Cities / Brussels / St. John's International School
St. John's International School
The default full IB school for English speaking families in southern Brussels and Waterloo, running PYP, MYP and DP since the 1970s with around 525 students from 62 nationalities. On a residential campus in Waterloo, taking children from age one through to Diploma.
In brief
The default full-IB school for English-speaking families in southern Brussels and Waterloo, running PYP, MYP and DP since the 1970s with around 525 students from 62 nationalities.
On a residential campus in Waterloo, taking children from age one through to Diploma. Bilingual English and French is genuine here, and the early years offering from twelve months makes it one of the very few true full-continuum options for relocating families. Boarding is available for highly mobile families and circuit-followers.
The community is the draw as much as the academics. Diverse, expat-heavy, with strong volunteer and family networks that make landing in Brussels easier. Teachers stay long, and the IB pedagogy is embedded rather than bolted on. Trade-offs are the price tag at the senior end, the commute if you live in central or northern Brussels, and a campus feel that some families find suburban after the city. For families south of Brussels with a long horizon, this is usually the first school visited.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Early Years 1-2 (Day Care & Timbertops) | 1 | €14,200 |
| Early Years 3-4 (Pre-K) | 3 | €19,500 |
| Early Years 5 (Kindergarten) | 5 | €27,800 |
| Grade 1 | 6 | €36,700 |
| Grades 2-5 | 7 | €37,300 |
| Grade 6 | 11 | €39,800 |
| Grades 7-8 | 12 | €42,200 |
| Grade 9 | 14 | €42,900 |
| Grades 10-12 | 15 | €44,600 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Campus Development Fee | €700 | |
| Enrolment Fee (new students) | €1,000 |
Reviews
One of the longest-established international schools in Belgium, sitting on a green campus in Waterloo about fifteen minutes south of Brussels. Full IB continuum from early years to Diploma, with a Catholic foundation that still shapes the ethos, and Inspired Education as owner since 2016. The 2025 Diploma cohort posted an average of 36, the highest in Belgium that year, and the school is increasingly attracting Belgian families alongside its traditional expat, EU and NATO base. Day-to-day reputation leans warm and pastoral, with strong arts and sport facilities; the Catholic identity and the Waterloo commute are the two things that come up most often as points of consideration.
Positives
- IB outcomes. The 2025 Diploma cohort averaged 36, the strongest set of results in Belgium that year, with a top score of 43. Forty years of IB experience shows in the results discussion.
- Pastoral feel. Parents describe a warm, community-feeling school where teachers know children individually. The PYP roots and small year groups in the lower school come up positively.
- Arts and facilities. A 400-seat professional theatre, the Greene Gallery and extensive sports grounds give performing arts and sport real space. Music, drama and visual arts are a genuine strength, not a brochure line.
- Boarding option. Shannon House offers full, weekly and flexible boarding, which suits diplomatic and mobile families needing a soft landing for older children.
Considerations
- Catholic ethos. Founded by the Faithful Companions of Jesus in 1964 and the Catholic heritage is still part of the school's identity. Most families find it light-touch; for non-religious or non-Christian families it can feel more present than expected.
- Waterloo commute. Fifteen minutes south of Brussels on a clear road; thirty to ninety in rush hour. Families closer to central Brussels lean on the school bus network or end up moving to Waterloo, Lasne or Ohain.
- International mix. Sixty-plus nationalities on roll, but the Belgian share has been growing and now sits around a fifth of the student body. Families who specifically want a heavily expat-skewed peer group occasionally compare it less favourably to BSB or ISB on that dimension.
- Fees. Sits at the top of the Brussels market, with day fees rising into the mid-EUR 40,000s in the upper years and a six-figure total once boarding, transport and one-off enrolment costs are added.
Leadership
Mr. Kevin Foyle
For over 60 years, St. John’s has been providing a high-quality education to expatriate and local families of the greater Brussels area. We are proud of the impact that we have had on generations of students. St John’s is a holistic international school community with a long and illustrious history of providing high-quality education.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
- Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools 02
Academic results
- IB Diploma average (2025) 35.7 points