Because many nationalities have flags outside the European Union headquarters, it’s surprising that Brussels has just a few international schools. Still, the place is not meant for permanent work. Politicians and their staff come and go in the hope of reaching an agreement or starting a helpful partnership. Usually, business people fly in, have a meeting, and then return to their own country for dinner, rather than relocating the whole family to the small city. Both local and expatriate families can find many excellent kindergartens and preschools in Belgium. You can choose from bilingual, Montessori, or international programs when selecting a school in Belgium.
Leading Kindergartens and preschools found in Belgium
They include the following:
British School of Brussels (BSB)
Curriculum: British and International Baccalaureate (IB).
Ages: 1–18 years.
Highlights: Provides an Early Years program that values communication, creativity, and outdoor experiences for children.
International Montessori Schools
Locations: There are three campuses at Tervuren, Woluwe, and Uccle.
Curriculum: Montessori and IB.
Ages: 18 months–18 years.
Highlights: Emphasises learning that the children drive in both languages.
BEPS International School – Brussels
Curriculum: The IPC and IB are used in schools around the world.
Ages: 2.5–18 years.
Highlights: Gives students a unique learning experience that emphasises their emotional well-being.
The British Junior Academy of Brussels (BJAB)
Curriculum: British.
Ages: 2.5–11 years.
Highlights: Supports a family-like setting where the main focus is on great learning and character building.
The International School of Flanders (ISF) is located in Waterloo and Tervuren
Curriculum: British and International.
Ages: 2.5–18 years.
Highlights: The school is valued for its open-minded approach and personalised ways of teaching.
Key considerations for parents
Language options: At kindergarten level, children are taught either Dutch, French, German, or English. Bilingual programs are also available.
Admissions: The most popular schools tend to be over-subscribed. You should try to apply early.
Costs: Tuition fees vary widely. You can send your child to a public preschool at little or no cost, but international schools may cost more.
The European schools in Brussels may be responsible for a lack of international schools in the area. The schools started to meet the education needs of EU staff and officials’ children and have spread with the arrival of each new wave of bureaucrats. These schools have sections for different language groups, and all the students learn the same lessons, mainly in their mother tongues, but have to select English, French, or German as their second language. Danish, Hungarian, Italian, Polish and Spanish sections are available, and if their mother tongue isn’t listed, they may still join the English, French and German departments.
As private schools are rare, it’s only natural for international families to explore local schools, but remember that this can be tricky. Initially, you must deal with the three different school systems. Flemish, French and German speaking. To add to the problem, there are two types of schools found in every community. Subsidised public schools are owned by the community (provided by provinces and municipalities), and subsidised free schools are managed by groups linked to the Catholic church (mostly). Most schools accommodate children of both sexes and, what many parents find useful, look after them with lunch and after-school activities.
In the UK, children begin nursery at 2-and-a-half, continue in primary school from 6 to 12, and end in secondary school from 12 to 18 years old. Secondary education has four sectors: Education in Germany can be general for those headed to university. Technical for those who want to go directly into a career or technical school, art studies for those who want to attend art institutes, and professional for those who want to enter the job market directly.
Choosing a school in Brussels
Since demand is low, only a few options are available to parents who wish to send their children abroad for education. Almost all the international schools found in the region are located just outside Brussels. And takes about 20 to 30 minutes to reach by car, even though the communes chosen by expats are closer to the schools. Ixelles, full of stylish town houses, and Watermael-Boitsfort, which feels more like a countryside town, near the Sonian forest. They are both easily reachable by walking from the International School of Brussels and St John’s International School.
The unusual-sounding (to most) river Woluwe passes through Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, which used to be rural but today is a completely urban area where diplomats and embassy staff live. You can get there quickly from the European institutions, and it’s also not too far from the international schools. Also, Etterbeck is a shorter distance from the centre of the city and should still get you to school on time without leaving too early.
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