Brent International School Manila vs The British School Manila
Brent International School Manila and The British School Manila are both in Manila, about 28 km apart. Both schools offer IB programmes, and The British School Manila also offers British and Cambridge IGCSE. Published annual fees are ₱442,877 - 1,046,920 at Brent International School Manila and ₱536,040 - 1,414,215 at The British School Manila, which puts The British School Manila roughly 31% higher. Both take pupils from 3 to 18. The British School Manila is the larger school, with around 978 pupils to Brent International School Manila's 435. Typical class sizes are 18 at Brent International School Manila and 22 at The British School Manila.
The Brent International School Manila Main Campus is located in Brentville Subdivision, Barangay Mamplasan, Biñan, Laguna 4024, Philippines. The campus sits about 20 kilometers south of Metro Manila and is accessible via the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) with the Mamplasan exit. The Brent network also includes an IRRI-associated campus in Los Baños that serves younger students (Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 4), located on the IRRI compound south of the main campus. The primary Brent Manila site is the main location for the Early Learning Center through Upper School.
Location
36th Street, University Park, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines. The campus sits within the Bonifacio Global City district, a major international business and residential area. It is near other international schools and foreign embassies, reflecting its international community.
Stages
Stages
Brent Manila is structured into four divisions: the Early Learning Center (Nursery–Grade 2), the Lower School (Grades 3–5), the Middle School (Grades 6–8), and the Upper School (Grades 9–12). The Upper School offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for the final two years.
Stages
The British School Manila provides education from Early Years through Senior School. Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stages 1–5 follow the English National Curriculum, with Key Stage 5 offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
School type
School type
Brent International School Manila is a co-educational, day school. It operates two campuses in the Brent network, with no boarding facilities for the Manila campus; the IBO listing specifies the boarding option as DAY.
School type
The school is co-educational and privately run as a not-for-profit international school.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
Brent provides Student Services including learning support and counseling. English language support (ELL/ESL) is offered for non-native English speakers, with inclusion-based approaches to integrate students into the regular curriculum.
Additional learning support
BSM offers Learning Support, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy and School Counselling as part of its Student Support Services.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Brent Manila is part of a Philippine school system historically associated with the Episcopal Church in the Philippines.
Country affiliation
No formal country affiliation is stated; BSM operates as a British international school and is not tied to a single country.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
The Brent schools operate within a Christian ecumenical environment and have an Episcopal church affiliation in the Philippines.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation: none stated; the school is secular.
School day structure
School day structure
Typical school days begin around 8:00 a.m. and finish in the mid-afternoon (approximately 2:35 p.m. for Grades 1–12). Nursey/Pre-Kindergarten and early years have shorter or different end times, with after-school clubs and activities available.
School day structure
School day typically starts at 7:40 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and at 8:10 a.m. on Thursdays. The day ends around 2:30 p.m. for most year groups, and Nursery ends at 12:30 p.m.
Bus service details
Bus service details
A Brent bus service is provided for enrolled students, with routes and schedules arranged through the admissions process. Details on routes, pickup times, and fees are provided during enrollment.
Bus service details
Bus service: The school provides a bus service for students.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Brent International School Manila — Detailed school fees overview
Application and enrolment fees - Application fee: reported as a non-refundable USD 200 per applicant. - One-time matriculation / acceptance/reservation fee: reported historically as a one-time matriculation/admission charge (example: US$1,500 in earlier published Brent fee documents). This fee is charged when an offered place is accepted and is not refundable in most cases.
Tuition fees by year group (annual figures and per-term estimates) - Brent uses a dual-currency structure in published summaries (a USD component plus a PHP component). The following are the commonly reported ranges for total tuition per academic year by school division; per-term figures below are calculated estimates assuming a three-term billing structure and are shown as per-term (estimated). - Lower School / Primary (typical reported annual total range): USD component approximately $8,204–$8,784 plus a PHP component in the range reported around PHP 376,812–PHP 403,512, giving an estimated total annual tuition in the range of about PHP 845,000–PHP 906,000. Per-term (estimated): one-third of the annual total. - Middle School / Junior levels (reported totals vary by grade; expect totals similar to or slightly higher than Lower School ranges depending on grade and program choice). Per-term (estimated): one-third of the annual total. - Upper School / Senior (IB / Grades 9–12): reported annual totals fall in a similar overall band (examples of published summaries place upper-school annual totals within the same general range cited above, with variations by grade and programme). Per-term (estimated): one-third of the annual total. - Note on per-term presentation above: the per-term numbers shown are derived by dividing the published annual totals by three to give an estimated termly amount (that division is an inference for presenting per-term values; it reflects a common three-term billing approach used by many international schools but may not exactly match Brent's invoicing periods).
Billing schedule and payment terms - Parents are typically invoiced at acceptance and before the student starts; an initial deposit/reservation (matriculation/acceptance fee) is required to secure the place. Reported practice includes a requirement that certain fees (such as the initial deposit and/or first term's tuition) be paid before the student's first day. - Installment options: public summaries indicate Brent has historically allowed installment or staged payment options (examples in older published fee documents show semester/term instalment options). When instalment plans are selected, service charges or policies governing instalment schedules may apply. The school also applies standard policies for overdue accounts and may withhold services or attendance privileges if fees are not paid by stated due dates.
Boarding fees (where applicable) - Brent has published boarding fees in earlier fee materials (example historical figure: boarding fees reported in older schedules around US$11,584 for a full-year boarding charge). Specific boarding options and boarding fee amounts (weekly vs full‑board, inclusions such as weekend activities, medical contingency account requirements, etc.) have been shown in past fee documents; the exact current boarding tariff and what it covers should be treated as a separate billed item.
Other costs and mandatory fees - Capital Development / Facilities (annual) fee: reported historically as a separate recurring capital development or facilities fee charged to all students (example amounts and currency components have appeared in Brent materials). - English as a Second Language (ESL) / Learning Support fees: reported as additional, non-refundable fees where applicable; older fee schedules list ESL fees by level (example: Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced levels with distinct semester charges). - IB examination fees and external examination costs: charged separately to Upper School students who sit for external IB / international exams; these are billed as incurred. - Textbooks, uniforms, school supplies and field trips: reported as separate charges or one-off purchases. Uniform purchase is typically mandatory and is an additional cost. Extra-curricular activities, music tuition, special subject fees and optional trips are billed separately when applicable. - Security deposit / refundable deposit: historical fee schedules included a refundable security deposit requirement, refunded on completion of the enrolment contract subject to school conditions (return of books/equipment, no outstanding charges).
Refund information - Application fee and matriculation/registration fees are generally non-refundable once paid. - Tuition refund rules in earlier published materials: partial refunds for withdrawal within an early period and no refund after certain dates have been used historically (for example, policies in older fee documents specify reduced refunds for withdrawal after term start or specific percentages depending on timing). Tuition and boarding refunds have historically required written one‑term advance notice for full refund eligibility of certain deposits; shorter notice or withdrawal after specified cutoffs reduced or eliminated refunds. These examples reflect earlier published refund scheduling and illustrate the type of policy applied.
Payment methods and fee payment options - Reported accepted payment methods in referenced fee summaries include bank transfer / wire, bank deposit, cashier's cheque or bank draft, and credit card in some contexts. Invoice instructions and the school's designated bank account details are used for wire transfers; international USD wire transfers are commonly accepted for the USD component of fees. Payment in local currency for the PHP component has also been described in public summaries and earlier fee documents. Expect a requirement to include reference details (student name / family code) on bank transfers.
If you require the school's official, fully itemised and current term-by-term numbers exactly as invoiced for the current academic year, the school's Admissions / Finance office can provide the official fee schedule and final invoice wording for the year and grade in question (the contact address reported for admissions is admissions@brent.edu.ph).
Fee details
Application fee
- Application fee (non-refundable): PHP 30,000.
Tuition fees (termly) — amounts payable each term
- Nursery: GBP 1,225 + PHP 88,030 per term. Annual equivalent (three terms): GBP 3,675 + PHP 264,090. - Reception – Year 6: GBP 2,440 + PHP 175,520 per term. Annual equivalent: GBP 7,320 + PHP 526,560. - Year 7 – Year 9: GBP 2,745 + PHP 197,365 per term. Annual equivalent: GBP 8,235 + PHP 592,095. - Year 10 – Year 11: GBP 2,885 + PHP 207,560 per term. Annual equivalent: GBP 8,655 + PHP 622,680. - Year 12 – Year 13: GBP 3,230 + PHP 232,385 per term. Annual equivalent: GBP 9,690 + PHP 697,155.
Other compulsory or regularly charged fees
- Yearbook: PHP 2,500 per family, charged yearly. - Class and individual photos: PHP 1,200 per year (charged yearly). - External examination fees: charged at cost as incurred (these appear as additional charges and are billed separately). - Learning Support Fees (for students who require additional learning support), charged termly by stage: - Stage 2: PHP 24,955 per term (PHP 74,865 annual). - Stage 3: PHP 65,100 per term (PHP 195,300 annual). - Stage 4: PHP 103,075 per term (PHP 309,225 annual).
Entrance fee and Capital Development Fee (CDF)
- A non‑refundable Entrance Fee is charged and is payable on acceptance; the Admissions Guide for prior years has recorded an Entrance Fee of PHP 339,450. - A Capital Development Fee (CDF) is charged and billed termly; previous published schedules show a CDF of PHP 47,825 per term (applicable Nursery to Year 13) and that the CDF is non‑refundable.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Fees are billed and payable termly. There are three terms per school year. Existing students' fees must be paid in full by the first day of each term. - For new admissions, fees are payable according to the due dates shown on the school Statement of Account. Mid‑term admissions are billed pro‑rata for the remaining weeks of the term. The full term tuition is required regardless of the length of time the child attends, except where pro‑rata billing applies for mid‑term starts. - Illustrative term dates and due dates listed in published schedules: Term 1 due in August; Term 2 due in January; Term 3 due in April. Late payments incur interest (example shown: interest at 2% per month for fees not received by the due date) and prolonged non‑payment may result in suspension notices.
Refunds and withdrawal terms
- Entrance Fee and Capital Development Fee (CDF) are non‑refundable. - Notice of withdrawal must be submitted in writing using the school's Notice of Withdrawal form by the published deadlines; failure to provide the required notice can entitle the school to payment in full for the following term. Academic records and reports are withheld until all outstanding fees (including interest) are settled. - Prior admissions guidance documents state that a Nursery deposit equal to one‑half term's fee is billed on acceptance and may be refundable under the specific conditions listed in the school's enrollment terms (parents should note deposit conditions and deadlines).
Boarding
- Boarding is not offered; the school operates as a day school and does not publish boarding fees.
Other optional / commonly billed services and likely additional costs
- Optional services and ancillary costs (examples that are typically charged separately): school lunches, school bus/transport, extra‑curricular activities, overseas trips and specialist courses; these items are billed separately or on request. (Published schedules list yearbook, photos, external exam fees and learning support fees as separate charges.)
Payment methods and instructions
- Accepted payment channels include bank transfers to named school accounts (examples given include HSBC, UnionBank and Metrobank accounts in the school's collection arrangements). Parents must indicate the student's name on the bank advice and are responsible for any bank charges. - Card payments are accepted (credit/debit) via a card payment link; card payments incur a processing fee (example noted up to 3.2%). - E‑wallet payments (examples shown include Maya and GCash) are accepted as alternative channels in the school's payment options.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Brent International School Manila provides an English‑language, Western‑based curriculum for students from early years through Grade 12, with the Biñan campus serving ages 3–18. The school is an IB World School since 1986 and offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in Grades 11–12, alongside the Brent Diploma pathway. Lower School (roughly Pre‑K to Grade 5) follows a North American developmental, inquiry‑based approach with integrated subjects and ESL support delivered through Homeroom and specialist teaching. Middle School (Grades 6–8) provides eight subjects per semester and builds IB readiness with a curriculum including English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language, PE, Religious Studies, ICT, Art, and Music. Upper School (Grades 9–12) offers IB Diploma courses at HL/SL and the Brent Diploma, with core IB requirements Theory of Knowledge, Creativity, Activity and Service, and Extended Essay.
Curriculum details
BSM follows an adapted English National Curriculum arranged into Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Key Stages 1–5. EYFS (Nursery–Reception) and KS1 (Year 1–2) use play-based learning with phonics (Letters & Sounds) and Year 2's Inquiry Projects to build foundational literacy and numeracy. KS2 (Years 3–6) develops knowledge through concept-based learning around topics such as interdependence, systems and change, supported by the Learning Power Approach and a Well-Being Framework. KS3 (Years 7–9) delivers a bespoke British National Curriculum taught by subject specialists with emphasis on global citizenship. KS4 (Years 10–11) follows a two-year International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) programme, with students choosing subjects to achieve breadth and depth for university study. KS5 (Year 12–13) offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), comprising six subject groups and a core of Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity and Service, with Higher and Standard Level options.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
Class sizes are designed to be small, with typical ranges reported across Brent campuses as roughly 16–24 students per class depending on level, and ESL support is available as needed.
Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
Brent graduates have gained admission to top universities worldwide, including Yale, UCLA, Cambridge, Oxford, Princeton, and Harvard, as well as Philippine universities such as UP Diliman, De La Salle, and Ateneo. The IB/Brent pathways are designed to prepare students for university selection across global destinations.
Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
Advanced course options exist within the IB/Brent pathways, with guidance on pursuing Higher Level (HL) courses and multiple diploma options; admissions materials indicate support for students taking heavier course loads (e.g., multiple HLs) for those aiming at prolonged academic challenge.
Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. Admissions Process: 1. Submit a complete application with all required documents. These include a completed application form and health form, certified copies of academic records from the last two years, two confidential evaluation forms from a former teacher and a principal or guidance counselor, three passport-sized photos, a birth certificate or Family Registry, a copy of the applicant's passport, and immunization records. If an employer will pay the school fees, include a letter on the employer's letterhead. For foreign applicants, also provide the visa page and a copy of the Alien/Immigrant Certificate of Residence (ACR/ICR). Filipino applicants are welcome, but the Board of Directors limits Filipino enrollment to no more than one-third of the student body. 2. The Admissions Office schedules the testing and interviews once the complete packet is received; testing is standard across candidates and may include language-skills assessments for non-native English speakers. Arrive on time for the testing session, and be prepared for a follow-up interview with the applicant and at least one parent or guardian. 3. After testing, the Admissions Committee reviews results and conducts the interview, with final admission decisions communicated to families. If accepted, families proceed to the next step to secure a space. 4. Upon notification of acceptance, submit the Slot Reservation Deposit (US$500) and sign the Admissions and Enrollment Agreements within the allotted five working days to secure a place in the class. The Admissions Office will provide the enrollment documents and answer any questions about next steps. 5. If a space is not immediately available, the family may be placed in a wait pool. A wait pool deposit (US$600) may be paid to be placed in the pool, but Brent does not guarantee a space will open. The applicant remains in the wait pool for the current academic year unless the family withdraws. 6. If admitted, complete the enrollment process; for those reapplying after a prior application, a mandatory six-month waiting period applies before a new application can be submitted. In all cases, foreign applicants should arrange the required visa-related documents and maintain compliance with Philippine immigration rules. Sources outlining these steps include the documented admissions sequence and the visa/foreign-applicant notes used across Brent campuses.
Admissions
1. Submit an Enquiry. Submit your enquiry via the Admissions Enquiry Form. The Admissions team will respond to your enquiry with information and the next steps in the admissions process. Applications are processed throughout the year, subject to space availability.
2. Admissions Briefing/School Visit. To ensure you have the information you need, a briefing and a school visit are offered as part of the application process. The briefing typically lasts between 15 and 30 minutes, while the visit lasts about 60 to 90 minutes. Because briefing and visit appointments are limited, they are scheduled in line with application priorities, and advance booking is required.
3. Submission of Application Requirements. To process the application, provide a complete application form and health record for each child, school reports covering the past two years (with a grade translation and current English/Math work if from a non-British system), and the details of your current school for online reference forms. Include copies of the child's birth certificate and passports ( Applicant and Parents ), recent photos, and an application fee payable prior to invitation for review/assessment.
4. Review of Application Requirements. The Admissions team, together with the Primary and Senior School teams, will review the submitted documents and the application form to determine readiness for assessment. This review assesses documentation completeness, language proficiency considerations, and alignment with available spaces.
5. Invitation for Assessment. An applicant will be invited to proceed with assessment if recommended after the review. Invitations are issued by the Admissions team in accordance with the school's assessment plan for the relevant year level.
6. Assessment. The assessment duration varies by year group: Nursery–Reception about 1 hour; Year 1–2 about 1–2 hours; Year 3–6 about 1.5 days; Year 7–13 about a full morning with a 15-minute interview. The school may request additional days if further assessment is recommended.
7. Decision. The Admissions team will inform families of the decision regarding their child's application, indicating whether a place is offered, the child is placed in the wait pool, or the application is declined. Wait pool placements depend on space and pass of entrance assessments.
Scholarships
Scholarships
3) Scholarships: Brent does not publish a formal scholarship program on its official materials. There is, however, a note in external sources that limited financial aid or discounts may be available to families with proven financial need, awarded at the Headmaster's discretion. Prospective families should inquire directly with admissions about any available financial aid or discount options and the application process for financial assistance.
Scholarships
BSM Taguig Scholarship Programme (BSMTSP). The British School Manila operates the BSM Taguig Scholarship Programme to help excellent, but financially disadvantaged Senior High School and college students in Taguig obtain higher education from the top schools in Metro Manila. The programme provides augmented services and supports scholars with seminars/workshops and pastoral guidance, and the committee monitors career movements after graduation to support ongoing development. Current scholars are being supported by the programme, and the initiative has supported scholars for about 20 years. Since it began, the programme has funded a total of 55 scholars, with 24 current scholars noted on the page.
Waitlist
Waitlist
2) Waitlist/Pool: Brent uses a wait pool when a seat in the requested grade level is not immediately available. Families may choose to pay a refundable wait-pool deposit to be placed in the pool; there is no guarantee that a space will open. The name of the applicant may remain in the wait pool for the current academic year. If a space becomes available, the school will notify the family, after which the standard acceptance and enrollment steps apply. If a space does not become available, the family may reapply in a future year, subject to Brent's admissions policies. This wait-pool mechanism and its terms are described in Brent's admissions resources.
Waitlist
Wait Pool and Admissions Priority. A wait pool process is in place. Once admissions by year level have reached the maximum class size, the following Admissions Priority Procedures apply, subject to the student applicant successfully completing the entrance assessment.
Priority categories determine order of consideration: Category 1 – Dependents of British diplomats and Commonwealth diplomats; Category 2 – Commonwealth nationals resident in the Philippines by expatriate employment status; Category 3 – Siblings of enrolled students not in Category 1 or 2; Category 4 – Dependents of families not included in Categories 1–3.