St. John's International School

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 50 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.

St. John’s is a wonderful place to grow, work and learn. It is a learning community in which we expect as much from our students as we do from ourselves. We are lifelong, passionate, caring, inquisitive learners who work daily to create a more understanding and sustainable world. Our international school is inclusive and is exclusive. We live in the real world and wrestle with global issues. We are comfortable with paradox and understand life as a continuum. We nurture wellbeing and build confidence. We strive for academic excellence whilst valuing hard work and collaboration. We are internationally minded and celebrate diversity.

We value our own identity, knowing our presence enriches the community. If you’d like to experience the spirit of St. John's International School for yourself, it would be my pleasure to show you around and introduce you to our community.

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.

Our international education is student-centred and holistic, encouraging personal excellence in Academics, Arts and Sports. We celebrate diversity and instil in our students the open-mindedness to think globally. We promote individual responsibility for life-long learning, service and achievement. Our Values to Companionship - the gentleness to befriend and strength to accompany. Integrity - being true to ourselves, to each other, and to our world. Respect - the appreciation of diversity amongst peoples, languages, cultures and beliefs.

St. John’s International School prides itself on creating a nurturing and stimulating environment for its students inside and outside of their classrooms so they will make a meaningful contribution to the world, both during and after their education. “We seek to inspire, challenge and prepare students within the framework of a nurturing, caring ‘family’ environment."

St. John’s is widely regarded by many as one of the best international schools in Europe. In order to provide the school with a platform for coherent and dynamic development, we have drawn up clear guiding statements supported by a vision, mission and values, which we believe positively differentiates us from other international schools.

Our educational philosophy is simple; we want each and every student to explore, grow and learn in an exciting, engaging and dynamic way. Our young people are growing up in a time of unprecedented change and uncertainty. We do this by delivering a focus on the individual and offering a broad curriculum based on Three Pillars: Academic Excellence, Sport and Performing Arts. We are ambitious for our students academically, but we equally recognise the need for a broad and balanced curriculum. It is essential that they develop a diverse and adaptable skill set. We also help students to develop the key skills that will help them develop into lifelong learners – to be inquisitive, mentally and emotionally agile, to challenge and be challenged, as well as to be open and creative.

St. John’s has a long tradition of providing students with unique opportunities to develop skills beyond the classroom. Our world-class sporting facilities, membership of the prestigious International Schools Sports Tournament (ISST) and commitment to sourcing outstanding professional level coaches ensures the best access possible to a broad range of sports. The emphasis is on participation and skill development.

We are ambitious for our students academically. We simultaneously recognize the need for a broad and balanced curriculum. It is essential that they develop a diverse and adaptable skill set. We also want our students to develop the key skills that will help them develop into lifelong learners – to be inquisitive, mentally and emotionally agile, to challenge and be challenged, as well as to be open and creative.

Our educational philosophy is rooted in the history of our school and seamlessly dovetails with the aims and philosophy of the International Baccalaureate. As one of the most established IB schools in Europe and now the first all-through IB school in Brussels, we are confident that we have found our perfect formula.

At St. John’s International School, we define international education as a commitment to helping our students become what the International Baccalaureate terms “internationally-minded people,” who, “recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.”