Secondary | The secondary department (12 to 18 years old)

	In an academic institution like BICS, academic rigour is the first essential. We ask of each pupil that he or she gives the best that they can give. Academically that challenge is created by a comprehensive range of subjects, highly professional teaching, and first class facilities for learning. A pupil's first three years in the School are the years in which he or she lays solid academic foundations. Every pupil studies English, French and Mathematics. They also study the three pricipal branches of science- Biology, Chemistry and Physics. History, Geography and Latin are also obligatory. We believe that all our pupils in their first two years should follow more or less the same broad curriculum, that it is wrong to ask a pupil to choose between subjects before the requisite maturity and experience. A new pupil has only one decision to make: whether to do Greek.
	A Christian education is rooted in the conviction that, as God’s creation is good, the young deserve access to all the great scientific, literary and artistic achievements of our civilisation. We strive to give to all our students a sense of the value of learning for its own sake. We hold that the search for truth begun early is the foundation of a full adult life.			We welcome students of varied abilities and seek to give them all an education appropriate to their talents. All our students are prepared for public examinations, giving access to university. Virtually all our students go onto university with great success.

FAQ :

What is your success rate in national exams?

In 2007 our pupils achieved a 100% pass rate in their national exams (épreuve du jury first degree), with our pupils being ranked in the first ten out of eighty passes nationally. One of our pupils was indeed grade first.

Are your diplomas recognised internationally, and will they enable our child to enter other schools in the appropriate year?

All our children take the nationally approved and recognised examinations of the ‘jury d’état’ organised by the Belgian education authorities. Our curriculum covers all that is necessary for these exams. Success in these externally marked examinations obtains a diploma that is not only recognised by all members of the European Community, but also worldwide. The fact that these exams are marked externally to the school, like the International Baccalaureate, maintains an objective control of our standards.

Does your curriculum maintain a bi- lingual aspect?

Our secondary school curriculum is not entirely bi- lingual; as our exams are taken in French, the main teaching language choice is French. In the Secondary school, new challenges are approached in terms of Latin and Greek; in a world where high academic success is increasingly demanded, a choice of one teaching medium language is necessary. Nevertheless most of our pupils are bi- lingual, having in the main followed our Primary school curriculum. English is maintained at a very high standard compared to other schools. English language and Literature are taught at native speaking levels.

Do you offer the possibility of exchanges with other schools?

We are at present elaborating an exchange programme with two schools in England. This will enable children to have the option of completing their sixth form studies in England. In the past our pupils have done so on an informal basis, with pupils notably going on to complete their studies at schools such as Eton and Ampleforth.

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