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Brussels International Catholic School
BICS is the traditional, Cambridge curriculum Catholic school in Etterbeek, walking distance from the EU institutions. Founded 2004 as the international successor to the older Institute of Saints Peter and Paul.
In brief
BICS is the traditional, Cambridge-curriculum Catholic school in Etterbeek, walking distance from the EU institutions. Founded 2004 as the international successor to the older Institute of Saints Peter and Paul.
The school runs through to Cambridge IGCSE and A Level, with a bilingual French and English programme in the primary years. Fees are well below the main international schools in Brussels, and that combined with the central location is why a lot of EU staff families consider it.
Parents who like BICS describe a serious academic culture, fluent bilingualism by the upper primary, and a community that is less driven by privilege than the bigger international campuses. The Catholic ethos is real and embedded, not nominal.
Critical voices flag the secondary school more than the primary: complaints about specific staff, a heavy Cambridge-exam focus that can crowd out wider learning, and rules some find old-school, including limits on talking at lunch. Families who want a traditional, structured environment will read those as features. Families who do not should look elsewhere.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Primary (age 2-4) | 2 | €11,700 |
| Primary (age 5-11) | 5 | €12,000 |
| Secondary Years 8-11 (IGCSE) | 12 | €13,000 |
| A-Levels (Years 12-13) | 16 | €14,000 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee (non-refundable) | €500 |
Reviews
BICS sits behind the European institutions in Etterbeek and runs a Catholic, Cambridge-track British school across pre-primary, primary and secondary sites within a five-minute walk of each other. Fees are among the lowest of any English-medium school in Brussels, and the bilingual French/English primary draws warm comments from families who want a small, traditional setting. The secondary picks up most of the friction in parent talk: a tight, exam-focused academic offer, a Catholic ethos that is genuinely Catholic rather than nominal, and facilities that feel cramped after the lower years.
Positives
- Bilingual primary. The English/French primary is the strongest part of the school in parent talk. Children arriving with little French tend to pick it up quickly, and the small year groups make the transition manageable.
- Family feel. Small, traditional and personal. Staff know the children by name across the three Etterbeek sites, and families who want a calm, structured environment over a large international campus tend to settle in well.
- Affordability. Annual fees sit roughly EUR 12,000 to 14,000, well below the British, European-school-adjacent and IB options elsewhere in the city. For a Cambridge pathway in Brussels this is at the bottom of the range.
Considerations
- Catholic ethos. BICS is under the guardianship of the Institute of Christ the King and the Catholic practice is real, not decorative. Mass, prayer and religious instruction are part of the week for all pupils regardless of background. The school says non-Catholics are welcome; families who are not actively Catholic sometimes find the level of observance heavier than expected.
- Secondary academics. The senior school runs a narrower subject menu than larger British or IB schools in the city, with a classical and arts tilt and limited STEM breadth. Parents describe Years 8 onward as heavily geared to IGCSE and A Level preparation rather than wider learning, and A Level outcomes have drawn criticism in individual cohorts.
- Facilities. The Etterbeek footprint is tight. Outdoor space, sports provision and science facilities are modest compared with purpose-built international schools, and the secondary site in particular comes in for complaints about cramped study and break areas.
- Staff consistency. Teaching is described as uneven, with some strong long-serving teachers alongside turnover in other subjects. Communication between school and parents at secondary level is a recurring grumble.
Leadership
Canon William Hudson, MA
Canon William Hudson is a priest of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. Before his seminary studies near Florence, Italy, he read history at Magdalene College, Cambridge. He has been Headmaster of the Brussels International Catholic School for eighteen years, where he promotes a caring, family environment and academic excellence through the Cambridge International Curriculum. His leadership focuses on balancing liberal arts and sciences within the context of Christian values, encouraging students to fulfill their individual potential while fostering a sense of respect and community.
Academic results
- IGCSE Success 100%
- A-Level Success 94.5%