International School in Brussels
Brussels International Catholic School
Founded in 2004 as a successor to a Catholic school established in 1971, the Brussels International Catholic School (BICS) is a private international school located in Etterbeek, in the heart of Brussels, just minutes from the European institutions. It welcomes around 680 students from over 50 nationalities across three campuses, offering a seamless educational journey from age 2.5 to 18.
BICS provides a fully bilingual French-English programme from Pre-Primary through to the end of Primary, before transitioning to an English-medium secondary education following the Cambridge International Curriculum. Students sit the IGCSE examinations at the end of Year 11 and the Cambridge International A Levels at the end of Year 13, qualifications recognised by universities worldwide. Rooted in Catholic values of respect, integrity and personal growth, BICS combines proven academic results with a close-knit, family-oriented community in which every student is known and supported as an individual.
683
STUDENTS
55
NATIONALITIES
3
BICS Schools
BICS School Academic Programme – Brussels
The Pre-Primary School – Bilingual Foundations in a Caring Environment
Ages 2.5 to 6
Founded on the conviction that happy children achieve more, BICS Pre-Primary welcomes children from the age of 2.5 in a warm, family-oriented environment rooted in Christian values. Located on Chaussée de Wavre in Etterbeek, just minutes from the European institutions, the school offers a fully bilingual programme in which classroom instruction is delivered 50% in English and 50% in French from the very first year.
In English, the programme follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, building confidence in communication, literacy, numeracy, and social development through structured play and discovery. In French, children follow the Belgian and French programme, developing a strong academic foundation in their second language from an early age. All teachers are native speakers of their respective language, ensuring authentic immersion in both.
From Kindergarten through to Year 1, children are guided through a rich and balanced curriculum that includes mathematics, science, music, art, physical education and regular school outings. Special attention is given to reading through the Jolly Phonics programme in English and syllabic learning in French. The school’s small size, of around 130 children, ensures that every pupil is known, valued and supported throughout their early years.
The Primary School – Cambridge and Belgian Bilingual Programme
Ages 6 to 12 (Years 2 to 7)
Building on the bilingual foundations established in Pre-Primary, BICS Primary welcomes students from age 6 to 12 across its campus on Rue Général Leman in Etterbeek. The school follows the Cambridge Primary Programme for its English curriculum and a curriculum approved by the Belgian authorities for the French component, ensuring full recognition by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
In English, the Cambridge programme structures learning across writing, reading, speaking and listening, with mathematics and science also delivered in English. Students who are new to the language benefit from dedicated ESL classes taught by specialist teachers. In French, the curriculum is grounded in classical teaching methods, with systematic grammar, conjugation, and vocabulary practice, alongside history and geography taught entirely in French.
Mathematics is taught in both languages, combining the Cambridge framework in English with the Singapore method in French, offering students the opportunity to approach the subject from multiple angles. By the end of Year 7, students are expected to be fully bilingual. The school’s 100% exam success rate and its accreditations from Cambridge and the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) reflect the consistently high academic standards maintained throughout the primary years.
The Secondary School – Cambridge IGCSE and A Levels
Ages 12 to 18 (Years 8 to 13)
BICS Secondary, located on Rue Froissart in Etterbeek, offers a rigorous academic programme following the Cambridge International Curriculum from Year 8 through to Year 13. While English is the primary language of instruction, the school maintains a strong French programme for students coming from its bilingual primary, ensuring continuity and linguistic depth throughout secondary education.
The secondary programme is structured across three distinct cycles. The first cycle (Years 8 and 9) lays the academic groundwork through grammar, language acquisition, written expression, mathematics, science, history and geography. The second cycle (Years 10 and 11) prepares students for the IGCSE examinations, Cambridge’s internationally recognised qualification covering a broad range of subjects. BICS has consistently achieved a 100% IGCSE success rate, a remarkable result for an international school of its size. The third cycle, or Sixth Form (Years 12 and 13), prepares students for the Cambridge International A Level examinations, with a 94.5% success rate, opening doors to universities worldwide.
The curriculum is enriched by subjects including Latin, literature, music, art, theatre and religion, reflecting the school’s commitment to a well-rounded liberal arts education grounded in Catholic values.
Accreditation
BICS holds three important accreditations that reflect the quality and credibility of its educational programme. All three schools, Pre-Primary, Primary and Secondary, are recognised by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (FWB) as fulfilling the compulsory schooling obligation in Belgium, ensuring full legal recognition of the education provided.
BICS is also an accredited Cambridge University Examination Centre, offering the internationally recognised Cambridge Primary Programme, IGCSE and A Level qualifications across its primary and secondary schools. This accreditation places BICS within a worldwide network of schools held to rigorous academic standards set by one of the world’s most respected examination bodies.
Finally, all three schools are accredited by the European Council of International Schools (ECIS), an organisation that evaluates and recognises schools committed to excellence in international education. Together, these three accreditations give families the assurance that a BICS education is both academically rigorous and internationally portable, whatever the family’s next destination may be.
School Uniform
A school uniform is compulsory for all students across the three BICS schools.
- Pre-Primary pupils wear a white polo shirt, navy blue sweatshirt, grey skirt or trousers and an apron.
- From Primary onwards, the uniform becomes more formal, with a school blazer, tie, light blue shirt and grey skirt or trousers.
- Secondary students follow a similar dress code, with the addition of a navy v-neck jumper.
Languages at BICS
English and French are the two languages of instruction at BICS, with both taught from the age of 2.5 through to the end of primary school.
In Pre-Primary and Primary, teaching time is split equally between the two languages, with all teachers being native speakers of their respective language.
From Secondary onwards, English becomes the primary language of instruction, while French continues as a core subject throughout Years 8 to 13. Students arriving with little or no English or French benefit from dedicated ESL and FLE support classes taught by specialist teachers.
Why Choose the Brussels International Catholic School?
The strengths of BICS
Founded in 2004 as a successor to a school established in 1971, BICS has built a reputation over more than fifty years for combining academic rigour with a warm, family-oriented environment rooted in Christian values. Its three schools, located within a five-minute walk of each other in the heart of Etterbeek, offer a seamless educational journey from age 2.5 to 18.
Who is BICS for?
BICS is particularly well-suited to expat families based in central Brussels and the European quarter who are looking for a small, values-driven school offering a complete bilingual education from age 2.5 to 18 under one roof.
Its seamless Pre-Primary to Secondary pathway makes it an ideal choice for families planning a longer stay in Brussels, who want their children to follow a consistent academic journey without changing schools. The Cambridge IGCSE and A Level qualifications provide a clear and internationally recognised route to universities worldwide, making BICS a strong option for families who anticipate returning to an English-speaking country or moving on to another international school.
The fully bilingual Pre-Primary and Primary programmes are particularly relevant for mixed French-English families, or for families arriving with little or no French who want their children to become genuinely bilingual within a few years. The school’s small size, of around 680 students across three campuses, means that every child is personally known to their teachers and supported as an individual. For families who value a structured, disciplined environment grounded in Christian values, with a proven track record of academic results, BICS offers a distinctive and reassuring choice in the heart of Brussels.
Extracurricular activities, meals, bus, travel
Outside school hours
BICS offers a varied programme of extracurricular activities across all three schools. At Pre-Primary, activities are organised by the school’s own teachers and run Monday to Friday from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm, and on Wednesdays from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. At Primary level, the programme is particularly wide-ranging and has included chess, cricket, fencing, golf, rugby, tennis, theatre, musical comedy, cooking, computer studies, a range of musical instruments and several language options including Dutch, Spanish and Italian. At Secondary level, activities have included chess, cricket, rugby, golf, computer studies and maths support. The full programme for each school year is announced at the start of term. Fees vary depending on the activity chosen.
At all three BICS schools, students have the choice between a hot meal provided by the school’s catering service or a packed lunch brought from home. Please note that there is no facility to reheat cold meals. At Pre-Primary and Primary, two snack breaks are provided during the day. At Secondary level, hot meals are available every day except Wednesday. Year 12 and 13 students are permitted to leave the school premises during the lunch break.
The three BICS schools open at 7:45 am, with students expected to arrive by 8:25-8:30 am. At Pre-Primary, the school day ends at 3:30 pm, and at 12:30 pm on Wednesdays. An after-school care service is available until 6:00 pm (5:00 pm on Wednesdays). At Primary level, the day ends between 3:30 pm and 3:45 pm depending on the year group, and between 12:15 pm and 12:30 pm on Wednesdays. At Secondary level, the day ends at 3:40 pm, and at 1:00 pm on Wednesdays.
BICS Pre-Primary and Primary both offer an after-school care service (garderie) to support working parents. At Pre-Primary, the service runs from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, and from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Wednesdays. At Primary level, the garderie is available until 6:00 pm (5:00 pm on Wednesdays). The service is billed at €8 per hour. The Secondary school does not offer after-school care.
BICS collaborates with the independent transport provider Kids Ride for all three schools. Families wishing to use this service should contact Kids Ride (kidsride.be). Please note that this service is entirely managed by Kids Ride and BICS accepts no responsibility for it.
BICS organises a rich programme of educational trips across all year groups. At Primary level, Year 3 and above students are invited on an annual ski trip to the Dolomites in Italy, with no prior experience required. Year 6 students look forward to a five-day residential trip to the Euro Space Centre in Transinne, Belgium, combining hands-on science activities with team building. At Secondary level, the history teacher organises annual study tours to Greece or Italy, offering students a unique first-hand experience of classical archaeology and ancient civilisations. Secondary students also take part in the annual ski trip to the Dolomites, and A Level students enjoy a sailing trip every two years at the Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure in Belgium.
Tuition Fees 2025-2026 – BICS
Private Registration
Fees charged directly to the family
| Tuition fees | |
|---|---|
| BICS Pre-primary | € 11 700 |
| BICS Primary | € 12 000 |
| Year 8-9-10-11 | € 13 000 |
| A Level (Y12-13) | € 14 000 |
Professional Registration
Fees paid or reimbursed by the employer
| Tuition fees | |
|---|---|
| BICS Pre-primary | € 19 000 |
| BICS Primary | € 19 300 |
| Year 8-9-10-11 | € 20 300 |
| A Level (Y12-13) | € 21 300 |
Sibling Discount
BICS offers an automatic fee reduction for families with more than one child enrolled in the school. For private registrations, a 10% discount applies for the second child, 20% for the third, and 30% for the fourth.
Contact | BICS
The Brussels International Catholic School invites all interested parents to schedule a visit via the website, by email, or by phone.
Location of BICS
- BICS Pre-Primary School : Chaussée de Wavre 457, 1040 Brussels
- BICS Primary School : Rue Général Leman 86, 1040 Brussels
- BICS Secondary School : Rue Froissart 57-59, 1040 Brussels