St. John's International School vs The International School of Brussels

	S St. John's International School Brussels, Belgium	T The International School of Brussels Brussels, Belgium
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €14,200 - 45,850	Fees / year €22,590 - 49,715
Age range	Age range 1 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Advanced Placement (AP)	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum, BTEC Qualification
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English, French	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1964	Opened 1951
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Waterloo, Belgium. Founded in 1964 in Waterloo, St. John's is located just 15 minutes south of Brussels in a quiet, tree-lined residential area of Waterloo. Many students live within walking distance, or in the surrounding suburbs of Ohain and Lasne, with easy access to Brussels via the Waterloo highway.	Location Kattenberg 19, B-1170 Brussels, Belgium. It is in Watermael-Boitsfort, the south‑east quadrant of Brussels. The 40‑acre campus sits within the Forêt de Soignes and offers extensive outdoor learning facilities; it is easily reachable by car, bus, train and tram.
Stages	Stages Kindergarten (Early Years 1–6), Primary School (6–11), Middle School (11–14), High School (16–18); IB Continuum (ages 3–18).	Stages Early Childhood Centre (Preschool – Grade 2); Elementary School (Grade 3–6); Middle School (Grade 7–9); High School (Grade 10–12).
School type	School type Private international school; An Inspired School; part of Inspired Education Group; offers boarding at Shannon House.	School type Private not-for-profit international day school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix 65+ nationalities represented.	Pupil nationality mix 60+ nationalities represented.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Learning Support Programme available for students who learn differently; English as an Additional Language support; small-group or in-class support; Speech, Language and Occupational Needs services offered (via freelance staffing).	Additional learning support Inclusion & Challenge services provide personalised support for diverse learning needs across all age groups.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Belgium	Country affiliation Belgium
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details Door-to-door transport with SAM-Drive; 8-seat vans; extensive bus system serving Waterloo and the greater Brussels region; bus monitors for high schoolers; free bus from Waterloo train station at 8:00; also options to reach school by car or bike.	Bus service details The ISB Bus Service operates with more than 30 buses serving most parts of the city and surrounding areas. It is available to students from Kindergarten to Grade 12, with BatOnRoute real‑time tracking and bus monitors. Late Bus Service is available for Middle and High School students; bus fees for 2025‑26: Return 3,140 Euro; One way 2,385 Euro.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Enrolment and one-time fees - Enrolment (application) fee (new students only): EUR 1,000. - Campus Development Fee (new students only): EUR 700. Tuition fees (annual and termly) — 2025/26 academic year - Early Years 1 (Day Care): Annual EUR 14,200 — Termly EUR 4,733 (annual ÷ 3). - Early Years 2 (Timbertops): Annual EUR 14,200 — Termly EUR 4,733 (annual ÷ 3). - Early Years 3 (Pre-K1): Annual EUR 19,500 — Termly EUR 6,500 (annual ÷ 3). - Early Years 4 (Pre-K2): Annual EUR 19,500 — Termly EUR 6,500 (annual ÷ 3). - Early Years 5 (Kindergarten): Annual EUR 27,800 — Termly EUR 9,267 (annual ÷ 3). - Grade 1: Annual EUR 36,700 — Termly EUR 12,233 (annual ÷ 3). - Grades 2–5: Annual EUR 37,300 — Termly EUR 12,433 (annual ÷ 3). - Grade 6: Annual EUR 39,800 — Termly EUR 13,267 (annual ÷ 3). - Grades 7–8: Annual EUR 42,200 — Termly EUR 14,067 (annual ÷ 3). - Grade 9: Annual EUR 42,900 — Termly EUR 14,300 (annual ÷ 3). - Grades 10–12: Annual EUR 44,600 — Termly EUR 14,867 (annual ÷ 3). (Note: the school year is organised in three terms; termly figures above are the annual fee divided by three. ) Boarding fees - Weekly boarding (Sunday night to Thursday night): EUR 16,200 per year. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. - Full boarding (Sunday night to Saturday night): EUR 18,340 per year. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. - Daily boarding / short-term exchanges: EUR 110 per day. - Refund for early departure during the first semester: 25% of the boarding fee paid (see refund policy below). Other recurring or optional costs - Lunch / food and supervision (annual / termly / daily as applicable): - Early Years 2 – Early Years 4: Annual EUR 740 — Termly EUR 247 — Daily EUR 4.30. - Early Years 5 – Grade 2: Annual EUR 1,175 — Termly EUR 392 — Daily EUR 6.50. - Grade 3 – Grade 12: Annual EUR 1,550 — Termly EUR 517 — Daily EUR 8.60. - Cub Care (Extended hours) Early Years 1 – Grade 5: EUR 15 (frequency indicated in fee schedule). - Bus service: Round trip EUR 3,630 per year; one-way EUR 2,700 per year. Sibling discount of 10% for the second and each subsequent child using the bus. - Mandatory service / support fees: - Student support (EdTech AI fee) Grade 3–11: EUR 50 per year (mandatory). - EdTech VR fee Grade 7–12: EUR 50 per year (mandatory). - IB Diploma exams and support Grade 12: EUR 1,200 per year (mandatory). - Optional / activity fees: - Performing Arts show participation: EUR 150 per performance (termly). - NECIS tournament participation: EUR 150 per tournament (termly). - AP exams (Grade 10–12): EUR 135 per exam (optional). - Replacement student card: EUR 20 per replacement. Billing schedule and payment terms - The full Tuition Fee is payable within 30 days of the invoice date. Termly (instalment) payment arrangements may be made with the Business Manager; choosing instalments incurs an annual administrative fee of EUR 750. If paying by instalments, all fees must be paid by 1 April of the current school year. Late payments incur interest and other charges; specific remedies for prolonged arrears are set out in the terms. - The school year is made up of three terms (Autumn, Spring, Summer); fees are charged on an annual basis and may be presented with termly instalments. Refund and withdrawal policy (summary) - New-student cancellation: if the school is not notified in writing at least three months before the student's start date, a fixed indemnity equal to 10% of the Tuition Fees is due. - Current students withdrawing prior to the start of the new school year must notify the school in writing before 1 June; otherwise a fixed indemnity of 10% of the Tuition Fees applies. - Departure/withdrawal during the school year: - Notice received on or before October 15 of the school year: reimbursement of 25% of the annual Tuition Fee. - Notice received after October 15 (during or by the end of the first term): no reimbursement of the annual Tuition Fee. - Departure during the second semester: no reimbursement of the annual Tuition Fee. - Boarding-specific refund: early departure during the first semester entitles the payer to 25% refund of the boarding fee paid. - General statement in the terms: absent exceptional cases specified above, fees (including Tuition Fees) are treated as non-refundable; additional contractual provisions detail exceptions and indemnities. Accepted payment methods and practical payment notes - Invoices can be paid via bank transfer; the invoice provides bank details. For payment plans the school uses Direct Debit / SEPA in specific cases; parents must provide bank details for SEPA. An administrative fee applies to instalment arrangements (EUR 750 per year). Overdue invoices incur interest (1% per month) and reminder costs (EUR 15 per reminder). Credit-card payment is not listed as a standard option in the school's fee documentation. Other practical fee notes - All fees are expressed and payable in euros. Prices are reviewed annually. Additional services (bus, lunch, extra-curricular trips, private music lessons, therapy, tutoring, etc.) are invoiced separately and are not included in the Tuition Fee. Sibling discounts for the bus service and other specific discounts may apply where stated in the fee schedule. VAT and applicable taxes are included in the published figures.	Fee details Application fee - Application fee (all grades): EUR 2,000. Tuition fees (annual) — by year group - Preschool (ages 2.5–3): EUR 22,590. - Pre‑Kindergarten (4 years old): EUR 25,030. - Kindergarten (5 years old): EUR 37,760. - Grades 1–2 (ages 6–7): EUR 40,670. - Grades 3–6 (ages 8–11): EUR 41,400. - Grades 7–9 (ages 12–14): EUR 46,825. - Grades 10–12 (ages 15–18): EUR 49,715. - Intensive Learning Support (for ILS students): EUR 25,155 plus the relevant grade‑level tuition. Per‑term (how fees are presented and typical payment structure) - Fees are published and invoiced on an annual basis; the school issues invoices annually in May for the following school year. Because fees are set and invoiced annually, there is no official per‑term charge published. Families may choose the school's instalment plan, which spreads the annual tuition into monthly payments; the instalment plan divides tuition into up to 10 monthly payments (July–April). For simple budgeting, an approximate per‑term figure can be obtained by dividing the annual tuition by the number of academic terms you choose to use for your own budgeting (the school does not publish an official per‑term schedule). Billing schedule and payment terms - Invoices for the following school year are issued annually in May. - Invoices for students joining during the school year are issued before the enrolment date. - Invoices are payable within 30 days of the invoice date or prior to the student's start date. - The parent (or legal guardian) is always responsible for payment of school fees regardless of any employer arrangements. Payment methods and terms - All fees are due and payable in EUR. Payments can be made by bank transfer to The International School of Brussels at BNP Paribas Fortis. - Bank transfer details (for payments by bank transfer): SWIFT: GEBABEBB; IBAN: BE71 2100 5790 1069. - Consolidated monthly invoices (for items such as lunch, athletics, music, ISB Plus) can be paid by bank transfer or by direct debit (SEPA mandate). - There is no published option on the fee page for credit‑card payment; available options shown are bank transfer and SEPA direct debit. Instalment / payment plan - A family instalment scheme is available to individuals (not open to companies paying tuition). - Typical administrative fee: EUR 200 per family, annually. - The instalment calculation uses the cost of tuition plus an interest rate of 1% above the current EUR Central Bank rate and may be divided into up to 10 monthly instalments (July–April). - The instalment scheme applies only to tuition fees (does not include bus fees or other related costs). Bus fees - Return trip (annual): EUR 3,140. - One‑way only (annual): EUR 2,385. - Bus fees are charged annually; there is no reimbursement of bus fees due to an inability to use the service. - The school offers a separate payment plan for families who would otherwise find it difficult to pay the annual bus fee. Other costs and optional charges - Cafeteria: daily lunch is paid through student lunch accounts; a lost lunch card carrying fee of EUR 10 will be billed if a card is lost. - Co‑curricular activities and ISB Plus: costs for clubs, activities and ISB Plus are optional and billed through the consolidated monthly invoice. - Musical instrument rental: EUR 210 per year (rental from the school). - Athletics fees: billed per season/per sport; typical player fees noted are EUR 270 for JV/Varsity teams and EUR 170 for U14 teams (additional travel costs for tournaments billed separately). - International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme: students taking the IB will be billed for IB exam and administrative fees and any external examination expenses requested by the student. - Other potential costs (examples): school trips, seasonal team travel, specialty courses, therapy or additional student support services — these are billed as they occur via the consolidated invoice. Refunds, adjustments and pro‑ration - Students who leave early: for students who have paid the full tuition (and bus, where applicable) and who leave before the last day of January, 25% of the tuition (and bus) fee will be reimbursed by the school. If a student leaves after the last day of January, there is no reimbursement of fees already paid. - Students who enrol late: the school publishes monthly pro‑rata amounts by level (the published schedule shows the reduced amounts for each month if a student starts after the academic year begins). The published pro‑rata schedule is used to calculate fees for late enrolment and for partial months; students starting within a month will be asked to pay for the full month. Boarding - Boarding is not provided as a standard full‑time option; the International School of Brussels operates as a day school for its student population. (Overnight/boarding arrangements may be referenced only in limited, event‑specific contexts such as camps where temporary overnight accommodation is arranged.)
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details St John's follows an all-through IB curriculum with PYP, MYP, and DP. Diploma students may also take Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and there are five graduation pathways that combine the IB Diploma, AP credits, and the St John's High School Diploma. The school runs a Dual Language Programme in French and English in Early Years and Primary to foster bilingualism and biliteracy. In Grades 6–8 students study two to three languages, and in Grades 9–10 there is a Mother Tongue Programme offering eight languages; Language A and Self-Taught Literature are part of the Diploma. The IB framework underpins a holistic, global education with tailored learning and a diverse international community.	Curriculum details ISB uses English as the main language of instruction. French is offered from age 2.5, with a French bilingual programme from Grade 5; additional language options include Dutch, Spanish, and Japanese. The Home Language Programme integrates languages spoken at home into the curriculum. The curriculum is flexible and inquiry-based, with personalised learning pathways across ECC to High School.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio 7:1
Exam results	Exam results 2024 IB results show a 100% pass rate for the High School qualification. 54% of graduates earned the IB Bilingual Diploma. The average IBDP score was 33, with many students scoring 38 and above; the top IBDP score achieved was 43.	Exam results IB Diploma results for 2025 show 160 graduates, 141 IB Exams taken, 118 Diploma candidates, 27% of IB Courses with accommodations, an average IBDP score of 35, a 100% pass rate, 49% bilingual diplomas, and an average Course score of 5.5. AP results show 84 students (Grades 9–12) completed 136 exams in 13 subjects, with an average AP score of 3.84, 90% of exams scoring 3 or higher, 103 students taking AP Exams, 19 AP subjects taught, and 44% achieving a perfect score of 5. BTEC results show a 100% pass rate with 2 pathways offered and 33 students taking BTEC, with 27 students working towards external BTEC qualifications.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Graduates gain entry to top universities worldwide. The University Guidance team supports course selection, applications, interview preparation, and campus visits, coordinating opportunities such as college fairs and admissions interactions. Destinations include Oxford, Cambridge, MIT, Columbia, Yale, KU Leuven and Bocconi.	Higher education progression ISB offers five graduation pathways, including IB Diploma, AP, BTEC, US Diploma, and another pathway. Universities worldwide offered ISB students places in 2024-25, demonstrating strong progression to higher education globally.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented The Inclusion & Challenge Department provides High-Ability Programmes for advanced learners.
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Contact Us: Complete a brief online form. The Admissions Office will contact you to discuss entry options. Please inform how you would like to be contacted when you submit the form. The team will guide you through the next steps. 2. Visit the School: We encourage you to visit to experience our facilities and community. You can book an on-site tour or view a virtual tour. Both options are available throughout the summer. 3. Interview: An interview is a normal part of the admissions process. The admissions team will try to accommodate your schedule. If you are not in the country within an acceptable timeframe, the interview can be arranged remotely. 4. Admissions Entry Criteria: St. John's is an IB World School. Admission is open year-round to students of all nationalities, faiths, and backgrounds. The final decision on acceptance and placement is based on the applicant's ability to benefit from the programmes and educational services available. English is the primary language of instruction; non-English-proficient applicants may be considered if they can develop sufficient English proficiency to enter the IB Diploma Programme, with Grade 8 as the last year for an absolute beginner English learner.	Admissions 1. Submit the ISB admissions application with the required application fee. The application form must be accompanied by the application fee, and applications will not be processed until the full application fee is paid. If the application is withdrawn, 50% of the fee is refunded; if a Financial Aid application is denied or the family does not accept the offer and withdraws, 75% is refunded; if a completed application is placed in a waiting pool for 60 days and the family cancels, a full refund is available. 2. After the completed application is received, an admission decision is typically issued within 7 to 10 working days. A decision may be delayed if additional information is needed or during school-holiday periods. 3. Students can join ISB at any point during the school year, typically before 1 May. A suitable start date is determined in collaboration with the family and approved by the Head of School. IB Diploma students cannot begin after the beginning of October if their courses are not transferable to ISB. 4. Grade-level placement is based on the prior educational experience and the student's age. In some cases, a placement test may be given to accurately place a student. 5. The ISB Bus Service is the most popular transport for commuting to and from school. Some students may use public transportation, ride a bike, or be dropped off and picked up by their parents. 6. ISB runs waiting lists when necessary. When classes are full, a waiting pool for the affected class is opened, and the Admissions Team explains how waiting pools are managed. 7. ISB offers a limited number of financial aid opportunities each year based on eligibility criteria. ISB also provides an English Language Development Programme at all levels to support non-English-speaking students. 8. ISB has an Inclusion and Challenge Programme to meet learning needs and ensure appropriate placement. 9. The school day hours vary by section: ECC Preschool 08:40–15:30 (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri) and 08:40–12:30 (Wed); ECC Pre-Kindergarten 08:40–15:30 (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri) and 08:40–12:30 (Wed); ECC Kindergarten–Grade 2 08:40–15:35; Elementary School 08:40–15:35; Middle School 08:35–15:40; High School 08:35–15:40.
Scholarships	Scholarships The school offers 3 academic and 1 theatre art scholarship for entry into the final year of IBMYP (Grade 10) and the first year of the IBDP (Grade 11). Scholarships are open to high-achieving Belgian students currently in 3ème and 4ème Secondaire of the Belgian State Education System. Scholars will learn in an immersive English-language environment and follow the IBDP. Applications are open until 25 April 2025 and include fee reductions of up to 100%.	Scholarships ISB offers a Financial Aid Programme to assist families experiencing temporary financial hardship; the aid is primarily designed for existing families and is available for a maximum of two consecutive years. Applications for Financial Aid must be submitted with the regular ISB application and supporting materials, and are considered up to March 31 until the budget is exhausted. ISB also offers a Scholarship Programme for merit-based scholarships open to students of all nationalities; these scholarships are offered for two consecutive years for Grades 7–12 and are designed to provide access to ISB for students not currently in the ISB community; scholarship criteria include English skills, high achievement in English, alignment with ISB's values and mission, overall academic achievement, and demonstrated talents. All scholarship applicants must complete the Scholarship Programme Form and attach supporting materials. Applications for the next school year should be received by March 31. The Scholarship Committee includes the School Director, the Director of Advancement, the Director of Finance and Operations, the Finance Manager, and an Academic Panel. For further questions about scholarships, contact the Admissions Office.
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist Yes, ISB runs waiting lists when classes are full. A waiting pool is opened for the affected class, and the Admissions Team explains how waiting pools are managed. Waiting lists help accommodate students when space becomes available.
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