Video: 65 years of the International School of Brussels

The International School of Brussels celebrates its 65th anniversary this year, having grown from 27 pupils in October 1951 to 1,500 students and 300 staff today.

"We're always looking forward and we're always looking at new ways of doing things and being innovative," says school director Lee Fertig. "But at the same time all is built on what's come before."

The school began life as the American School of Brussels, in Woluwé-Saint-Pierre, but soon renamed as ISB and moved to its current home, a 16-hectare wooded campus in Watermael-Boitsfort. Today's pupils come from 70 different countries.

"ISB is a special community for many reasons," says Fertig. "It's a very inclusive community, we seek out students and families that have different perspectives, different learning profiles, different learning styles, different interests, different passions and different abilities."

He says the school is ambitious in terms of learning support and special education. About 15% of the student body receives some sort of learning support - everything from mild dyslexia to Down's syndrome.

Innovation is also an important part, says Fertig. "We're a pioneer in trying new things, technology, digital tools and the new maker space movement. Current statistics tell us that 60 to 80% of the jobs that the students will have don't exist yet. So we need to educate them to be critical thinkers, problem solvers and be collaborators across diverse perspectives, different disciplines."

He adds: "I would like to think that we educate students no matter how long they stay with us to be citizens of the world that have integrity about the important things out there; we believe that we educate kids to be empowered to make a positive difference in the world."

We meet the alumni

For Marianne from Tulsa, the school provided "all around education, exposure to all these different viewpoints, different nationalities, trips everywhere, just a great education".

David, a retired history and social studies teacher arrived in 1969 and retired in 2004. "ISB brought me everything, he says. "I came for two years but then realised that there was nowhere else I'd rather be."

Martin from Poland says: "It gave me a perspective on the whole world, an entrance to the real world." For Michael from Italy: "It gave me a very positive experience, I learned English and was able to go to university in the UK so it was a life-changing experience."

Sally from Florida tells The Bulletin: "Later in life it brought me a job and an incredible place for my two children to be educated, it totally completely altered my life."

Sue was a teacher but remains active with the school in her retirement. "I think it says a lot for the institution - people when they can escape still come back, I'm in my second decade of being a retiree dropout."

Finally, for Angie, who works at the school: "When you are an employee of ISB it takes over your whole life, becomes a passion."