Belgium · Leuven
ISL teaches children from age 2.5 through Grade 6 using an English-medium curriculum with Dutch teaching. It has no secondary section. Full-day annual tuition is €15,200 before extras; the published withdrawal rule allows no refund after 31 December 2026.
International School of Leuven (ISL) is a private English-medium day school at Tervuursesteenweg 282, 3001 Leuven, in Heverlee. Founded in 2013 by IMEC, VIB, KU Leuven and the City of Leuven, it now describes this as its permanent site.
The school serves children from age 2.5 through Grade 6, around age 12. It has no secondary section and does not advertise boarding. Families should plan the next school after Grade 6 separately rather than assume an on-site route to the IB Diploma.
Preschool, for ages 2.5–6, follows the Early Years Foundation Stage, the English early-childhood framework. Primary, for ages 6–12, uses the UK curriculum for English and mathematics alongside the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). IPC is a separate curriculum, not the IB Primary Years Programme.
Every preschool and primary pupil studies Dutch, with provision from beginner to mother-tongue level. French begins in Grades 5 and 6. English as an Additional Language (EAL) support is available for children with limited English. Ask about the child’s group, weekly provision and expected progress in each language.
Swimming runs from Preschool 2 through Grade 6. The school describes an inclusive approach and says it prepares an Individual Learning Plan when adapting classroom teaching is insufficient. Discuss specific needs and the support available before accepting a place; this statement is not a guarantee that every need can be met.
The school invites families to visit. Contact +32 16 909 563, office@isleuven.org or headofschool@isleuven.org to discuss the intended class and start date. The cited pages do not establish a general application deadline or current waiting-list length. Midyear entry is covered by the fee schedule, but availability still needs confirmation.
The fees page lists a one-time, non-refundable admission fee of €800, due when the documents are complete.
| Attendance | Eligible classes | Published hours | Annual tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full day | Preschool 1–3 and Grades 1–6 | 08:45–15:30 | €15,200 |
| Half day | Preschool 1–2 only | 08:45–12:30 | €9,880 |
Full-day fees include teaching, a PE T-shirt, books and materials. A new full-day pupil’s tuition plus admission totals €16,000 before extras and discounts.
The school lists a 10% sibling discount from the second child and an additional 10% for parents working at the four founding partners: City of Leuven, Imec, VIB and KU Leuven. Ask how the reductions are calculated together rather than assuming a combined percentage.
Published midyear-entry charges are:
| Entry period | Tuition |
|---|---|
| September–October | €15,200 |
| November–December | €12,920 |
| January–March | €10,330 |
| April–June | €6,200 |
The withdrawal rule provides a 25% refund for withdrawal on or before 31 December 2026, and no refund after that date. Confirm the required notice procedure and the amount to which the refund applies before relying on it.
| Additional item | Published charge |
|---|---|
| Residential trip, Grades 2–6 | About €200 |
| Swimming | €12 per session |
| Optional hot lunch | €6.25 per day |
| After-school care, 15:30–17:30 | €5 per hour |
| Wednesday care, 12:30–17:30 | €6 per hour |
| Clubs | €5–13 per session |
Childcare is available from 08:00. The separate Wednesday care time starts at 12:30; confirm the weekly class timetable rather than assuming a 15:30 finish every day. Ask for the frequency of swimming, trips and clubs to calculate an annual budget.
ISL may suit families seeking English-medium preschool and primary education in Leuven, with Dutch teaching and the budget for private fees. Its limit is clear: Grade 6 is the final year, so continuity into secondary education requires another school.
De Klare Bron, on Vandenbemptlaan, offers a different Dutch-medium local route. Compare the language environment and intended next school, not simply the addresses.
The Leuven guide and Belgium guide provide wider context for that decision.
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.
De Klare Bron is a Dutch-language GO! primary school in Heverlee. Its leefschool approach combines the Flemish curriculum with projects, pupil participation and a strong emphasis on learning through experience.
AntwerpAIS is a fee-paying English-medium day school in Ekeren, north of Antwerp. It offers IB programmes from the early years through secondary school. Admission and any learning support must be agreed individually; families should also review fees and withdrawal terms before accepting.
LiègeWaha is a municipal secondary school combining French-language education with Freinet methods. Families choose between an active-pedagogy route and immersion in English, Dutch or German. Confirm the child’s exact route and an available place before relying on the immersion label.
TervurenBritish 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.
International School of Leuven and De Klare Bron both serve primary-age children in Heverlee. The important differences are teaching language, educational approach and funding—not simply the word international.
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.