This year is an exciting new chapter in our story as we prepare to move into our new home in Leuven. Thanks to the support of our founders, KU Leuven, IMEC, VIB and Stad Leuven, we will be opening our doors on 17th April 2023 at our new location 282 Tervuuresesteenweg, 3001 Heverlee.
Our growing community is delighted to embrace this wonderful new era and we continue to build on the outstanding education offered at ISL. Situated with easy access to the E40 and the E314, public transport and safe cycle paths we will be centrally located at the heart of Flanders.
“We will now have the space to build something truly amazing without losing the heart of who we are or the individualised education we can offer your child” - Carol Bancroft, Head of School.
It’s difficult for any school to stand out from the crowd these days. Copy paste websites make it almost impossible for parents to truly discover the “real school”, which is often hidden beneath a plethora of clichés. At ISL, our hope is to move away from jargon rich texts and instead open the door, to reveal the “real ISL” in action.
At the heart of everything we do is the children. Every decision and every action is taken with the wellbeing of the children at the forefront. The best learning happens when children feel safe, respected and included. We want children’s curiosity to be guided and challenged through purposeful, relevant experiences whilst celebrating those personal qualities that help us become fruitful citizens.
We want to empower our young people so that they grow to become well rounded, independent, secure, and intelligent adults with the confidence to be themselves. We support our students in becoming responsible for their own learning in a holistic and eco-conscious way and foster an environment that encourages risk taking, courage and growth.
Our balanced curriculum offers each child the opportunity to strengthen their intellectual, emotional, social and physical abilities.
Teaching the whole-child means, we go beyond just great academics and place equal emphasis on learning in, and about nature, taking part in sports, becoming more mindful, celebrating creativity and the arts and acquiring real-life skills, like working in the local fruit farm. This will help children become resourceful, mindful and confident individuals that are able to successfully take part in their world tomorrow.
Above all, we want children to love coming to school, to know that they belong, to enjoy the experience of learning and be happy, today and into the future.
ISL is part of the Global Schools Programme and is committed to embedding the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into our curriculum. We have also endeavoured to embrace this ethos throughout the building itself.
Our new school will embrace sustainability and extensive thought has been given to reducing our energy usage. Solar panels will fill our roof space generating authentic green energy not only for our school but for others around and care has been taken to provide substantial planted areas “greening-up” the immediate environment.
Surrounded by green play areas that connect our students to the natural world we will combine outdoor classrooms, landscaped playgrounds and community allotments. We aim to develop an appreciation and respect for the world around us and to allow all children to experience the joy of nurturing natural growth and the satisfaction this can bring. Our collaboration with the neighbouring fruit farm will enable children to experience this within a real life context whilst contributing to the development of our local community.
Our new building will provide us with endless opportunities to extend learning spaces and develop more enriching experiences for the children. We will have dedicated maker spaces to focus on our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Maths) projects, allowing all children opportunities to experience hands-on learning, with all the tools for creativity.
Every child that comes through our doors is unique, we adapt our teaching to meet individualised learning styles and needs. This wonderful new space will allow us the flexibility to adapt to the needs of our diverse learners now and well into the future.
“ISL has always been my son’s best school and a kind of soul place” - Koki & Misaki’s family.
“Our anxiety turned into great joy and love with ISL! Thank you for teaching us!” - Joy & Jake’s family.
“Thank you for making a great and unforgettable experience” - Julia and family.
Enrollment for ISL is still available for 2022/23.
Arrange a visit by contacting: admissions@isleuven.org or visit the ISL website here.
Carol Bancroft, Head Of School, International School of Leuven
