Alpha School of English

Alpha School of English is a long-established language school in St Paul's Bay, a seaside town on the north coast of Malta that is easy to reach by bus from Sliema, St Julian's and Valletta. It is known above all for family holidays that combine English lessons with sun, sea and organised activities, although adults travelling alone, teenagers, business people and teachers all have courses built for them.

For UK readers, the practical benefit is simple: English is an official language in Malta, so everyday life becomes extra practice, and the flight from the UK is short. The school can arrange accommodation, excursions and sports on top of the lessons. Alpha appears among the language schools in Malta in our directory, and you can reach it through the form on this page.

About the school

Alpha School of English was established in 1991 and has welcomed families, juniors and adults from many countries for more than two decades. It is licensed by Malta's Ministries of Education and Tourism and approved by the EFL Monitoring Board, which oversees English-language schools in Malta. It is also Malta's first green certified English language school, and it promotes eco-education as part of its identity.

The school offers a satisfaction guarantee: if a problem cannot be resolved to a student's satisfaction, the unused part of the English course is refunded in full. Teachers are native speakers of English and qualified for the work, and the student body is international, with large numbers of teenagers in summer giving the school a lively, cosmopolitan feel.

Classes are grouped by ability, so a mix of ages and nationalities share a classroom and English becomes the common language. That atmosphere helps lone travellers make friends quickly, which makes the school a comfortable place to arrive on your own, and the mix of nationalities includes students from Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and beyond. Because lessons sit alongside organised leisure time, it is easy to meet people after class as well as during it.

Adult courses, mini-groups and private lessons

The core adult course is General English, with a choice of 20 or 30 lessons a week of 45 minutes each. Group classes are for students aged 16 and over at elementary to upper-intermediate level and have no more than ten people. On the autumn dates currently listed, the course starts from €230 per student per week, and each booking also carries a €50 registration fee and a €30 resources fee per student.

Mini-group classes are smaller, with a maximum of five students. They are offered for beginners at A0 and A1 level and for advanced students at C1 level, for students aged 18 and over, and are listed at €350 per week for the autumn dates shown. Extended courses for stays of six weeks or longer suit those who want a long overseas experience, and the school supports students who need visa paperwork by providing a confirmation letter free of charge once all charges are paid.

Private teaching comes in several shapes: one-to-one courses for rapid progress, two-to-one lessons for couples, colleagues or friends, and home tuition, where you live with a teacher's family and study in total immersion with accommodation included. There are also evening classes for people who work during the day, and over-50 courses for older learners.

Family, junior and teen programmes

Families are at the heart of Alpha's offer. The Family English Course can be tailored to each household, with lessons for children aged 8 to 17 and adults in the same week, and the school advertises discounts for family bookings, with a further reduction for returning families. Younger children are catered for by a playschool and a Kids Club for ages 2 to 8, with Kids Club activities for ages 5 to 8.

Junior courses are for ages 8 to 12 and teen courses for ages 13 to 17. Options include activity-based and sport-focused programmes, a teen package, private lessons for young students and a vacation activities programme, all in a safe and well-managed environment where lessons are paired with activity-packed leisure time. Supervision and a friendly, child-friendly classroom setting are part of the pitch for parents who want to relax while their children learn. Longer junior stays attract discounts of 10 per cent for four to seven weeks and 20 per cent for eight weeks or more.

Parents planning a trip around school holidays can check seasonal conditions in our Malta weather guide and compare dates with our overview of Malta holidays.

Business, exams and professional training

Business English is tailored to the student's level and line of work and is aimed at executives, professionals, entrepreneurs and university students. It is available in mini-groups, as a combined course and as private tuition, and a one-to-one specialised option is available for those who want training around a particular role.

Exam preparation covers IELTS and TOEFL, which universities and employers recognise worldwide and which can be taken in Malta, along with PET and KET for younger learners. Alpha also teaches Aviation English and ICAO preparation for pilots and air traffic controllers, a five-day one-to-one or bespoke group course focused on clear communication.

Teachers and school staff are well served too. The Erasmus+ training programme runs five-day courses for educators on topics such as classroom management, CLIL, teaching business English, teaching very young learners, wellbeing in schools and AI in the classroom, priced at €425 per person for most dates. Work experience placements and internships alongside English lessons are available for young adults, and schools can ask about group packages.

Accommodation, excursions and daily life

Alpha arranges a wide range of places to stay close to the school, from hotels and self-catering apartments to Maltese host families and a school guesthouse. Host families are especially popular because dinner-table conversation becomes extra practice. The school has an accommodation office to deal with any concerns, and students complete a short questionnaire within a few days of arriving. Our where to stay in Malta page explains the main resort areas if you are comparing the options.

Every course includes a welcome pack with maps, a student ID card, a placement test, weekly progress tests, a final certificate, free WiFi at the school, a SIM card on request and a 24-hour emergency helpline. Excursions and sports are added on request and can be bought in packs, with trips to places such as the Blue Lagoon and the Grand Harbour, or across to the island of Gozo.

Lessons run in the morning, with intensive classes starting at 1pm. That leaves time for the beach: our best beaches in Malta and Golden Bay guide both suit afternoons off, and things to do in Malta covers the rest.

Getting there and getting around

St Paul's Bay sits close to Buġibba, Qawra and Mellieħa, and local buses reach Sliema, St Julian's and Valletta frequently. Many students travel to the capital for a day, and our Valletta guide helps you plan the trip, while a day in nearby Mellieħa also makes an easy outing. UK students can fly to Malta directly, and our guide to flights to Malta shows the routes.

The school advises packing for the season: light clothes and sun protection from April to September, and a jacket and umbrella for evenings and showers between October and March. It also reminds visitors to cover shoulders and legs in churches. Those considering a longer stay can read our guide to relocating to Malta.

How to get in touch

The school is on Arznell Street in St Paul's Bay and runs separate departments for bookings, accommodation, excursions and teaching vacancies. A student advisor helps with choosing a course and applying any discounts that apply. To ask Alpha School of English about a family trip, a course for yourself or training for your staff, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the school.