |
| ECC application | €750 once |
Garderie costs €20 a session for Kindergarten from 14:00 to 15:50, excluding Wednesday. ECC care after 16:00, or from 11:50 on Wednesday, costs €10 an hour for Kindergarten.
Reception–Year 6 care after 15:50 costs €9 an hour. Wednesday care for Reception–Year 2 also costs €9 an hour from 11:50.
Pre- and post-enrichment supervision for Years 3–6 costs €9 for the whole session.
The supervised bus is available from age four. Routes cover parts of Brussels, Tervuren and surrounding areas. A published fee does not confirm that a specific address has a stop.
Registration runs from 08:45 to 09:00. On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, Kindergarten ends at 14:00 and other main-school years end at 15:50.
On Wednesday, Kindergarten, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 finish at 12:00. Years 3–13 finish at 15:50. These hours make the childcare plan particularly important for younger pupils.
BSB reduces annual tuition according to the joining month:
| Joining month | Reduction |
|---|---|
| October | 0% |
| November | 10% |
| December | 20% |
| January | 30% |
| February | 40% |
| March | 50% |
| April | 60% |
| May | 70% |
| June | 80% |
Withdrawal requires one full academic term’s written notice to the Principal, measured against the school calendar. Without that notice, the school invoices one full term’s fees in lieu.
A refund for early departure is available only when notice complies with the contract. Ask for the full contract, invoice date and applicable term boundaries before accepting an offer.
BSB has no boarding and does not publish a guardianship service. A pupil needs local care and a dependable commute. School admission does not itself provide Belgian immigration permission.
Belgium’s official portal says foreign nationals need residence documents appropriate to their nationality, purpose and length of stay. Stays longer than three months generally require municipal registration within eight days of arrival.
BSB is a strong fit when a family wants British examinations but does not yet know which post-16 route will suit the pupil. The bilingual route is also substantial, but its current selection and subject pattern need confirmation.
Official pages and documents we read. If a figure matters to your budget or your application, open the link and confirm it is still current.
Friendly orientation, not an application. Dates, fees, and programme details move. Confirm everything with the school.
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7 minStart with the qualification your child would actually receive. Then check its subjects, language demands, and recognition in the countries where they may study next.
7 minStart with your child and the family's likely plans. Define the non-negotiables, verify the school's claims, compare three realistic options and visit with specific questions.
7 minTuition is only one line of the budget. Separate charges from advance payments, record what each figure includes, and ask the school to confirm your calculation in writing.