
St. John's International School is owned by Inspired Education Group, a privately held British education company founded in 2013 by Nadim Nsouli and headquartered in London. Located in Waterloo, Belgium, 20 kilometers south of Brussels, St. John's was founded in 1965 and is the only school in Brussels to offer the full International Baccalaureate curriculum (PYP, MYP, and Diploma Programme). The school serves students from over 65 nationalities and reported a 2025 IB Diploma average score of 36 points. Inspired Education Group operates over 125 premium schools across 30 countries.
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| St. John's International School | Inspired Education Group | Wholly owned |
St. John's International School was founded in 1965 in Waterloo, a municipality in the province of Walloon Brabant in Belgium, approximately 20 kilometers south of Brussels. The school was established to serve the growing international community in the Brussels region, which had expanded significantly following Belgium's emergence as the de facto capital of the European Economic Community (now the European Union) and the establishment of NATO's headquarters in Brussels.
Brussels hosts the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, NATO, and numerous multinational corporations. This concentration of international organizations has created one of the world's largest and most diverse expatriate communities, with tens of thousands of international civil servants, diplomats, military personnel, and business professionals. These families typically stay in Brussels for two to five years and require schools offering internationally recognized curricula that will be accepted by universities and schools in their home countries.
St. John's was founded to meet this demand, offering an internationally recognized curriculum in a multilingual, multicultural environment. The school's location in Waterloo, a residential area popular with international families working in Brussels, positioned it well to serve this community.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) was developed in Geneva, Switzerland in the 1960s to provide a consistent, internationally recognized curriculum for the children of internationally mobile families. St. John's offers the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) for students aged 3 to 12, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for students aged 11 to 16, and the Diploma Programme (DP) for students aged 16 to 19. The IB Diploma is accepted by universities in more than 75 countries, making it valuable for families who may not know which country they will be living in when their children are ready for university.
Over six decades, St. John's has built a reputation for academic excellence and IB curriculum leadership in Belgium. The school became part of Inspired Education Group as part of Inspired's strategy to build a global portfolio of premium international schools. Under Inspired's ownership, St. John's has continued to invest in facilities, curriculum, and faculty while maintaining its established identity within the Brussels international community.
In 2025, St. John's reported an IB Diploma average score of 36 points, with a top individual score of 43. This performance places the school above global IB averages and ranks it as the top IB school in Belgium. The school's graduates have gained admission to universities including Oxford, Cambridge, MIT, Columbia, Yale, KU Leuven, and Bocconi.
Inspired Education Group is the world's largest premium education provider, a privately held British company founded in 2013 by Nadim Nsouli. Headquartered in London, Inspired operates over 125 schools across 30 countries, educating approximately 95,000 students aged 1-18. The company received a €1 billion investment from Stonepeak in 2022.
St. John's integrates sustainability concepts into its IB curriculum across all three programmes. The IB framework includes environmental responsibility and global citizenship as core components, and St. John's incorporates these themes into classroom learning at all age levels.
The school implements sustainable practices across its campus operations in Waterloo, including energy efficiency measures, waste reduction programs, and environmentally conscious facility management. Specific environmental performance data is not separately reported by the school.
As part of Inspired Education Group, St. John's operates under ethical guidelines governing educational practices, student welfare, and community engagement. The school maintains safeguarding procedures appropriate for students aged 18 months to 18 years and complies with Belgian regulatory requirements from the Walloon and Flemish education authorities.
With students from over 65 nationalities, St. John's promotes cross-cultural understanding and diverse perspectives on global challenges. The school participates in Inspired's exchange programs and summer camps, providing students with international cooperation opportunities across the network of 125+ schools.
St. John's has received recognition for its IB programme excellence and academic results. The school was ranked as the number one IB school in Belgium in 2025, with an average score of 36 points and a top score of 43. In 2019, 98% of students passed the IB Diploma Programme.
The school has been recognized for its university placement record, with graduates gaining admission to Oxford, Cambridge, MIT, Columbia, Yale, KU Leuven, and Bocconi over the past decade. St. John's also offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses and is the only school in Belgium offering this US qualification.
The school's arts facility has been acknowledged as the best of any school in Belgium. St. John's has also been recognized for its personalized approach to education, where teachers know each student individually and support their academic growth.
St. John's International School has maintained a positive operational record throughout its 60-year history, with no significant controversies or regulatory issues.
The school maintains full compliance with Belgian regulatory requirements governing international schools, including standards from the Walloon and Flemish education authorities. St. John's has not faced safeguarding controversies, financial issues, or employment disputes that would impact its operations.
As part of Inspired Education Group, the school benefits from professional financial management and corporate governance. The school has not been involved in significant local controversies or planning disputes with the Waterloo community.
The Brussels international school market is subject to fluctuations in EU and NATO staffing levels, which can affect enrollment at international schools. However, this represents a market dynamic rather than a controversy specific to St. John's.
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| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gems Education | India | 2019 | Premium | India | All-ages | |
| Gems Education | United Arab Emirates | 2008 | Luxury | United arab-emirates | All-ages | |
| Cognita Schools | United Kingdom | 1979 | Premium | Regional | All Genders | |
| Inspired Education Group | Italy | 1969 | Premium | Regional | All-ages | |
| Inspired Education Group | Uruguay | 1981 | Premium | Regional | All-ages | |
| Cognita Schools | Singapore | 1981 | Premium | Asia pacific | Unisex |
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