Welcome to the International School of Belgium
A very warm welcome to the International School of Belgium (ISBe).
Whether you are exploring ISBe for the first time or are already part of our school community, I hope our website gives you a real sense of who we are, what we value and what makes this such a special place for children to learn and grow.
Having worked in international education for more than twenty years, across different countries, cultures and school communities, one thing has always stayed with me: the best schools are built on relationships. Of course, academic achievement matters enormously, but so does the way a child feels when they walk through the school gates each morning. Do they feel welcome? Do they feel known? Are they happy, challenged and confident enough to try something new, make mistakes and keep learning? For me, these are the things that really matter.
As a parent myself, I know that choosing a school is one of the most important decisions a family makes. You are trusting us with far more than your child’s education. You are trusting us with their happiness, their confidence, their friendships and a significant part of their childhood. That is a responsibility I take very seriously.
What I value about ISBe is the genuine sense of community. We are an international school, bringing together children, families and colleagues from different backgrounds, cultures and experiences. That diversity is one of our greatest strengths. It gives our students the opportunity not only to learn about the world, but to learn from one another, developing the understanding, kindness and confidence to find their place within it.
Our guiding statements, Dream, Achieve, Celebrate and Unite, reflect what we want school life to be about. We want our students to have ambitions, to work hard and achieve things they are proud of, to celebrate their own successes and those of others, and to understand the importance of belonging to and contributing to a community.
From our youngest learners taking their first steps into school, through to our older students preparing for life beyond ISBe, we want every child to experience an education that feels connected, purposeful and full of opportunity. Our international curriculum pathways, including the IEYC, IPC, IGCSE and IB, provide strong academic foundations, but education is about much more than what happens in the classroom. It is also about the friendships made, the challenges overcome, the confidence gained through sport, the arts and new experiences, and the moments when a young person discovers something they never knew they were capable of.
None of this happens without great teachers and a strong partnership with families. I believe deeply in supporting our staff to do what they do best, building a school culture where people feel trusted, valued and encouraged to keep growing. Equally, I want parents to feel that they are part of school life, that their voices matter and that we are working together in the best interests of their children.
As Interim Head of School, my commitment is to be present, approachable and involved in the everyday life of ISBe. I enjoy being in classrooms, talking with students, spending time with colleagues and getting to know families. I believe it is important to listen, to be open and honest, and to recognise and celebrate the many things that make a school community special, while always looking for ways we can make it even better.
Above all, I want ISBe to be a school where children are happy to come each morning, where they feel they belong, where they are encouraged to aim high, and where they leave us not only with strong qualifications, but as good people who are ready for whatever comes next.
If you are considering ISBe for your family, I warmly encourage you to come and visit us. There is no better way to understand a school than to walk through its corridors, step into its classrooms and meet the people who make it what it is.
I look forward to welcoming you personally.
Aaron Kane
Interim Head of School
International School of Belgium