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At The British School of Amsterdam we are aware that as parents you have many options for education available to you in Amsterdam. We are the only school in Amsterdam to offer the full English National Curriculum leading to the highly regarded GCSE and A Level qualifications. The curriculum and qualifications are acknowledged in all countries, and as you would expect from a school offering this educational standard, we have the calibre of staff to match. Unlike many international schools, a large proportion of our staff have been teaching here for many years.
We have three school sections, the Early Years School for 3 to 6 year olds, the Junior School for 6 to 11 year olds and the Senior School for 11 to 18 year olds. Each has their own distinctive character that offers a stimulating environment where pupils benefit from small class sizes. As well as an academic focus, our teachers recognise your child as an individual and know not just their names but their hopes, anxieties, their quirks and enthusiasms.
Our school has some of the finest educational facilities in the city of Amsterdam including a large sports hall, beautiful playgrounds, a theatre, fully equipped science laboratories and music rooms. The school is located in Amsterdam Oud-Zuid near several green spaces, and is easily accessible for families commuting from different parts of the city and surrounding areas.
| Number of students |
1,100 |
| Number of nationalities represented in the school |
56 |
| Most common nationality |
British, Indian, American and Dutch |
| Native English speaking teachers |
Our school has an international team that currently includes 24 different nationalities. |
| Language support for students not fluent in English |
We have an English as Additional Language Programme which offers support to pupils where their first language is not English. |
| Additional language classes offered by the school |
Dutch, French, Spanish |
| Max. number of students per class |
24 (Early Years and Junior) 22 (Senior) |
| Average number of students per class |
20 |
| Does the school employ teaching assistants? |
Yes |
| Use of technology in the classroom |
Every classroom has interactive whiteboards and in the Senior School, all pupils will use a laptop as part of their regular learning. |
| Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures) |
We are well equipped to hold lessons virtually and have an online portal through Firefly to communicate with both parents and students. |
| Do students practice religion at the school? What religion? |
No |
| External examinations or assessments available |
IGCSE, AS and A Levels |
| Results in these examinations |
In 2024, BSA students at A Level achieved 48% A*/A grades and 97% A/C, and for GCSE achieved 53% A*/A and 95% A*/C. |
| Do teachers assign homework to their students? |
Yes |
| Approximate hours of homework given |
Depends on the subject and grade level. |
| Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation |
91% |
| Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs |
Yes |
| Learning support offered |
English as an Additional Language (EAL) and Special Educational Needs (SEN) |
| The school supports gifted, able and talented students |
In the Senior School, Maths is taught to the highest level pupil and scaffolded accordingly for all of the pupils. Top set Maths class usually undertake their GCSE early. |
| Student access to education psychologist |
In the Senior School we currently have two School Counsellors. |
| Entry evaluation for students |
Yes |
| Brief description of entry evaluation required |
We carry out assessments for pupils entering the Senior School to ensure their level is English allows them to access the curriculum at The BSA. We also like all families to meet with the Head of School to make sure the school is the right fit and can offer the support required for the child. |
| Waiting list |
Yes, in some but not all year groups. |
| Deadline for registration (new academic year) |
We accept admissions throughout the year, as long as there are available spaces for the child's age group. |
| Students can join after academic year begins |
Yes, with the exception of Years 10-13. |
| School start time |
8.40 |
| School finish time |
3:30 |
| Supervised care before/after school |
Our partner Majest provides supervised care after school. |
| School bus service available |
No |
| School provided lunches |
Yes, but this is an additional cost on top of the school fees. |
| Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc) |
Yes |
| Uniform required |
Yes |
| Extracurricular activities or clubs offered |
The school provides a wide range of activities across five key areas; Sports, Arts and Creative, Academic Achievement, Wellbeing, and Service and Community. Our multifaceted programme caters to the diverse interests and talents of our pupils, promoting personal growth and enhancing their overall school experience. |
| Sports activities included |
PE lessons are included as part of the pupil's timetables and Junior pupils also attend swimming lessons (off site). |
| Sports teams or sport competitions available for students |
Yes, for example we attended an Irish Dancing and Karate competitions and netball matches last academic year. |
| Facilities at the school |
Library, theatre, science labs, peripatetic music rooms, art and drama studios. |
| Sports facilities at the school |
7m high sports hall with ability to split into three separate sections and age-appropriate outdoor spaces/playgrounds for each of the three schools. |
| Qualities and characteristics best defining the school |
The British School of Amsterdam is an international non-profit day school providing world-class learning for children from 3 to 18 years. The school offers a stimulating and caring environment enabling your child to realise their full potential academically and develop the skills and confidence for a fulfilling and responsible life in a changing society. |
| Teaching approach of the school |
The British School of Amsterdam follows the National Curriculum used in England. The school believes that education should promote a love of learning, a sense of self-worth and the worth of others, a global awareness, a sense of responsibility and a sense of wonder. An education in the British School of Amsterdam is focused on the individual. It is about developing the whole individual and enabling each to become the best possible version of themselves that they can be. It is about unlocking potential and opening minds. |
The children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum which sets the standards that all Early Years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. It promotes teaching and learning to ensure children’s ‘school readiness’ and gives children the broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life.
We follow the National Curriculum used in England where English and Mathematics are taught every day for one lesson each. There are key objectives that are taught through the lessons and each lesson is tailored to suit the learning ability within a class. Children who are new to English receive additional support and work in small groups either in class or as a withdrawn group. The children also learn Dutch and French. Those that are native Dutch and native French follow a specialised programme in their own language.
We use the UK National Standard Attainment Tests (SATS) to test children formally at the end of each year in English and Mathematics, and these tests are externally marked at the end of Key Stage 2 (end of Year 6). We get very good results from our pupils, typically performing well above national averages.
The Senior School is for children between the ages of 11 to 18. The School offers a stimulating environment and the maximum class size is 22. The pupils benefit from smaller teaching groups in the upper years and in our Sixth Form. Classrooms are used by a range of subjects, alongside specialist rooms equipped for Science, Computing, Music, Drama, Art and PE. The Senior School timetable, split over a two week period, enables a broad and balanced curriculum.
The Senior School follows the National Curriculum used in England where Years 7 to 9 follow the Key Stage 3 Curriculum, Years 10 and 11 study a combination of IGCSEs and GCSEs and the Sixth form follows the A Level programme.
A fabulous city deserves a fabulous school. We have just moved to world-class premises on Havenstraat.
Our new home has brought together all our schools under one roof. This has great advantages for parents with children of different ages, but architecturally we have made sure that each school keeps its own age-appropriate character, and remains small enough to preserve the feeling of a close-knit community.
The building has been totally re-engineered and re-designed and now offers all the forward-looking facilities needed for the best teaching and learning experience for children aged 3 to 18. Our facilities include a magnificent sports hall, a full-sized theatre, fully equipped science laboratories and specially designed music rooms.
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