Message From Our Founder and Executive Head
It is with great pleasure and excitement that I welcome you to the British International School Dakar (BISD), Senegal’s premier British international school.
BISD delivers a world-class education grounded in academic excellence, personal growth, and a deep respect for the individuality and potential of every pupil from Nursery (3 years) to Year Six (11 years). We are actively developing our Middle School, with Year 7 due to start in September 2027, and further year groups to follow. To ensure personalised learning and meaningful teacher-pupil engagement, our class sizes are intentionally kept small, with a maximum of eight pupils in Nursery and Reception and twelve in Years 1 to 6. We currently cater to nursery, reception, and primary levels.
Dakar is home to a vibrant and competitive international education landscape, and we are proud to bring something unique to this thriving community. At BISD, we combine the highest standards of the Cambridge International Curriculum with a global perspective, ensuring our pupils are prepared not only to succeed academically but to thrive in an interconnected, ever-changing world.
Our exceptional team of educators is dedicated to helping pupils discover their unique talents, pursue their passions, and build the skills needed to navigate life with confidence and purpose. Our mission is to empower pupils to Learn, Discover, and Achieve in an environment where intellectual curiosity, empathy, and ethical leadership are at the core of all we do.
Our values—excellence, respect, empathy, leadership, and a global outlook—serve as the foundation for everything we strive to achieve. We encourage our pupils to pursue academic rigour with passion and determination, to embrace diversity with open hearts, and to develop as confident, ethical individuals ready to make a meaningful impact on the world.
BISD is more than just a school; it is a community. It is a place where pupils are inspired to think critically, explore creatively, and grow into their fullest potential within a nurturing and inclusive environment. We are committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, where strong relationships between staff, pupils, and families create the foundation for a truly transformative educational experience.
Our small setting and low teacher-pupil ratio together with our international curricula, delivered by exceptional educators, provide pupils with opportunities to master knowledge and skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom. Whether it is excelling academically, discovering a lifelong passion, or developing as an empathetic and innovative leader, every BISD pupil will have the tools to achieve their dreams.
Whether you are joining us from Dakar, elsewhere in Senegal, or from around the world, you will find a school community that embraces diversity, celebrates achievement, and supports every pupil to flourish both inside and outside the classroom.
As the Founder and Executive Head of BISD, I am honoured to lead this ambitious endeavour and to welcome you into a community that values excellence in all its forms. Together, we will shape the next generation of thinkers, leaders, and global citizens, and ensure that BISD stands out as a beacon of educational excellence in Senegal.
I look forward to embarking on this exciting journey with you.
William Arthur
