ISB specialises in a personal approach to learning – tailored to each student’s strengths and passions

A focus on the individual child and a curriculum that is constructed around multiple pathways to educational excellence is the key to success at The International School of Brussels (ISB).

The international school in Boitsfort for 2.5 to 18-year-olds is committed to offering all of its pupils a maximum of options for exploring their talents, from academic and linguistic to arts and sports.

This personalised and inclusive approach is at the heart of the school’s philosophy and practice, says director James MacDonald. “This is reflected in its mission statement: ‘Everyone included, everyone challenged, everyone successful.”

With a student body consisting of over 1300 children representing some 60 nationalities, ISB’s flexible brand of education would not be possible without its extensive resources and excellent teaching staff that counts 26 nationalities, he underlines.

“We are able to offer one of the highest schooling experiences you’ll find because we have some of the best teachers,” he says. “With a student teacher ratio of seven to one, the school can guarantee a personalised learning experience for each child.”

Longstanding reputation

Founded in 1951, ISB was the first international school in Brussels to cater to expat families settling in the Belgian capital when it transformed into a multinational hub following the second world war. 

The school initially educated predominately American children – around 80% of its intake in the 1970s – although this has since widened to provide a truly global experience. It is also increasingly appealing to Belgian families who appreciate the international opportunities afforded by the wide-ranging curriculum.

Another attraction is the 40-acre chateau location in the south of Brussels, complete with green surroundings that house extensive sports facilities, including American football, rugby, field hockey pitches, rock-climbing and forest trails for cross country running.

Multiple pathways to graduation

Principally based on the US educational system and offering more than 120 courses, ISB’s choice of graduation pathways includes the US High School Diploma, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, the Advanced Placement (AP) programme, the BTEC programme and the Individualised ISB Diploma for students with intensive learning needs.

The ISB High School pathways empower students to shape a personalised academic experience that reflects their passions, strengths and future goals. With the freedom to combine courses across disciplines, students can build a programme that is both rigorous and relevant, preparing them for a wide range of post-secondary pathways worldwide. This flexibility, combined with high academic standards, ensures that every student graduates with a profile that stands out.

On hand to guide students through their academic choices and higher education aspirations are five dedicated counsellors. With such an international student body, navigating diverse global education systems is both a priority and a strength at ISB. Its expert Counselling Team brings in-depth knowledge of university pathways across the USA, UK, Europe and Asia, enabling them to provide tailored guidance and support. This global expertise enables ISB students to confidently pursue and secure places at some of the world’s leading universities.

Inclusiveness

For the Canadian director who spent 15 years in international schools across Asia, the flexible structure of ISB’s curriculum meets the individual needs of the children.  

The school also stands out for offering intensive learning support to students with different levels of ability and different needs for challenge opportunities. “We are a school with 1300+ individuals, and the same approach for everyone is not appropriate,” says MacDonald. “Teachers can adapt their pedagogy and have close relationships with children so that it is not overwhelming for them. It is an ever-evolving journey and we are constantly trying to get better at it.”

During the admissions process, students are carefully screened to determine their potential and their support needs. “We have approximately 20% of students qualifying as high potential and 20% benefitting from learning support. If we were in a public system, these figures would be 10%,” points out MacDonald.

Languages & extracurricular activities

With the student body currently consisting of some 55 spoken languages, there is naturally a strong linguistic focus. As well as local languages, French and Dutch, children can maintain their native tongue thanks to the broad choice of language tuition. 

ISB offers an exceptional breadth of language learning, with 16 languages available at International Baccalaureate level, and around half of all students graduating with a bilingual diploma. Complementing this, the school’s Home Language Programme supports students in developing their mother tongue, with languages such as Korean, Japanese, Spanish, Swedish and Hebrew available, helping students maintain strong cultural connections and a smooth transition should they return to their home countries.

In addition to expansive sports facilities – with over 50 competitive teams across 15 sports and numerous international competition opportunities, some 98% of students are involved in an artistic endeavour: performing arts across music and theatre and a wide range of visual arts, with multiple performance and exhibition opportunities each year. “We believe in a holistic education and offer extensive options so that they can try things out and explore their passions.” 

Global excellence

MacDonald, a forward thinking educationalist, likes to reflect on the founding of international schools in the 1920s as a force for peace following World War One. “The idea was that if we could bring children of different nationalities together we could build a community that would break down national lines and create a better place.”

As the oldest international school in Belgium, ISB is grounded in this philosophy. “With globalisation and the focus on skills and the economy, the skills the students are deriving from being around so much diversity are incredibly helpful in shaping who they are.”  

He notes how an international education enables students to be comfortable “around people who look and think differently to them.” It also means that they “can navigate different languages, are creative, problem solve and see other perspectives.”

When speaking to prospective parents, MacDonald highlights that true success comes from both academic excellence and the development of essential “softer skills”, a combination that often plays a key role in securing career opportunities and advancement beyond standardised test scores.

It is this future-proofing and transferable aspect of the skills that are attained at schools like ISB, which can give students such a privileged outlook on life and an advantage in the ever-changing job market.

“There is a magical blend between the highly idealistic and the practical at ISB. Beyond the excellent academic programme, we are able to create an environment that is unique so the kids can thrive. We have a lot of happy students here as well as a large alumni network.”

As for how the school distinguishes itself from similar establishments, MacDonald believes that its focus on the individual child is one of its outstanding qualities. 

“It really is an amazing school. The campus is stunning, the teachers have a real understanding of their students, the kids treat each other well, and the diversity of the pathways mean that if you want to become a pro football player or go to a leading arts or academic university, we’ll design a timetable specially for you.”

Meanwhile, for children with significant learning difficulties, “we have a pathway that ensures they get to live out their dreams as well, and get a great job when they finish.” 

Discover how ISB empowers each learner to grow, explore their strengths, and shape their own unique pathway to success. Register for the upcoming Grade 5 to 12 Open Day on 27 May.

The International School of Brussels (ISB
Kattenberg 19
1170 Boitsfort
Brussels

Photos: ©ISB