British International School of Washington

Posted: April 1, 2026

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Posted: April 1, 2026

My experience as a parent at this school exposed serious issues in how parents are treated.

The approach from leadership was unnecessarily adversarial, with communication that was abrupt, dismissive, and at times openly undermining.

I also experienced what I believe to be racism and discrimination. The tone, treatment, and lack of respect I encountered were not consistent with fair or equitable engagement, and this cannot be ignored.

The principal’s handling of the situation was unprofessional, and the regional head’s involvement was patronizing and dismissive.

This is not a school I would trust to treat all parents fairly or with respect.

Posted: April 1, 2026

Posted: December 7, 2025

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Posted: December 7, 2025

Great school for our family and 2 sons from every aspect, academic and social.

Posted: December 7, 2025

Posted: October 3, 2025

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Posted: October 3, 2025

Very happy with the school academically, socially, overall on all aspects except sports.

Posted: November 7, 2023

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Posted: November 7, 2023

BISW Student Here. The management and authority are horrendous. There is an extreme lack of communication between staff members, often leading to a negative experience for the students. Not only is the authority bad, as no rule seems to apply to anyone but it is also messy. The school faculty is very aware of what goes on between the students, they don’t know how to find a way to get respected and decide to make random accusations instead. A great level of favoritism is shown, specifically for white students that have been in the school for a long time. Anyone that doesn’t fit the ideal profile is looked down upon by most teachers, and the mental health accommodations given to students are unclear and poorly managed. The only good thing could be the teachers, who have to endure waking up every morning to work in such a terrible school. Some seem to have a passion for education, while others seem to be frustrated with their life and have no motivation to share their knowledge. Overall, it is a great school if you want a secondary system where 3/4 of the students have severe substance abuse issues that they can happily consume in the school premises. Never have I seen a bar better than the boys bathroom!

Posted: November 7, 2023

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Posted: June 6, 2023

My son is in pre-nursery and absolutely loves going to school. The teachers are very warm and friendly and have taught him so much. The community with the other parents is amazing, and the head of primary is such a warm and capable person. I wish I had brought my older kids here sooner!

Posted: June 6, 2023

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Posted: January 18, 2023

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Posted: January 18, 2023

I currently am a student at this school. The food quality and sanitation are horrendous. The bathrooms are dirty and often not in service, and there is a lot of bullying happening. In the classroom, students are disruptive and disrespectful to the teacher and their peers. The teachers are stubborn and do not listen to both sides of the issue resulting in biased and unfair judgement. The principal is incompetent and the head of secondary spends most of his time in the nearby Starbucks drinking coffee and rather than trying to improve the quality of life. Some of the classes are not need for most but students are forced to take it. Such as health and wellbeing that most students report decreases their motivation and worsens their mental health rather than increasing it. Students are not allowed to consume anything but water when they are on the school premises which results in decreased concentration and engagement. Don't go here unless you want to become a depressed corporate robot with no ambitions.

Posted: January 15, 2020

My daughter in the preschool program and we love it. The teachers are caring and highly qualified. Stimulating curriculum with music classes and weekly library sessions. Wonderful environment for young children to learn and play.

Posted: September 1, 2019

Encourages kids to aim high, be ambitious but empathise with others too.

Posted: September 1, 2019

Head of school and Head of secondary are parents of kids at the school. They are committed and hard working. Are a great asset to the school.

Posted: September 1, 2019

Very effective unit there for kids who need extra help.

Posted: September 1, 2019

Zero tolerance towards bullying. Dealt with swiftly once a situation is brought to teachers’ attention.

Posted: September 1, 2019

Excellent. Pushes kids academically, supports them on the way, is a happy school.

Posted: September 1, 2019

Could give more but is consistent. Seems to get the balance right of not over doing it as many schools do.

Posted: September 1, 2019

Great can do attitude. Positive and supportive.

Posted: April 10, 2019

I love this school. My DD entered reading at a Pre-K level. A year she was in the third Harry Potter book. Learning is tailored for every student in both English and maths, and there is an emphasis on presentation and debate.

Posted: April 10, 2019

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Posted: August 29, 2018

Especially in Y7-9 there was little to no homework.

Posted: August 29, 2018

Most of the teachers are exceptional but the ones who are bad are absolutely awful.

Posted: August 29, 2018

Posted: August 29, 2018

Posted: August 29, 2018

Posted: August 29, 2018

Made some amazing friends at this school, which is one of the strengths of it being so small. Maths in the school excels, specifically Mr. McCann who helped me and 2 other year 9 students get A* on their iGCSE maths papers two years early. PE teachers and facilities are a joke and no one in the school takes the sports teams and sports day seriously (bar maybe year 7's) Overall, your kid will have a great time here if your company is paying for it, however if you have to pay the tuition fees, I'd look somewhere else.

Posted: February 21, 2018

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Posted: February 21, 2018

Some well-wishing teachers but horribly under resourced.

Posted: February 21, 2018

Posted: February 21, 2018

Poor resources; management with awful records. Good location.

Posted: January 19, 2018

Very happy with the secondary school. It's our third year now. I appreciate both the academics and the learning atmosphere. I think the school has developed positively during the time our kids have been here.

Posted: January 19, 2018

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Posted: June 24, 2017

Very happy with the school - focus on academics but also a lot of character-building - trips, walks, exciting topics, competitions, clubs. Teachers are great and there are a lot of extras to make life easier for parents - bus, hot lunch, after care etc.

Posted: June 24, 2017

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Posted: December 16, 2016

I had my son for 1st year in primary school, I'm not at all impressed with what the school is providing:
Teachers are nice and trying their best, but
1- school facilities is a big zero, nowhere for children even to play
2- Large number of students (20 student per class) with a small size class and one teacher and his assistant, so educational activities have little impact, my son in the middle of year 1 can't count correctly from 1 to 20, so I had to arrange 1 hour help for him from my time every day
3- Transportation is a disaster, we tried the bus but I noticed no bus attendant so only bus driver and of-course students were doing parties as I was told on board, removing seat belts on highways, head of transportation looks like from a private company and not related to the school so he wasn't very responsive, so I stopped bus transportation and tried with my car and in the morning the area is quite packed with no place to park even for few minutes.
4- No school book or clear curriculum followed
5- school reports don't represent reality, looks like the copy/paste, so no chance to understand weakness of your side to try to help.

In the end I found it would really hurt my student to continue there as I was looking for a partner to educate my son and BIS wasn't that partner, looks they focus on profit side more than educational side.

Posted: June 14, 2016

We moved to BISW 3 years ago, we love the school and the teaching system. Most of the teachers are nice and dedicated. The actual Principal is great! Very polite, answers every question personally and listens to feedback
The activities at BISW are amazing and various from organizing trade shows to theatre presentation and the study of music is strongly encouraged especially after the collaboration with Juilliard School.

Posted: May 27, 2016

We like BISW's teachers and the curriculum. It has prepared our children very well. I am writing in response to the parent review that is oddly critical of the Parents' Association (of which every parent/caretaker is a welcomed member --- there is no entry fee, no sign up - you just show up) to clarify a few things about their opinion on the PA board. The Parents' Association board has no actual board power at the school or relationship to the school beyond being a parallel organization, so the post is confusing. It is a PTA board, not a school board. In our experience, parents all have access to the schools' communications and there are no gatekeepers. I was really surprised to read the review as it does not at all ring true to what we have experienced during our eight years at BISW. Additionally the political commentary is just odd, frankly, as in our experience we have never heard any kind of partisan political conversation on any field trip, visit, or class presentation -- especially one that is in any way part of a school lesson. It is an international school so those definitions vary widely by country so it doesn't even make sense. We value highly the school's use of the Washington DC region as an extension of the classroom. With so many children from different countries in the school, it is truly an international experience and certainly not one that we've noticed is overtly ideological beyond valuing the importance of understanding one another beyond nationality. In some respects it provides a respite from the Washington political intensity. It has been a great school for us, and has provided a sound foundation.

Posted: May 23, 2016

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Posted: May 7, 2016

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Posted: March 1, 2016

My children will not return next year. The leadership of the school is confusing. The principal is consistently negative and disrespectful when talking about Nord Anglia Education yet he continues to work for the school that is owned by NAE. This inconsistency leaves this parent uncomfortable with not knowing what are school decisions and what are corporation policies.

Posted: October 2, 2015

Teaching and grading is very inconsistent. This year 13 percent of students did not pass the IB. Besides, the school has lost over 100 kids during the summer.

Posted: October 1, 2015

As with all schools there's a mixed bag at the school. Some are better than others but the good ones are really good. Teachers seem to go above and beyond. There is always a good dose of humour which makes the teachers non-threatening and approachable. My son has some of his all time favourite teachers at the school.

Posted: October 1, 2015

My son was in middle school last year and there was not too much homework. He managed to get it done fairly easily and never complained. This year he is working towards his IGCSEs and they homework has gently ramped up which is good I think. It's quite refreshing the way he's doing it each night without a fuss. I think it's because there isn't too much pressure and the school is nurturing.

Posted: October 1, 2015

The school has a policy of children challenging themselves to beat their own personal best rather than competing against each other. This means students cannot be unfairly treated. Students are happy and included so there isn't a need to compete. I think all schools foster honesty and integrity so it's no different to anywhere else.

Posted: October 1, 2015

My son started at BISW 7 months ago. He came from one of Australia's top private schools which he really enjoyed so he was bound to make comparisons. Of course the facilities aren't anything like he had back home but this was made up for with the closeness of the community and quality of the teaching staff and students. My son was accepted into the community straight away and felt very at home. The teachers are non-threatening and enthusiastic and the students are mature, worldly and there to learn. Since we arrived there have been major upgrades of the facilities which are improving all the time. Sure things are sometimes less than perfect in the IT area but who cares, the place is run with humour, enthusiasm, a terrific sense of community and a wonderful global outlook which we find brilliant. The school is on the up and up. I can't recommend it enough.

Posted: May 18, 2015

Primary school is good, but the quality of secondary is very low in some subjects. Besides, the school is disorganized at all levels and unresponsive to parents concerns. I would not recommend the school past beyond primary.

Posted: November 29, 2014

Our children attended BSW for several years, and we loved it. Unfortunately, the school has been so poorly managed for the last couple of years that I'm glad we got out when we did. As an initial matter, all of our children's teachers were excellent. That said, I'm not impressed with the current head teacher (the 5th in just 3 years). As BSW is is a for-profit company, the head should at a minimum treat parents like paying customers. Instead, I think he sees us as a nuisance (and it doesn't appear he treats teaching staff much differently). Don't expect much if you raise a concern. Similarly, the head has not followed-through on many promised facility improvements. The focus seems to be on increasing profits. And now that BSW is owned by Nord Anglia Education (a Hong Kong-based company traded on the New York Stock Exchange) I would expect an even greater emphasis on profits and less on students and their families -- reading the investor prospectus was an eye-opening experience. I also fear BSW will lose many of its best teachers because of current management. In sum, DC has some exceptional private school options. Sadly, BSW is no longer one of them.

Posted: September 18, 2014

I had such high hopes coming to BSW. I really did. First things first, I do think most of the teachers were good, but the flip side was that some were very bad. I had a teacher who just assumed everyone had taken the "prerequisite" for her class (what is this university?) and literally used PowerPoints instead of actually standing up and TEACHING. Seriously? Also, I was a brand new student and even though I asked for help, I got none in that class. I had another teacher who would yell and ridicule a student if he or she didn't know the answer and who obviously had anger management issues. Secondly, at least in my year, I felt that there was a very negative attitude towards Americans and D.C. in general. I noticed students (and some faculty) were very condescending and would go out of their way to make fun of American citizens and culture. I understand that this is a British school, but is snobbery really necessary? How is that inclusive? And really is this not an INTERNATIONAL school? Lastly, the pretentious and entitled attitude by nearly everyone was excruciatingly distracting and disheartening. So I must ask is this worth the exorbitant fee that is tuition? Former Student

Posted: August 30, 2014

I used to think that our family would leave BSW with a heavy heart but instead it was with a sigh of relief. We were at the school for 7 years and experienced the primary, middle and high school sections of the school. Primary is best by far, the leadership is dedicated and motivated and baring a few notable exceptions the teachers are fantastic. The school gets progressively weaker, with the High School being the weakest 4 years. On top of the high cost of tuition we also had to employ tutors for subjects where the teachers were weak, not something that should be necessary when the largest class size was 12. The school has gone through a large number of changes including a change of ownership and 5 Head Teachers in the last 2/3 years. The leadership does not truly understand the needs of students who want to go to US universities and believe that it lack of facilities is acceptable, Don't expect action if you raise concerns or even answers to emails. This is a for profit school with a public school attitude, they need to start behaving like they are being paid to provide a service rather than treating parents like they are a nuisance and an inconvenience.

Posted: July 29, 2014

well first things first i am the realest. I have been at BSW for a while and just to say a little i think i have lost some IQ points along the way. The teacher don't seem to care if you learn the subject. They only care about the test scores and the lengths of girls skirts. The freedom that students get at year-9 to year-7 is zero from the time you arrive at school to the time you leave a teacher will always be watching you. Its like a prison here. I would just like to say don't waste your time and money going here, don't even go to the website not worth your time.

Posted: June 27, 2014

We have had a wonderful experience at BSW. I cannot vouch for the upper school but the Nursery is outstanding. Incredibly committed teachers, a very warm and friendly community, 3 and 4 year olds nurtured and guided through their learning and socialization. It is very structuted, which I think is a good thing. They think they are playing but they are learning every minute. The head of nursery is incredibly hard-working and devoted to her job. Children as young as 3 take part in incredibly poised assemblies and school productions. They are very much part of the wider school community whilst retaining their own special nursery identity. Behaviour is noticeably excellent. I have never once observed poor manners around the school, the older children are delightful.

Posted: June 25, 2014

We've had two very happy years so far at BSW, with 3 kids really enjoying going to school. The teaching staff are, by and large, excellent - caring, well qualified, and enthusiastic. Yes, the sports facilities are very poor, but the sports staff make up for that with great organization and energy, so our children haven't suffered at all in that department. On the contrary. Music and languages are mixed, but additional activities - school camp, musicals, a world-beating skiing trip by all accounts are out of this world. And a terrific school community. We've been made to feel very welcome. So why only 3 stars? It's a for-profit school, and that has implications. It's great in that the school never asks for additional money or fundraising. But it seems to lead to a one-dimensional focus on increasing school pupil numbers at all costs. And a constant drive to cut overheads (over burdened staff, never-ending promises about facilities that don't materialize, incredibly old computers that don't work). If they spent a little more money, they'd get 4 or 5 stars from me.

Posted: June 11, 2014

We have been very happy at BSW. Its a very small community of parents and students; which is great because it becomes a big family. The best part about BSW is how they teach the children, the kids don't simply memorize they analyze and understand a subject matter. For example they don't come home having to memorize the times table as I had to do as a child but they spend time explaining to the children the concept behind the times table and how one may use it for division, what it actually means to divide. Its a wonderful way to learn and this way it will stay with them forever. The smaller children in Nursery and PreK learn via play. My 4 year old is already reading and writing! I was shocked when I found him writing his name one day. He wants to learn and homework is not a chore its fun. BSW has some fault (such as lack of sport facilities , which they are working on) but one thing they do well is instill a love of learning in kids, and that to me is priceless. BSW unlike other private school is a for-profit school, which is great because they do not ask for any extra donation in addition to the tuition. There is lots of opportunities for parents to be involved at the school

Posted: January 29, 2014

My 3 year old son started at BSW in Sept and has made a smooth and worry free transition into his school life. The welcome from staff in both his class and those of others has been extended to all the family and has made him feel right at home. Some concerns over his speech development have been dealt with sensitively and in a supportive manner. He has so many opportunites to talk about his learning with peers, adults and older students, backed up by informative weekly newsletters that have enabled us to follow up at home as well as with extended family members around the world. It is clear that the ethos of this school is about pastoral care working hand in hand with individual academic progress and this is exactly what i am looking for in a school environment. We look forward to our continuing relationship with the school as we progress on our son's learning journey.

Posted: January 11, 2014

It is the best school my child has been to, we've been moving a lot and that means a lot of different schools. He tells me he hates being sick when it means missing school. The school's teachers are very good at encouraging kids to challenge themselves, especially Mr. Horton.

Posted: December 30, 2013

Think again before you send your child to this school and he or she intends to return to the UK for studies. They do not offer the IGCSE options that even most state schools offer in the UK, teachers set work from websites and teh choice of languages is very poor considering it is an international school with kids from all over the world. This school has hardly eany pupils in the upper years and the teacher turn around is alarming. Look in last year's yearbook and you will see that most teachers are no longer there. It is a huge disappointment. It professes to care for individual needs but it truly doesnt. All it really knows how to do is sell a false image in exchange for exhorbitant fees. It is worrying to see that it is a school accountable to no educational authority, such as Ofsted, unlike most British Schools outside the UK.

Posted: June 8, 2013

Our child has thoroughly enjoyed their time at BSW and loves going to school every day. The teachers are engaging, and set appropriate challenges. Based on the British curriculum, along with their normal studies of maths, literacy, PE, languages, every six weeks the children start a six week project based on the International Primary Curriculum; I have been thoroughly impressed as my now 10 year old has had to learn and explain the physics of rollercoasters and then design a functioning rollercoaster with a team of 3 other children, research the functionality of satellites and space travel, create their own mythology books using art, storytelling and science, study the US government and the constitution including performing mock elections with campaigning. The school is made up of 40% Americans and 60% International families. You will not find that type of mix in many private schools, let along the public school system.

Posted: May 29, 2013

As a new parent at NSW, I had high hopes but these were dashed almost in the first week when I saw parents haranguing the teachers about how poor the curriculum and homework was in early senior grades. The academic curriculum is very unambitious, and standards seem too low to make this a school to recommend. Homework is sporadic and more project oriented than academic. Overall, it seems to offer little value for the money.

Posted: May 22, 2013

We really like this school. The teachers at the elementary school are very passionate/committed and easily approachable. The curriculum is British, and most teachers are from the UK, but the school has a truly international feel to it. The teachers take the time to really get to know their students. Our child in pre-K can t wait to go to school each day. She and her classmates go on walks in the woods every week (rain or shine) and have taken numerous interesting/fun field trips to strengthen their learning/understanding. The school has gone through some management changes, but all seems steady now. Facilities are somewhat limited (e.g. sports fields/gym), but the school is working on expanding these.

Posted: April 19, 2013

School is unsatisfactory on a number of levels, not the least is the chaotic administration, poor organization, and lack of communication, both internaly and to the parents. The company that runs the school has been unimpressive, hiring a headmaster last year then firing him within about 6 weeks. Not a move that built confidence among parents.

Posted: January 23, 2013

Outstanding nursery program. We have been thoroughly impressed with the education and socialization that our twins have received at BSW. My kids have very different personalities and strengths, and I can see that each of them are being nurtured based on their individual traits. The curriculum is play-based but with impressive amount of academics (literacy & mathematics) disguised as play. But I am most grateful for the social- and emotional-skills emphasis. The teachers foster empathy, cooperation, and age-appropriate independence. There are concerns about the facilities - small indoor play space, no proper gym, & lack of older-kid-appropriate outdoor play space - but the corporation that owns BSW now seem committed to developing unused space (about two floors worth) in the building. Personally though, I'm happy with the outdoor and indoor play available for the primary grades. The administration has quickly responded to the few questions or concerns that we've raised. Both administrators and teachers are always available in person or via email to chat, address concerns, or give (solicited) advice. BSW is a great private school and a great value. We're returning next year.

Posted: December 11, 2012

A super professional independent private school in the heart of DC serving Nursery to High School Students. What makes this school standout is its British high quality curriculum and diverse student population. Class sizes are small and the teaching first class.

Posted: December 4, 2012

My daughter is in the secondary program and has been there for 2 years, she loves the studies, the teachers and the diversity of the students. It is a perfect school for girls they are taught to be very strong thinkers and individuals. As an American family we are most welcome andappreciate the method of teaching She is inquisitive, independent thinking and well versed in all subjects We did a search ogf other private schools in the area and found that British not only offers the IB program, it possesses the training for critical thinking that we all need so much to succeed in the world!

Posted: October 4, 2012

My son has been at BSW for the past 5 years and I could not be happier with the school. The teachers are excellent and provide lots of individualized attention and mentoring. The international primary curriculum provides a stimulating and effective course of study that induces students to think deeply about a wide variety of important social, economic, political and cultural topics and promotes intellectual engagement that enhances their acquisition of learning and life skills. The BSW community is international, socially engaged, courteous and fun to be a part of. The school has been perfect for my son and for my family. I would recommend BSW to any parents in the Washington DC area who are looking for a socially diverse, intellectually challenging, deeply caring and friendly school environment for their children.

Posted: September 29, 2012

My children attend the high school and are very happy there. We are delighted with the excellent grades in both the IGCSE and IB exams that they have achieved. The learning styles that they are encouraged to adopt have helped with the transition to university. (Most students go to very good universities after finishing the IB Diploma.) There is always a positive learning environment and atmosphere in the school.

Posted: August 20, 2012

I have two boys who have attended BSW for the past three years at Primary level. I can honestly say that it has been a truly joyful, positive and productive experience for them. The teachers instill a love of learning in the children right from the outset which allows them to become inquisitive, thoughtful and independent learners. Class sizes are small, resulting in more individual attention from the dedicated teachers and assistants. The International Primary Curriculum in my opinion has been a huge success. It allows for differentiation and helps the children understand their place within a diverse, international community. The school continues to act upon feedback from parents and students, and together with a very strong Parents Association I am in no doubt BSW will continue to go from strength to strength. Of course, as some of the reviews here show, the school is not a best fit for everyone (as is the case for all schools). I hope in future personal grievances can be redirected to the school itself and space is left for those with constructive criticisms.

Posted: July 12, 2012

I went here for four and half years before finally transfering to a different school. In short, my experience was unpleasant. I was bullied by my classmates (and certain members of staff) frequently. Only a small handful of the teachers were actually very good, but the rest were atrocious. (Like showing videos of cats instead of preparing us for our IGCSE exams.) Coming from a former student, don't send your child here. The school is too cliquey to make true friends and most the teachers can tell you more about their lives instead of their subject.

Posted: June 12, 2012

We sent our older daughter to BSW for one year and took her out. The classes were large (32+) and, although the course material was well-taught, at the end of the year, the etacher, who went back to the UK, could not tell me anything about my daughter, good or bad. Also, bullying was tolerated, and seemed a part of the culture of the school. I often had to beg my child to go to class, and she is not especially shy or withdrawn. Many of the parents were nice, but there was a definate in and out crowd. The school administartion was aloof. After a year, we send our daughter to a small Catholic school in Palisades, where she has thrived. Before sending your child to BSW, understand that it is for profit and therefore will tolerate all manner of bad behavior to keep enrollment up.

Posted: May 14, 2012

Our son has been enrolled at the school for two years. Upon enrollment we were told by the school that we had to pull him from Kumon tutoring because this program was antithetical to the BSW curriculum. After speaking with another dissatisfied parent, we had our child independently evaluated this year, & like her child, he was far below grade level & couldn't test into any private school in the area. To add insult to injury, he has been bullied for the past 2 years, & when we talked to administration about this, providing names & evidence, (the scar on his forehead from being pushed), the school blamed him for the abuse. I was incensed and 100% agree with the other poor reviews. I also attended British schools in Africa & I believed that the curriculum was comparable. We just discovered that BSW uses a product created by the corporation which owns the school & it isn't even accredited. Now, we have re-enrolled in Kumon, but kids in his grade who stayed in Kumon are doing 6th & 7th grade work but my son has to play catch-up. BSW provides no homework, no tests, unmotivated teachers, too much money & no scholarships. DO NOT SEND your child here unless you are a diplomat passing thru.

Posted: May 13, 2012

Our children have been in the primary school for the last two years and the greatest compliment that I can pay BSW is that they look forward to going to school every day. The primary school teachers are enthusiastic and dedicated and the small class sizes this year have enabled them to focus on the needs of each of our children. I have been impressed by my children's development in literacy and their reading skills in particular. The language programme does need improvement and this is being addressed.

Posted: May 13, 2012

Our two children are thriving in the BSW Primary School. The teachers are not only motivated, but motivating. The literacy programme is fantastic - both for reading and writing. The younger children go out for weekly Walks in the Woods, connecting with nature and becoming Junior Rangers. There is a strong focus on presentational skills, through homework which involves individual talks to the class, and annual assembly performances. The primary school needs more structured focus on math, which we are told is happening, and leadership has been improving. We are confident that BSW is providing the best start possible for the education of our children.

Posted: April 23, 2012

We have two children at BSW and have been with the school for four years. The teachers and curriculum have consistently met and exceeded our expectations. The children are challenged and develop a love of learning from the beginning. We have seen this continue each and every year. Teachers are caring, dedicated, challenging, creative, and hard-working. The International Primary Curriculum (IPC) is one of the many aspects that help make BSW a unique and special school. The IPC is taught in the Primary School (Reception (PK) - Year 6). It is an engaging curriculum designed to foster rigorous learning, particularly focusing on on academic, personal and international learning. Through the IPC teachers are able to provide their students with innovative and exciting ways to learn, which I have seen first hand in our children. They truly do love learning and we can't imagine providing our children with a better education than at BSW!

Posted: February 20, 2012

Our daughter started attending BSW this year (elementary school) and we have been very happy with the experience so far. Her home room teacher is excellent, and her reading and math performance has improved dramatically. I believe that the academic standard is quite high compared to any private school in the area. Most importantly, our daughter is very happy. We have particularly appreciated the school's willingness to help students who enter the school at varying levels to catch up to their class mates through individualized attention. I did not get that impression from any of the other private schools we visited, most of which seemed more concerned with what the student would bring to their school, rather than what the school could do for the student. That said, the physical facilities are not really up to par (particularly in term of sports, play areas etc.) and the language program needs strengthening. But there are signs that this is being addressed - so we'll see. Our daughter has only been at the school for half a year, and it remains to be seen whether our experience will extend to other teachers, but so far, we have had an excellent experience.

Posted: September 28, 2011

I have several children at BSW. Quality of the school is best at the primary stage and then steadily deteriorates in secondary and student numbers drop making it a very small school at IB level. Teachers variable - some excellent, others far from it. Strengths: design and technology, maths and english. Weaknesses: sport, language program. School building very average - below DC public schools in terms of facilities. Governance structure is not responsive (for profit, based in the UK). Parent involvement correspondingly limited.

Posted: May 1, 2011

As a student attending this school, and having attended for over 5 years, I can honestly say my experience here has not been the best. Although I have gained a lot from having to cooperate with classmates, it's definitely been a struggle. There are some teachers who show clear signs of favoritism, and these displays are very discouraging for the rest of the class. Having seen the IB room (which, by the way, is simply disgusting), I was really worried about going here next year. I now attend a public school taking AP courses instead, and not once have I regretted it. There have been several occasions as well where I have seen students mistreated by teachers both unfairly and wrongly. Some punishments that are put on some students are then not put on other students who rightly deserve them as well. I don't know how well this school works for kids, for me it didn't. That's just my own experience.