Cities / Brussels / British Junior Academy of Brussels
British Junior Academy of Brussels
BJAB is the small, traditional British school in central Brussels with serious Belgian family appeal. Founded 1992, around 300 children, English National Curriculum, structured and academically demanding.
In brief
BJAB is the small, traditional British school in central Brussels with serious Belgian-family appeal. Founded 1992, around 300 children, English National Curriculum, structured and academically demanding.
It carries BSO accreditation and ISI inspection, which is unusual for a school of this size and matters for parents moving back to UK independent schools. The atmosphere is described as warm but firm, with high expectations on uniform, manners and academic effort.
Parents praise the pastoral relationships and the constructive parent-school communication. A notable share of the roll is Belgian families choosing BJAB over the local system, which gives the school a more rooted feel than the typical expat-circuit campus.
The cap is the size and the upper age. The DB lists ages 3 to 16 but the school's primary identity is the junior years. Subject and extracurricular range is narrower than at BSB or ISB. Families who want a smaller, traditional, English-style primary will find it suits. Families looking for a sprawling international campus will not.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten half day (age 3) | 3 | €10,819 |
| Kindergarten full day (age 3) | 3 | €18,513 |
| Reception (age 4) | 4 | €19,532 |
| Years 1-2 (ages 5-7) | 5 | €22,776 |
| Years 3-6 (ages 7-11) | 7 | €25,286 |
| Years 7-8 (ages 11-13) | 11 | €27,982 |
| Years 9-11 / IGCSE (ages 13-16) | 13 | €29,596 |
| Year 12 (age 16-17) | 16 | €32,556 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Refundable Deposit | €500 | |
| Registration Fee (non-refundable) | €500 |
Reviews
- Small-but-consistently-positive review pool. A directory aggregate sits high, with a 92 percent recommend rate from a small base of reviews.
- In 2025, a parent looking at expat options was specifically recommended BJAB by other parents, citing intentionally small class sizes.
- Parent reviews highlight a personalised, family-feel curriculum across the primary years (Reception to Year 8) with strong pastoral and academic balance.
- Round Square membership and strong British-curriculum baseline pull in expat families on multi-year postings to Brussels.
- Reviews note it is an established small school, not part of any large group, and that it stops at Year 8 so families plan secondary moves separately.
Positives
- Small school feel. Personalised attention, strong teacher-pupil ratios and a family atmosphere are the dominant praise points.
- Academic and pastoral balance. Parents praise high academic standards alongside attention to wellbeing.
- Brussels expat fit. Often recommended in Brussels expat threads as a solid, well-run school for families new to the city.
Considerations
- Limitation. Ends at Year 8; families need a secondary plan after that.
Leadership
Mr Francis Retter
As the Headteacher, I am proud to lead a team of dedicated and passionate educational specialists who are committed to providing an exceptional education for our students. With small class sizes and a total enrolment of around 300, we foster a warm and supportive family atmosphere, where children can thrive and reach their full potential.
Accreditations
- British Schools Overseas (DfE) 01
- COBIS Patron's Accreditation and Compliance 02
- ISI 03
Academic results
- Median standardised score in Mathematics 2022 118
- Median standardised score in English 2022 113