Secondary Schools in Brussels for Expat Families: A Complete Guide

The secondary years are where school choice in Brussels becomes genuinely high-stakes. The qualification your child earns at 17 or 18 will shape their university options, and in a highly mobile international family, the risk of a mid-secondary school change — triggered by a job move or assignment end — is real. Choosing a school and curriculum with broad international transferability is not just a matter of preference; for many families, it is a practical necessity.

Brussels's secondary international school landscape centres on four distinct pathways, delivered across three main independent schools and the European School network.

The Four Qualification Pathways

1. IGCSE and A Levels (British Curriculum)

Available at: The British School of Brussels (BSB), Tervuren

IGCSE examinations (Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education) are taken at age 15–16 across eight to ten subjects, providing a rigorous academic foundation and internationally recognised qualifications. A Levels — typically three or four subjects studied in depth — are then taken at 17–18 and are the standard route into UK universities via UCAS.

A Levels are the qualification UK universities know best. Russell Group and Oxbridge admissions tutors are deeply familiar with A Level grade profiles, and BSB has established relationships that support strong UCAS applications. For families with a clear intention to return to the UK or send children to UK universities, A Levels at BSB are the most direct route.

See our dedicated guide on GCSE and A Levels in Brussels for the full picture.

2. IB Diploma Programme

Available at: ISB (Watermael-Boitsfort), BSB (Tervuren), St. John's (Waterloo)

The IB Diploma is taken over two years at ages 16–18, comprising six subjects (three at higher level, three at standard level), Theory of Knowledge, an Extended Essay, and the Creativity, Activity, Service programme. It is graded out of 45 points and is accepted by universities in over 100 countries, making it the most internationally portable of all the secondary qualifications offered in Brussels.

For families who are uncertain where their children will apply to university — or who anticipate moving to a third country before university — the IB Diploma's portability is a major advantage. Belgian universities, EU universities, UK universities (via UCAS), US universities, Canadian universities, and universities in Asia, Australia, and the Gulf all have established IB entry requirements.

See our IB schools in Brussels guide for a detailed school-by-school comparison.

3. European Baccalaureate (EB)

Available at: European Schools EEB1–EEB4

The European Baccalaureate is the terminal qualification of the European School system, awarded at the end of S7 (age approximately 18). It is a multilingual, broad-based qualification with compulsory subjects including the student's mother tongue, a second language, mathematics, and a choice of electives. Students are examined on a combination of continuous assessment and final written and oral examinations.

The EB is widely recognised by UK universities for entry, although since the 2022 UCAS Tariff reforms it no longer carries formal UCAS tariff points — UK universities instead set their own EB grade requirements and conversions (broadly, a strong overall average maps to high A Level grades). It is also directly recognised by universities in Belgium and across EU member states. For families whose children have spent their school career in the European Schools and are likely to study in Europe, the EB is a perfectly adequate qualification and a natural culmination.

4. BTEC Vocational Qualifications

Available at: BSB (Tervuren)

BSB's sixth form uniquely includes BTEC Level 3 Extended Diplomas in Sport, Business, and Hospitality — vocational qualifications with UCAS tariff value equivalent to three A Levels. These suit students whose strengths and interests are more applied or career-focused. Not every family considers this when comparing Brussels schools, but for some students, BTEC provision is a decisive factor.

The Schools in Detail

The International School of Brussels (ISB)

ISB's secondary programme runs from Grade 6 (age 11) through Grade 12 (age 18). The Middle Years Programme (MYP) covers Grades 6–10, transitioning into the Diploma Programme (DP) for Grades 11–12. ISB also offers US Advanced Placement (AP) courses alongside the DP, giving students targeting US universities the option to demonstrate academic rigour in AP terms as well as IB terms.

With approximately 1,400 students from over 70 nationalities, ISB's secondary community is genuinely global. Class sizes are manageable, facilities are modern, and the school has a strong record of university placements worldwide.

Annual fees for Grades 7–12 range from approximately €46,825 to €49,715 per year (2025/2026). ISB is in Watermael-Boitsfort, well served by its own school bus network.

The British School of Brussels (BSB)

BSB's secondary runs from Year 7 (age 11) through Year 13 (age 18). Lower secondary (Years 7–9) covers a broad curriculum, followed by the two-year IGCSE/GCSE track (Years 10–11), and then the three-track sixth form (A Levels, IB Diploma, or BTEC). This multi-pathway sixth form is BSB's most distinctive feature among Brussels secondary schools.

Annual fees for BSB secondary run approximately €39,000–€44,015 per year (2025/2026). BSB is in Tervuren, east of Brussels.

St. John's International School, Waterloo

St. John's secondary (MYP and Diploma Programme) is a full IB continuum, continuing naturally from its PYP primary. The school is smaller and more community-focused than ISB or BSB, with around 525 students in total. The Waterloo campus provides a tranquil, residential environment that suits some families. Annual secondary fees run from approximately €30,000 at MYP level to €53,000 at Diploma level (2025/2026).

European Schools (EEB1–EEB4)

The European School secondary cycle runs from S1 (age approximately 12) to S7 (age approximately 18). Students are assigned to a language section (English, French, German, Dutch, or others) and educated primarily in that language, with compulsory study of two additional European languages. The curriculum is set by the Board of Governors of the European Schools system and culminates in the European Baccalaureate.

European Schools are only accessible to EU-affiliated families (Category I/II) or, in very limited numbers, Category III families. If you qualify, the combination of subsidised fees, genuine multilingualism, and the EB's broad recognition is difficult to beat.

Comparison Table

School	Secondary Ages	Qualification	Annual Fee (2025/26)	Location
ISB	11–18 (Gr. 6–12)	IB MYP + DP, US AP	€46,825–€49,715	Watermael-Boitsfort
BSB	11–18 (Yr 7–13)	IGCSE + A Level / IB / BTEC	€39,000–€44,015	Tervuren
St. John's	11–18 (MYP–DP)	IB MYP + DP	€30,000–€53,000	Waterloo
European Schools	12–18 (S1–S7)	European Baccalaureate	€8,195 (Cat. III)	Uccle/Woluwe/Ixelles/Laeken
Lycée Jean Monnet	11–18	French Baccalauréat	~€8,930 (first year)	Uccle

Choosing the Right Secondary School

The decision ultimately comes down to three factors:

1. University destination: UK → A Levels at BSB are the clearest path; globally mobile or uncertain → IB Diploma at ISB, BSB, or St. John's; Europe-centric → European Baccalaureate if eligible.

2. Length of stay: A short assignment (two to three years) favours the most internationally transferable curriculum, which is the IB Diploma. A longer stay allows more flexibility, including the European Baccalaureate track if you qualify.

3. Learning style: The IB's breadth versus A Level depth is a genuine pedagogical difference. Some students flourish with the IB's interdisciplinary approach; others prefer the depth of three or four A Level subjects. Honest assessment of your child's learning style matters here.

How Global Investments Can Help

For families arriving with secondary-age children, school placement and property decisions need to be coordinated carefully — the right neighbourhood depends heavily on which school is chosen. Global Investments advises internationally-mobile families on Brussels property and wider wealth planning, and can connect you with local specialists who understand the school catchment dynamics and property market across the Brussels region.

Speak to our team, or read our applying to international schools guide for the practical admissions steps.

Fees, curricula, and admissions criteria are subject to change. Verify with schools directly. This guide does not constitute financial or legal advice.