British School of Brussels
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| Established | 1970 |
|---|---|
| School type | British School and International School |
| Principal | James Penstone |
| Location | Tervuren, Belgium |
| Campus | 15 acres (6.1 ha) |
| Athletic Leagues | ISST, GISGA, IAPS |
| Website | britishschool.be |
The British School of Brussels (commonly abbreviated to BSB), is an international school in Belgium. It occupies a site of about 15 acres (6.1 ha) surrounded by woodland near the Royal Museum of Central Africa in the town of Tervuren, Flemish Brabant, east of Brussels. It has over 1300 students aged 1–18 years from approximately 70 nationalities. BSB consists of two schools: Primary (age 1-11) and Secondary (age 11-18).
BSB has a bilingual English/French programme. English and French mother-tongue teachers teach students aged 4–14 in a 50/50 timetable covering both languages.
In 2016, BSB opened the Jacques Rogge Sports Centre on campus. As a result, BSB is said to have the best indoor school sports facilities in Europe.[1] The new Sports Centre includes: a 25m swimming pool, gymnastics arena, dance studio, fitness suite and multi-purpose sports hall.
History
[edit]The British School of Brussels was founded on 5 December 1969 by a group of businessmen led by Sir Dick Pantlin CBE, just as the UK was preparing to join the European Union. Pantlin went on to become the chairman of the board of Trustees and Honorary President of the school with Leslie Firman, the group's secretary. For its first few months it occupied temporary premises in the Rue de la Loi in Brussels. The School first opened on 15 September 1970 with 213 pupils aged 5–13 and 16 teaching staff including the first headmaster, Alan Humphries. On 9 December 1970, the Duke of Edinburgh officially opened the first building on the campus, then called Building 1. In 2006 all buildings were renamed after famous Belgian people or fictional characters such as Victor Horta and Tintin.
Primary
[edit]In Primary School, students benefit from a personalised curriculum inspired by the UK national curriculum but tailored to our international community. With small class sizes and a focus on inquiry-based learning, students receive a well-rounded education that nurtures both academic and personal growth.
The Primary School curriculum is open for ages 1–11. The Primary School has dedicated facilities for each age group: Early Childhood Centre (ages 1–3), Lower Primary (age 3-7) and Upper Primary (age 7-11). Each part of the Primary School has its own school building and playground, allowing children to develop in a caring environment that is suited to their age group.
Secondary
[edit]At the Secondary level, BSB combines the strengths of both British and international educational systems, offering a choice between A Levels, BTEC qualifications, and the IB Diploma. The school's academic achievements speak for themselves, with an average IB Diploma pass rate of 98% and a 99% pass rate at A Level over the last four years, demonstrating BSB's commitment to academic excellence.
Facilities
[edit]- 25m swimming pool with movable floor
- Gymnastics arena
- Three multi-purpose sports halls
- Fitness suite furnished with Technogym equipment
- Dance studio
- Design and Technology workshop with CAD suite and digital printer
- Post-16 Centre, Careers, and Business Suite
- Purpose-built 240-seat Theatre
- Modern Science and Mathematics block
- Self-service Cafeteria seating 330
- Modern Languages suite
- Specialist ICT Suite
- Recording Studio
- Parents' Centre with café, information centre and rooms for social activities.
Enrichment/Extracurricular
[edit]Surrounded by woodland, the campus has world-class facilities, such as a state-of-the-art sports centre with a 25m swimming pool, fitness suite, dance studio and gymnasium. Upgraded outdoor amenities include a bouldering wall, tennis and basketball courts, football and rugby pitches and a 300m running track. BSB also has recording studios, a theatre, design-technology rooms and nutrition kitchens.
BSB encourages students to explore their interests and hone their talents through a rich array of extracurricular activities. From sports to arts, our school fosters holistic development, supported by state-of-the-art facilities including our own swimming pool and a modern sports centre, equipped with world-class amenities such as gymnastics spaces, a dance studio, and a fitness arena.
BSB is dedicated to nurturing well-rounded individuals equipped with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to thrive in an ever-changing world.
Notable alumni
[edit]Deborah Lawrenson (journalist and writer)
Katharine Rundell (novelist)
Tanya Leroy (novelist)
Richard Baker (photographer)
Victoria Hollins (journalist)
Tulio Fagim (artist)
Olivia Vinall (actress)
Laura Dowsett (rugby player for Saracens Women)
Craig Dowsett (rugby player)
Stephen Rowbotham (Olympic rower)
Nick Kennedy (rugby player)
Savenaca Vocea (Belgian rugby player)
Quentin Köster (Dutch rugby player)
References
[edit]- ^ "'Handing over of the keys' ceremony marks completion of Sports Centre construction". www.britishschool.be. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
