The British School of Amsterdam

Havenstraat 6, 1075 PR Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The school is located in Amsterdam city centre and is accessible by bus and tram with good public transport links. There is no on-site parking; a Kiss & Ride zone exists for quick drop-offs, and bike racks are available on site.

Early Years (ages 3-6); Junior School (ages 6-11); Senior School (ages 11-18)

British international day school

The Learning Support department provides support for children with specific educational needs; during admissions each applicant is assessed to determine suitability and support needs; if the school cannot accommodate a child's needs, alternatives are provided.

Affiliated with the United Kingdom; AoBSO and COBIS members; National Curriculum for England followed.

Nursery: 8:45–12:00 and 12:00–15:10 or 8:45–15:10; Reception: 8:45–15:10; Year 1: 8:45–15:15; Years 2–3: 8:45–15:25; Years 4–6: 8:45–15:30; Senior School: 8:40–15:40.

No school bus service is offered; travel to school is primarily by foot or bike; public transport links are strong.

The British School of Amsterdam offers the full National Curriculum used in England from age 3 to 18, culminating in GCSEs and A Levels. Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9) includes English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, Computing, Physical Education, Music, Art, Drama and PSHE, with pupils choosing two languages from French, Spanish, German or Dutch; English as an Additional Language (EAL) is available, and native Dutch is provided for Dutch speakers. Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11) follows a core GCSE framework of English Language and Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, with four further subjects chosen by pupils; KS3 subjects are offered alongside Business Studies and Media Studies. Sixth Form (Years 12–13) offers A Level courses with a compulsory PSHE core and electives; pupils select up to four A Level subjects and may continue to Year 13 (A2). The curriculum is enhanced by extra-curricular activities in sport, music and drama, and the PSHE programme supports life skills and responsible citizenship.

A Level results 2025: 100% pass rate; 41% of students achieved A or A; 76% achieved A/A/B; 90% achieved A-C; 157 examinations were taken. GCSE results 2025: 100% pass rate; 56% of grades were 9-7 (A/A); 77% were 9-6 (A/A/B); 95% were 9-4 (A-C); 508 examinations were taken. Published: A Level results 14 August 2025; GCSE results 21 August 2025.

University destinations: The British School of Amsterdam prepares students for further study and work opportunities around the globe.

Wellbeing is a fundamental aspect of the school, rooted in pastoral care that prioritises the physical and emotional welfare of every student. Personal, Social, Health, and Economic (PSHE) education equips students with essential knowledge and skills to make confident decisions amidst external pressures. Initiatives like Wellbeing Week and dedicated weekly PSHE lessons reinforce emotional wellbeing, and assemblies reflect the core values of nurture, inspire, and empower. A safeguarding team supports staff and parents in addressing students' safety, while a school nurse and a team of trained counsellors provide on-site health and emotional support. Parent workshops strengthen home–school partnership to support student wellbeing.

We are non-selective and inclusive, providing support to pupils with mild to moderate educational needs. We strive to ensure access to all aspects of school life and follow a Graduated Approach to SEND, aligned with the SEND Code of Practice. Needs are grouped into four broad areas: communication and interaction; cognition and learning; social, emotional and mental health; and sensory/physical needs. A named Learning Support Coordinator (SENDCo) in Early Years and Junior School and a Head of Learning Support in the Senior School lead provision; they work with teachers and families to plan and review targeted support and liaise with external agencies when needed. Teaching is planned to be differentiated to meet needs, with monitoring and coordination at school leadership level.

English as an Additional Language (EAL) is recognised as a strength, and EAL pupils have equal access to the full curriculum. EAL provision is fully integrated into inclusion, safeguarding, and equality commitments. The school identifies EAL needs on entry, with data on home language(s) and baseline assessments, and maintains a central EAL register. EAL progress is monitored termly using appropriate descriptors and staged grids. EAL is delivered through Quality First Teaching, with dedicated EAL groups; EY/Junior students have EAL twice weekly alongside Dutch, while Seniors have EAL as a language option with four lessons every two weeks. The policy distinguishes EAL from SEND and involves parents in supporting learning.

The mental health and wellbeing of pupils is a priority, guided by UK and international frameworks to ensure best practice in international schools. The Senior Mental Health Lead oversees and implements the school's mental health strategy, supported by a team of on-site mental health professionals and a Counselling Team for confidential brief intervention and signposting to external services. Mental health is addressed across the curriculum through PSHE, assemblies, and dedicated events, with awareness activities and resources signposted to pupils and parents. The school provides quiet spaces for emotional regulation and access to ongoing pastoral support from Heads of Year and pastoral staff. Progress is tracked using validated tools, and staff receive training to identify and respond to concerns.

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. The school provides a safe and secure environment and a safeguarding team supports staff and parents. The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Deputy DSLs coordinate safeguarding across all sections; staff receive safeguarding training and adhere to safer recruitment policies. The school bases safeguarding on Keeping Children Safe in Education (DfE) and the Dutch Meldcode, with clear step procedures for responding to concerns and collaboration with safeguarding partners. The policy sets out roles for all staff, from the Principal to teaching and support staff, and requires timely recording and reporting of concerns.

1. Determine the Year Group
Check the school's comparison chart to find your child's correct year group based on their age as of August 31st. Parents should note that the school does not typically accept applications for Year 11 or Year 13, as these are the final years of two-year examination courses.

2. Submit the Application and Documents
Complete a separate online application for each child, uploading required documents like a translated birth certificate, parental IDs, proof of address, and signed school reports in English. You must also disclose any special educational needs and provide relevant professional evaluations, translated and notarised if applicable.

3. Pay the Registration Fee
A €250 registration fee per child must be paid within five working days of submitting the application, otherwise the application will be automatically cancelled. If you are applying for a child who is returning to the school, this registration fee is waived entirely.

4. Await the School Reference
Once the application and fee are processed, the admissions team will contact your child's current school directly for a confidential academic reference and safeguarding records. You will be notified when this request is sent, but please be aware it can take up to ten working days for the current school to process and respond.

Allocation of places occurs after an offer is made. Parents have three working days to email a scanned copy of the signed acceptance letter; if the signed acceptance is not received within three working days, the child will be placed on a waiting list and the place offered to another family.