Cavendish School of English
English Language School in Valletta · Valletta, Malta
Enquire through VisitMalta.co.ukServices, hours and details last checked against Cavendish School of English's own published information.
Cavendish School of English Malta is a licensed English language school in a restored early 20th century townhouse at 124 Triq Melita in Valletta, with a sister school in Bournemouth. It runs General, Intensive, Business, exam preparation and one-to-one courses for adults, plus junior camps and tailor-made group programmes. You can enquire through the VisitMalta.co.uk form on this page.
Cavendish School of English Malta teaches English in the middle of Valletta, the walled capital and UNESCO World Heritage city. The school occupies a townhouse built in the early 1900s for a wealthy businessman, now fully restored, and it is one of just two of Malta's roughly 40 language schools licensed to operate inside Valletta. That gives students a calmer setting than the busy resort areas, with the city's baroque streets on the doorstep.
The Malta school is the sister of the Cavendish School of English in Bournemouth on England's south coast, so families and organisations in the UK can deal with a familiar name when sending students or staff abroad. You will find the school in our directory of language schools in Malta.
The school building and facilities
Inside the restored house, classrooms are air conditioned and get natural light through the year, and a lift serves every floor. The main classrooms have interactive whiteboards with computers and internet access, and there is audio-visual equipment, a stationery and workshop area, Wi-Fi throughout and a relaxed cafeteria and lounge where students meet between lessons. A two-bedroom apartment with roof terraces at the top of the building can be booked by students.
The location is practical too. The Valletta bus terminus is a three to four minute walk away, making it easy to reach Mdina or the beaches after class, and Sliema is a 15 to 20 minute walk or a short ferry ride. Our Valletta guide has more on the city, and St John's Co-Cathedral, Malta's grandest church, is a short stroll from the classroom.
English courses for adults
Adult courses are open from age 16 and run all year at every level. General English (G1) has 20 lessons a week, about 15 hours; Intensive English (G2) has 25 lessons, about 18.8 hours; and Super Intensive English (G3) has 30 lessons, about 22.5 hours. Each can last from 1 to 50 weeks, and a standard lesson lasts 45 minutes. Classes are small, usually 6 to 10 students and never above 12, and the focus is on everyday communication as well as grammar, vocabulary, reading and writing. Age is no barrier: the oldest student so far was 81.
Business English (B1) is a highly intensive 25-lesson week for managers and executives, using business publications and case studies, and it starts with a needs analysis on arrival so the content matches each student's work. One-to-one tuition offers 10 to 30 one-hour lessons a week for 1 to 48 weeks, designed entirely around the learner, and it is open from age 12.
Teaching is lively and varied. Teachers mix up-to-date methods with technology and a broad range of materials, and they link topics to students' own lives so lessons feel relevant. The timetable changes from day to day, giving plenty of chances to practise new words and structures in a friendly, low-pressure classroom, and learners at every level tend to grow in fluency and confidence quickly.
Everyone who completes a course successfully receives a Certificate of Achievement mapped to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), the scale used across Europe to describe language ability from beginner to proficient.
Cambridge and IELTS exam preparation
For students who need a formal qualification, the school prepares candidates for the Cambridge First Certificate (FCE), entered from intermediate level, and the Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE), entered from upper intermediate, each over 13 weeks at 25 lessons a week. The CAE is valued by employers as proof of a very high level of English.
IELTS preparation runs for 4 to 12 weeks, usually from upper intermediate level. An IELTS band of 6 or above is widely accepted by universities and colleges in English-speaking countries as evidence that a student can study in English. Cambridge courses run all year towards exam sessions in March, June and December, while IELTS exams take place most months, so candidates can sit the test as soon as they are ready. Lessons use video, newspapers, modern literature and teacher-made materials.
Junior camps in spring, summer and autumn
Young learners aged 10 to 17 can join 15-day camps in spring, summer or autumn, each with 54 lessons of 40 minutes and a maximum class size of 15. Packages include full board with a licensed Maltese host family (twin rooms, with breakfast, a packed lunch and dinner) or residence accommodation, a minibus between lodging and school up to four times a day, return airport transfers, the school's own leaders on hand around the clock, a 24-hour emergency number and an attendance certificate. Group leaders travel free at a rate of one per 15 students.
The activity programme is a big draw. Depending on the season there are up to 12 excursions per stay, such as a boat day to the Blue Lagoon on Comino, a guided tour of Gozo (our Gozo guide covers the island), visits to Marsaxlokk, the Blue Grotto and Dingli Cliffs, Fort St Elmo, Mellieħa Bay and Golden Bay beach. Premium options include Popeye Village, a Grand Harbour cruise, go-karting, laser tag, snorkelling or paddleboarding. Evenings bring a guided night visit to Mdina, the Silent City, pizza on the beach, karaoke, student parties and a summer boat party.
Tailor-made group programmes
Schools, universities and companies can ask for a course built around their own group, open or closed, small or large. Adult groups should get in touch at least a month ahead so the programme can be prepared, and earlier still for summer. Educational groups receive airport transfers, a dedicated excursion programme and preferential rates for groups of 20 or more, and junior groups aged 7 to 18 can be arranged at any time of year.
On the first day students take a short informal test and are placed with others of a similar level, from beginner to advanced, and many groups then go on a sightseeing walk around Valletta. Morning lessons run between 8:25 and 12:50 and afternoon lessons between 13:10 and 17:35, with excursions in the free half of the day.
Accommodation and life outside class
The school arranges places to stay near the school or along the main bus routes, from the rooftop apartment to home stays, guesthouses, hostels and hotels. Staying with a local family is the most immersive choice, and hosts are chosen carefully, need a licence and are checked by both the school and the EFL Monitoring Board, the Maltese body that oversees English language teaching.
Free time is easy to fill. Valletta has an eight-screen cinema showing films in English, concerts, theatre and exhibitions from September to June, the Valletta Baroque Festival in January, the July jazz festival on the Grand Harbour quay and Notte Bianca at the end of September. Village festas with fireworks take place almost every week from June to September. Divers will find wrecks and caves in clear water, and a dive centre such as 7R Diving Malta can take you under; racket sports fans can play at 1 Padel Malta in Valletta, close to the school. Staff can help organise walks and tours, and golf can be arranged near Valletta.
Recognition and how to enrol
In 2025 the Malta school came second in the Best English Language Learning category at the Malta Tourism Awards, with the judges noting its commitment to heritage, digitalisation and culture. The school also publishes a customer care policy and offers a companion app for students.
Across the water, the Bournemouth sister school gained AEGIS certification in 2026, the UK's only independent accreditation for guardianship organisations, which allows it to act as an accredited guardian for international students on the south coast of England.
Malta's mild winters and hot summers mean you can study at any time of year; see our Malta weather by month to pick your season, and our page on flights from the UK to Malta when you are ready to book travel. To check dates, fees, levels or accommodation, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Cavendish School of English.
Questions about Cavendish School of English
Where is Cavendish School of English in Malta?
The school is at 124 Triq Melita in Valletta, in a restored townhouse built in the early 1900s. It is one of only two language schools licensed inside Valletta, and the main bus terminus is a three to four minute walk away.
What English courses does the school offer adults?
Adults from age 16 can take General English (20 lessons a week), Intensive (25), Super Intensive (30), Business English, Cambridge FCE and CAE preparation and IELTS preparation. One-to-one tuition of 10 to 30 lessons a week is open from age 12.
How big are the classes?
Adult classes usually have between 6 and 10 students and never more than 12. Junior camp classes have a maximum of 15 students. Standard adult lessons last 45 minutes, and junior lessons last 40 minutes.
Does the school prepare students for IELTS and Cambridge exams?
Yes. Cambridge FCE and CAE courses run for 13 weeks with 25 lessons a week, aimed at exam sessions in March, June and December. IELTS preparation lasts 4 to 12 weeks, and IELTS exams are held most months.
What is included in a junior camp?
Camps for ages 10 to 17 last 15 days with 54 lessons, full board with a host family or residence, minibus transport, return airport transfers, leaders on hand around the clock, excursions, evening activities, a 24-hour emergency number and an attendance certificate.
Can the school arrange accommodation?
Yes. The school books places near the school or on main bus routes, including licensed host families checked by the school and the EFL Monitoring Board, a rooftop student apartment in the school building, guesthouses, hostels and hotels.
Can schools or companies book a group course?
Yes. Programmes are designed for open or closed groups of any size. Adult groups should allow at least a month to plan, groups of 20 or more receive preferential rates, and junior groups aged 7 to 18 run all year.
How much do courses cost and how do I book?
Course fees are published in the school's Dates and Fees list. Send your preferred course, dates and level through the enquiry form on this VisitMalta.co.uk page and we will pass it to Cavendish School of English to reply.
Practical information
Cavendish School of English Malta is at 124 Triq Melita, Valletta VLT1123, a few minutes on foot from the Valletta bus terminus. Adult lessons run in a morning slot between 8:25 and 12:50 and an afternoon slot between 13:10 and 17:35. Course fees are set out in the school's Dates and Fees list rather than on its web pages. To ask about courses, dates, fees or home stays, use the enquiry form on this page and VisitMalta.co.uk will pass your message to the school.
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The details on this page were correct on 26 October 2026, as published on the Cavendish School of English website. Services, prices and hours can change, so please confirm when you enquire.