The Best IB All-Through School in Belgium

St. John’s is a private international school, founded in 1964 in Waterloo, Belgium – a tree-lined, historic town providing all the services families may need. It has been the first choice for expatriate and local families in Brussels for over 60 years. As the only school in the area that is part of a leading global group of premium schools, our students receive a unique international education with lifelong global opportunities.

As early adopters of the International Baccalaureate (IB) in Brussels, we have a long-standing reputation of delivering academic excellence that supports our students to explore, grow and learn in an exciting, engaging, and dynamic way.

Our international school is renowned for its supportive, joyful and welcoming community feel. We are dedicated to encouraging the unique talents of each child so they can grow to engage with the world and impact upon an inter-connected and global future.

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The St. John’s International School Experience

international-opportunities

Unrivalled international
opportunities

As an international English language school, students are immersed in an extensive dual language provision forming the highest percentage of bilingual diplomas in Belgium, including mother-tongue. International opportunities include summer camps, exchanges and annual global student leadership conferences.

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An IB Continuum
School

As the first adopter of the IB in Brussels 40 years ago, we are experts in delivering the continuous programme and the only school in the area to offer the Advanced Placement (AP) programme. Our students consistently achieve above world-average scores in their IB Diploma and gain entry to top universities around the world.

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Developing ambitious,
lifelong learners

Our balanced and broad curriculum is based on three pillars: Academics, Sports and Performing Arts. We encourage students’ self-development and interests, with exceptional results year after year.



 

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Arts facilities that bring
Broadway to Brussels 

Our Visual Arts, Performance and Music programmes turn an excellent academic programme into an exceptional one. Our students learn their craft directly from former and current professionals from Broadway and beyond in the largest school theatre in Belgium.

 

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Welcoming community
campus

Our welcoming campus embodies a true family atmosphere. We have an ‘open door’ policy for all our students’ parents to ensure the whole family is involved in their learning and our St. John's community. Our large, secure campus is easily accessible by foot, bike, or bus, and has extensive green spaces for outdoor experiences.

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Learning support for
inclusive education

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and leave no student behind when it comes to their wide range of possible needs. Students receive tailored support, including during exams. We aim to equip students with the skills required to help them manage their own learning.

 


International Baccalaureate Diploma Results 2022:


 

100%


Pass Rate

34


Average Point Score

23%


Achieved 38+ Points

50%


Received Bilingual Diplomas

‘Congratulations to the class of 2022 on an exceptional set of IB results.  It has been a demanding journey with many unforeseen challenges, but these results are a testimony to the perseverance, hard work and talent of this cohort.  I am incredibly proud that they have realised their ambitions and know they are well-prepared to continue to build on this success at many of the top Universities and beyond.’

- Dr. David Brooke,  Head of School


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EARLY LEARNING SCHOOL

In our Early Learning School, we lay the groundwork for our students to develop 21st-century skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, and negotiation.

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Primary School

The programme focuses on the total growth of the developing child, addressing social, physical, emotional and cultural needs in addition to academic development.

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Middle School

The IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) is open to students aged 11 to 16. It provides a learning framework that encourages intellectual challenge and connections between studies in traditional subjects and the real world. The MYP focuses on eight subject groups, providing students with a broad and balanced education.

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High School

In High School, the students will be preparing for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP). The IB DP is a two-year program that offers students the opportunity to engage in intellectually stimulating academic studies, providing a world-class preparation for university and life beyond.

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Welcome to Our Community

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"Welcome to our community. 

St John’s is a holistic international school community with a long and illustrious history of providing high-quality education. We are rooted in tradition yet forward-looking and always keen to learn and develop our thriving provision. 

We are focused on supporting the students in our care to become happy and successful global citizens in the 21st Century. We provide a high quality, all round, academic education based upon the curriculum of the renowned International Baccalaureate. We combine this with a wide variety of exciting extra-curricular experiences across the performing arts, sports, and fine arts, both on site and around the world.   

All of this takes place within a wonderfully warm and welcoming international community that celebrates the cultural variety that people from over 60 nations and six continents provide. We are located in the peaceful, historic town of Waterloo, close to the offerings of Brussels, the administrative centre of the European Union, but without the big-city congestion.   

A visit to our website will provide you with insight into the life of our happy school community. However, only a visit to our campus can really illustrate the warmth and vibrance of the learning environment. 

I look forward to welcoming you in person to St John’s in the not-too-distant future."

 

— Mr. Kevin Foyle, Head of School 

 

The Inspired Difference


St. John’s International School is part of Inspired, a global premium private education group offering outstanding academic excellence. 

Access to the Inspired global group of over 80 premium schools.
 

Learn more about inspired

 

 

 


 

International Schools in Belgium: FAQ

Figuring out how education in Belgium works can seem intimidating.

After all, each of the three language communities has their own school system and ministries for education. Hence, you will find an extensive range of schooling styles and levels, and regulations will vary.

Most Belgian children are enrolled in free public schools or subsidized religious schools. Unfortunately for many expats, this system rarely offers dual or multilingual education, and the administration is not used to providing appropriate transcripts when families relocate or return home.

Belgium is an international hub for politics and business and is situated in the heart of Europe. As a result, Brussels especially boasts a wide variety of private schools offering country-specific curriculums, internationally recognized qualifications, or an alternative style of education. The top international schools offer the International Baccalaureate, and St. John’s is the only premium Internationals School that offers the IB continuum programme from Early Learning throughout the Primary and Middle School years all the way to the IB Diploma Programme. This approach guarantees the best preparation for the diploma itself and the greatest flexibility when moving on to the next assignment.  

While being an English-language International School, St. John’s can look back on a long history of language learning. French is, therefore, taught throughout the school in the form of a dual-language programme in the primary years and with advanced and beginner options in middle and high school. Many of our teachers are fluent or native French speakers. This expertise is reflected in a record-breaking 50% of our whole cohort achieving the prestigious Bilingual Diploma.

It is important to look at the school’s accreditation. St. John’s is recognized as an International Baccalaureate Continuum school by the IB organization, is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CoIS), the Middle States Association (MSA) and the European Council of International Schools (ECIS). Additionally, the school offers Advanced Placement course support, which is much sought-after by the top US universities, and fully flexible boarding options for the modern internationally mobile family and tailored programme for children with special educational needs (SEN). 

If the child is nearing graduation, it may be wise to look at the school’s history of academic excellence. At St. John’s, we produce IB DP results consistently and significantly above the world average and have a dedicated Academic and University Counsellor to offer support; facilitating placement at the best higher education institutions around the globe. 

Also, ensure a wide variety of extra-curricular offerings and a well-balanced curriculum, two hallmarks of a St. John’s education.  

Last but not least, come and visit. Absorb the energy and spirit of the school. A warm and welcoming community will, in the long run, have a significant influence on the well-being of everyone involved, the happiness of the student, and the resulting academic performance.

It can offer a stimulating and well-balanced experience in an environment that opens the mind to various perspectives. We believe St. John’s to be a perfect environment for international as well as local students to perfect their study habits and focus on achieving top grades. Equally important are the myriad opportunities to engage in our unrivalled visual and performing arts programme and make the most of access to specialised sport through our extra-curricular offerings.

Students at St. John’s are encouraged to fully embrace personal and community responsibility while developing their lifelong learning, independence, and leadership skills. Boarders develop their personal integrity, live in a respectful community, and make lasting friendships. They learn to get along with people from diverse backgrounds with different interests.

International schools often boast better facilities than public schools and a more modern approach to learning. They also offer a borader variety of extra-curricular activities.

The academic standards are very high. As one of the world’s premier international schools, St. John’s offers some of the finest education one can find.

First and foremost, academics - St. John’s International School has an exceptional track record with 1 in 3 students enrolling in Russel Group or Ivy League universities - and outstanding pastoral care, ensuring that children’s talents are uncovered, and passions nurtured, since happiness gets results.

Additionally, not all international schools in Belgium offer a wide range of activities. St. John’s offers more than 30 extra-curricular activities in which most of the school’s population participates. For this purpose, we boast multiple sports arenas, outdoor fields, and even a 400-seat professional theatre where we stage large all-school musical drama performances with more than 100 participants.

St. John’s also has a structural partnership with one of the top golf academies in Belgium at the renowned Golf de Hullencourt and is surrounded by some of the country’s most beautiful and established golf clubs.

While some schools have specific points for entry, St. John’s accepts students year-round. We understand the challenges of international relocations and our teams are here to help to make the transitions as smooth as possible.

St. John’s is open to students of all nationalities, faiths, and backgrounds. At St. John’s, we are committed to meeting each student’s needs to the best of our ability. The final decision on acceptance and placement is taken based on the potential of the applicant to benefit from the programmes and educational services available.

It can be a cumbersome process, especially when coming from abroad and possibly a different educational system.  

Luckily at St. John’s, we know how important the right support before and the soft landing after an international relocation is. You will be guided through the process by a team of dedicated admission officers with a quarter decade of experience amongst them and the added benefit of having had children in an IB school as well.  

You can contact us directly here, and one of our admissions officers will be in touch shortly with questions to your answers and other information you requested. There is not a type of transcript they haven’t seen, and the team is well-versed in giving relocation assistance as well. You also book a personalized private tour of our campus. Should you not be able to come to Belgium, we can also arrange for a virtual tour beforehand. And finally, you apply for admission, conveniently and paperless, online. 

There are multiple reasons to study in Belgium. The multilingual and very diverse country lies in the heart of Europe, and other exciting cities like London, Paris, Amsterdam, or Cologne are only a short train ride away.  

The town of Waterloo itself, made famous by The Battle of Waterloo (not to mention the Abba song), is a student-friendly town of about 20,000 inhabitants in the French-speaking Belgian province of Brabant-Wallon. It is a pleasant and easy place to live that provides all the conveniences of a large town while maintaining a small-town feel. 

Everything one needs in terms of services, stores, medical facilities, and cultural opportunities are available in town. As a result, there are all kinds of free-time activities: from cinema trips and days at the local aquatic centre to visiting the many historical sites and going on bike rides in the countryside. After all, Waterloo is surrounded by the 10,920-acre Sonian Forest, which offers extensive walking, biking, and horse-riding paths. 

 


 

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