ISF Waterloo International School vs The British School of Brussels
ISF Waterloo International School and The British School of Brussels are both in Brussels, about 14 km apart. Both schools offer Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge A Levels programmes. ISF Waterloo International School also offers IPC, and The British School of Brussels also offers IB, British and BTEC Qualification. Published annual fees are €14,020 - 23,980 at ISF Waterloo International School and €20,100 - 45,550 at The British School of Brussels, which puts The British School of Brussels roughly 73% higher. ISF Waterloo International School takes pupils from 0 to 18, and The British School of Brussels from 1 to 18. The British School of Brussels is the larger school, with around 1,300 pupils to ISF Waterloo International School's 220. Typical class sizes are 18 at ISF Waterloo International School and 16 at The British School of Brussels.
IPC (International Primary Curriculum), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Curriculum
IB (DP), British Curriculum, BTEC Qualification, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Pupils
Pupils
220
Pupils
1,300
Typical class size
Typical class size
18
Typical class size
16
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English, French
Opened
Opened
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Opened
1969
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
ISF Waterloo International School is located on the border of Sint-Genesius-Rode (Flanders) and Waterloo (Walloon Region) in Brussels' southern suburbs. The campus comprises five buildings, two large playgrounds with distinct play zones for different age groups, and two car parks. The buildings are named after significant people or places in the Battle of Waterloo.
Location
Located in the eastern suburbs of Brussels, Belgium, at Pater Dupierreuxlaan 1, 3080 Tervuren. The campus is state-of-the-art.
Stages
Stages
The school has Early Years (Oranje House) for 2.5–4-year-olds, Primary School (Papelotte Wing) for Year 1–3 (4–6 years old) with Year 5–6 classrooms on the first floor, and Secondary School in the Buonaparte Centre. Blucher House houses the Media & Learning Centre and the Library, with English Language support and access to an Occupational Therapist.
Stages
Primary School (ages 1-11) and Secondary School (ages 11-18).
School type
School type
The school is an international day school with Early Years, Primary School and Secondary School provision, and on-site ISF International Daycare.
School type
Not-for-profit international day school.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
Pupils come from over 70 nationalities; the largest nationality represented is British at about 30%.
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
The school provides English Language support (EAL). The Social Counsellor's office and an Occupational Therapist are available on site.
Additional learning support
EAL and AEN support are provided, including an Inclusion team, Learning Assistants, and Speech and Language Therapists; an Educational Psychologist, counsellors, and nurses are available to support students.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Belgium
Country affiliation
United Kingdom (UK) curriculum; British orientation for an international school in Belgium.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
School hours are 9:00–15:30 for Primary (9:00–12:30 on Wednesdays) and 8:55–15:45 for Middle & High. Breaks are 10:30–11:00 and 11:30–12:15; lunch is 12:30–13:30 or 13:50–14:05. Before and after school care runs 7:45–8:45 and 15:45–17:30, with Wednesday Primary care 12:30–17:30.
School day structure
The school year is divided into three terms: Term 1 runs from late August/early September to mid-December; Term 2 runs from early January to late March or early April; Term 3 runs from late April to late June or early July.
Bus service details
Bus service details
ISF Waterloo offers a bus service with three minibuses (one 19+1 seater and two 8+1 seaters). The tariff is distance-based: under 7 km €3,300; 7–15 km €3,500; 15–25 km €4,000, with a 10% reduction for one-way contracts; routes include Waterloo, Rhode-St-Genese, and Brussels area.
Bus service details
A supervised school bus service operates on many routes across Brussels and surrounding villages for pupils aged four and above. Bus fees are listed on the Fees page. There is no bus service on Wednesday lunchtimes for Lower Primary.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application / Registration Fees
- Registration (one-off): EUR 750. The registration fee is payable on submission of the application and is non-refundable except when a waiting list is in operation and the school subsequently refuses a place for the requested start date. - School Development Fund (one-off per family): EUR 1,000. This one-off fee is invoiced with the first instalment of the school fees and is payable before the student starts.
Tuition fees by year group (Personal tariff, academic year 2025/26 published amounts; annual and per-term equivalents shown)
Notes on per-term equivalents: the amounts shown as “per term” are the published annual tuition divided into three equal instalments for convenience (the school calendar and communications reference three terms per year). The per-term figures below are calculated by dividing the annual fee by three.
- Kindergarten 1 (age 3) - Annual: EUR 14,020. - Per term (annual ÷ 3 — calculated): EUR 4,673.33.
- Kindergarten 2 (age 4) and Kindergarten 3 / Grade 1 (ages 4–6) - Annual: EUR 19,430. - Per term (calculated): EUR 6,476.67.
- Grade 2 – Grade 5 (approx. Years 2–6) - Annual: EUR 20,820. - Per term (calculated): EUR 6,940.00.
- IGCSE (upper middle years / Years 10) - Annual: EUR 23,600. - Per term (calculated): EUR 7,866.67.
- A‑Levels / Year 11–12 (senior secondary / Years 11–12) - Annual: EUR 23,980. - Per term (calculated): EUR 7,993.33.
Corporate tariff (where employer or corporate sponsor pays)
- The school publishes a separate corporate tariff (higher than the personal tariff). Example corporate annual rates published for 2025/26 include: Pre‑School and lower years shown at higher corporate rates (examples: Pre‑School corporate approx. EUR 18,980; various primary/secondary corporate rates range from approx. EUR 26,825 up to EUR 32,750 for A‑levels). These corporate rates are applied when an employer/corporate sponsor signs the corporate commitment.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Fees are invoiced in advance in line with the school's annual financial schedule and contractual General Conditions. The school requires payment in accordance with the invoice and the General Conditions. The school may adjust published fees with 30 days' written notice. - Contract termination / withdrawal and reductions: a parent or corporate sponsor may terminate the school‑fees contract during the school year by giving 30 days' written notice. Reduction to the annual fees on withdrawal is specified as follows: withdrawal between 1 September and 31 January results in a 25% reduction to the full‑year fees; withdrawal after 31 January provides no reduction. - Overdue payments: administrative reminder charges and interest apply to overdue invoice balances. The General Conditions specify an administrative charge per reminder (example: EUR 125 per reminder) and an interest charge on overdue balances (example: 1% per month). - Per‑term presentation: per‑term figures above are shown as equal thirds of the annual tuition for practical use; the school calendar and communications reference three school terms. Parents should note that actual invoice instalments, invoice dates and due dates are set on the school invoice/financial schedule.
Boarding
- Boarding is not applicable; ISF Waterloo operates as a day school.
Other regular costs and optional extras
- Bus service (annual, optional): daily round‑trip bus tariffs are charged per passenger and depend on distance. Current published annual bus tariff bands are: under 7 km EUR 3,300; 7–15 km EUR 3,500; 15–25 km EUR 4,000. One‑way contracts receive a 10% reduction on the tariff. - Before‑ and after‑school care (garderie): a fee structure is applied for morning and afternoon care; the detailed fee structure is handled by the school office (garderie sessions are available at set morning/afternoon times). Lunch ordering from the caterer is available for an extra charge (meals are halal/non‑pork with vegetarian options). - School wear / uniform: ISF Waterloo does not require a formal school uniform. The school provides an ISF Waterloo T‑shirt for sports; additional logoed items (polo shirts, sweatshirts, fleeces) are available for purchase at extra cost. - Extra curricular activities, trips and exam fees: many day trips and certain in‑school items are included in the annual fee for specific year groups, while some external trips, examination fees (IGCSE/A‑levels where applicable) or specific optional activities may carry additional charges invoiced separately.
Sibling discount
- A 10% sibling reduction on the tuition component is applied to the second child and any subsequent child under the Personal tariff.
Refund information
- Registration fee: non‑refundable except where a place is refused while the application is on a waiting list. - School Development Fund: invoiced with the first instalment and payable before starting; the General Conditions indicate it is a once‑only fee due on first enrolment. - Withdrawal refunds / reductions: termination requires 30 days' written notice; reduction to annual fees on withdrawal is 25% if withdrawal occurs between 1 September and 31 January, and 0% after 31 January.
Fee payment options (how families are asked to pay)
- The ISF group operates invoicing and bank‑payment procedures; ISF campus communications and ISF‑linked daycare pages describe payments made by bank transfer and invoicing arrangements. Families are routinely invoiced and bank transfer is used for payments to ISF entities (daycare enrolment pages show bank‑transfer payment for registration and monthly invoicing arrangements). Parents will receive formal invoices and the school's financial documentation states payment terms, due dates and any applicable bank/account details on those invoices.
Summary (key points for parents)
- One‑off fees on first enrolment: Registration EUR 750 (non‑refundable except in waiting‑list refusal) and School Development Fund EUR 1,000 (due with first instalment). - Annual tuition varies by year group (listed above); per‑term equivalents are shown as equal thirds of the annual fee for convenience. - Optional extras with separate charges: bus service, hot lunches, some trips, optional extra‑curricular items and logoed school wear. - Withdrawal and refund rules, and late‑payment charges, are specified in the school's General Conditions (30 days' notice to terminate; specified reductions on withdrawal; reminder/admin and interest charges on overdue accounts).
Fee details
Application fees - Main school application fee (Kindergarten/ECC – Year 13): Payable once per child: €750. - Early Childhood Centre (ECC) application fee: Payable once per child: €750. - Note: the school's online payment form shows an alternative published breakdown for application payments (Main school: €1,000 for first child and €500 for each subsequent child; ECC: €250 for first child and €125 for each subsequent child). The school's online application payment form accepts credit-card payment.
Tuition fees by year group (annual and per-term amounts) - Kindergarten: Annual fee €20,100. Per-term (calculated by dividing the published annual fee by three): €6,700.00. - Reception, Years 1–2: Annual fee €35,600. Per-term (calculated): €11,866.67. - Years 3–6: Annual fee €37,400. Per-term (calculated): €12,466.67. - Years 7–9: Annual fee €44,400. Per-term (calculated): €14,800.00. - Years 10–13: Annual fee €45,550. Per-term (calculated): €15,183.33.
(Note: the school publishes annual tuition amounts and invoices fees annually; the per-term figures above are straightforward equal divisions of the published annual fee for use in a per-term view and are not presented by the school as an official instalment plan.)
Early Childhood Centre (ECC) daily/session fees - ECC half-day morning session: €70 per session. - ECC full day: €128 per day. - ECC application fee (payable once per child): €750.
Transport (bus) fees - Annual Brussels school bus service fee: €3,550 (per year). Per-term (calculated): €1,183.33. - Annual Antwerp/SHAPE school bus service fee: €4,180 (per year). Per-term (calculated): €1,393.33.
After-school care (Garderie) and other sessional fees - Kindergarten (14:00–15:50, not Wednesdays): €20.00 per session. - Kindergarten in ECC after 16:00 and from 11:50 on Wednesdays: €10.00 per hour. - Reception to Year 6 (15:50–18:00; Reception–Year 2 on Wednesdays from 11:50): €9.00 per hour. - Pre/Post-Enrichment for Years 3–6: €9.00 per whole session.
What tuition does and does not include (summary of extra costs) - Included in tuition: extensive enrichment clubs, individual iPads/laptops for Years 3–9, curricular day and residential trips up to Year 9, learning resources (textbooks/exercise books), public examination entries (A Level, BTEC, IB, IGCSE) except re-sits, basic PE kit (including swimming costume on arrival), team sports kits and subsidised fixture costs, hot lunch for Kindergarten–Year 2, and specified medical checks for new starters and certain year groups. - Not included in tuition (examples of additional payable items): Garderie beyond included times, individual instrumental tuition run by external providers and instrument rental, extra PE clothing beyond the basic kit, costs of certain residential sporting and other competitions, Years 10–13 school trips and visits run by external providers, and other course-related items. Bus fees are charged separately.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Invoicing: Fees are invoiced annually. Fees for the following academic year are due in one single payment each May. - Reductions for students joining mid-year (applied as percentage reductions of the annual fee): November 10%; December 20%; January 30%; February 40%; March 50%; April 60%; May 70%; June 80%. (October: no reduction.)
Withdrawal and refund policy - Notice requirement: A full academic term's written notice of withdrawal to the Principal is required in accordance with the school calendar. Failure to give a full term's notice will result in an invoice for a full academic term's fees in lieu of notice. - Refunds when a student leaves during the school year (reductions expressed as percentage of the annual fee by month of leaving): October 80%; November 70%; December 60%; January 50%; February 40%; March 30%; April 20%; May 10%; June/July no refund.
Boarding - Boarding: The school is a day school (no boarding facilities).
Application and invoice payment methods - Application fee payment: The online application/payment form uses a secure credit-card payment system and accepts credit-card payments for the application fee. Application fees are non-refundable. - Annual tuition invoice payment: The published fee schedule states that fees are invoiced annually and are due in a single payment each May. The fee schedule directs payment of the application by credit card via the online form; it does not publish a separate publicly listed, detailed list of all accepted payment methods for annual tuition on the fee schedule page.
Other administrative and policy notes on fees - The school reserves the right to amend the published schedule of fees. Parents are responsible for payment of the total sums due regardless of any employer subsidy. The published fee schedule cancels and replaces previous fee schedules. Application fees are non-refundable.
(End of fee overview.)
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
The Primary School uses the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) with six IPC units each year. English is the language of instruction, with French taught as a second language. The UK national literacy and numeracy curriculum is used alongside IPC. Cambridge Secondary Checkpoint is part of the Cambridge framework used in the school. The Secondary School follows Cambridge International systems for IGCSE and A-Level, with subject offerings including English, Mathematics, Global Perspectives, Business, French, Geography, History, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
Curriculum details
The school offers a British-based curriculum up to age 16 (GCSE and International GCSE). Post-16, the school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma, A Levels, and BTEC vocational courses, including a bilingual IB Diploma in French/English or Dutch/English. A French-English bilingual programme runs across 10 Year Groups from Reception (age 4-5), and Dutch lessons start from age seven.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
Max 18 students per class.
Student teacher ratio
Student-teacher ratio is 9:1. Maximum class size is 21 in Secondary and 14 in Post-16. Total enrolment is 1,363 (Secondary 873; Primary 490).
Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
GCSE 2024: 94% pass rate with 57% of grades 7 or above. A Levels 2024: 96% pass rate with 61% of grades A*-B and 34% A*-A. IB Diploma 2024: 97% pass rate with an average score of 35 and a top score of 44. BTEC (Level 3) 2024: 100% pass rate with 60% Distinction*/Distinction; Level 2 BTEC: 100% pass rate with 72% Distinction*/Distinction and 89% Merit or higher.
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
Cambridge International A-Level certificates are widely accepted by universities worldwide. In the USA and Canada, good grades in Cambridge AS and A-Levels can result in university credit. Cambridge qualifications are recognized by universities in over 50 countries.
Higher education progression
Graduates progress to higher education worldwide. Destinations include Imperial College London, University of St Andrews, University of Amsterdam, McGill University, University of British Columbia, KU Leuven and other universities in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, the United States and beyond.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
Academic Scholarships are available: 4-year scholarships to complete Secondary and Pre-University Education worth up to 75% of annual fees, excluding Cambridge exam fees.
Gifted and talented
Enrichment and outdoor learning are central to the programme, with around 200 clubs and activities, including sport, music, drama and creative pursuits. Enrichment opportunities are complemented by service learning and broader personal development experiences.
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
ISF Waterloo is a non-selective mainstream school. Families expressing an interest are invited to visit the school and have an interview with the Head of School, Mrs Belinda Yates. If the Waiting List Policy is in operation for that particular class, the school will advise you immediately and explain the implications. Before enrolment the school requires a transcript from the current school and copies of the most recent school report. After enrolment and before the first day the school requires a completed medical form. To enrol, parents must download and submit an application form and pay the Registration Fee. The one-off School Development Fund fee is invoiced at the same time as the first year's School Fees and is payable before commencing. Read the General Conditions document which states the contractual basis of admission and continuing enrolment at ISF Waterloo. For information on the Admissions Policy, refer to the Admissions Policy document.
Admissions
BSB is inclusive and non-selective with an international student body. Tours are available and new students are welcome at any time of the year. Joining at the start of the academic year in September is encouraged, but the school welcomes new students throughout the year. Year groups are assigned based on a child's calendar age against the September 1 to August 31 academic year; students coming from other systems may be placed a year above or below to stay with their peers. The Admissions team is available to help, and the school provides an application form for prospective families. Languages are taught in English with bilingual options: a French/English bilingual programme runs for children aged 4 to 14; French is taught from Kindergarten, Dutch is taught from age seven, and additional languages such as Spanish and German are available; secondary students may also learn these languages. Exam options include GCSEs and iGCSEs in Years 10–11, and in Years 12–13 students can choose the International Baccalaureate Diploma, A Levels, or BTEC. The school is located at The British School of Brussels vzw, Pater Dupierreuxlaan 1, 3080 Tervuren, Belgium. Admission enquiry can be made via the Admissions section of the site. Fees and financial information are provided on the Fees page, and the school's admissions process outlines how and when to apply.
Scholarships
Scholarships
The ISF Academic Scholarship Program is open to external students for two programmes: 14 to 15 year olds entering Year 1 of IGCSE 1 (Belgian Secondary Class 3 / UK Year 10) with 4-year scholarships up to 75% of annual fees (excluding Cambridge exam fees); 16 to 17 year olds entering Year 1 of Cambridge International A Levels with 2-year scholarships up to 75% of annual fees (excluding Cambridge exam fees). Scholarships are awarded based on the scholarship application (including personal statement), the past two years of school reports, the ISF scholarship exams, and an interview with the ISF panel. English is the language of instruction and assessment, so applicants must meet English language requirements to be eligible for a scholarship place. Process for applying includes: 1) complete and submit an ISF General Application Form for admission as well as a scholarship application form and provide the past two years of school reports; 2) successful submissions receive an invitation to a testing day; 3) within one week of the examination, the top-scoring 30% of IGCSE and A Level students are invited for an interview; 4) successful candidates receive a written offer including the scholarship value (50-75% reduced fee); 5) on acceptance, sign the letter and pay the registration fee; 6) student visas are the responsibility of the parents where applicable. Scholarships include: tuition fees (as stated in the letter of offer) and a waiver of the School Development Fund; Scholarships do not cover: Registration Fee (750 euro) and residential school trips; Scholarships could be withdrawn for non-payment, more than 10% non-attendance, poor behaviour as stated in ISF's behaviour policy, or significant drop in academic performance (evaluated annually).
Scholarships
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Waitlist
Waitlist
Waiting List Policy may be in operation for a class; the school will advise immediately and explain the implications.
