Services, hours and details last checked against Haileybury Malta's own published information.
Haileybury Malta is a co-educational British international school in Mtarfa, beside Mdina, which teaches in English and is growing towards 800 pupils aged 3 to 18. It follows the English National Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSEs and the IB Diploma, with support from its sister school, Haileybury UK. Enquiries about places go through the VisitMalta.co.uk form on this page.
Haileybury Malta is a co-educational British international school that teaches entirely in English and is growing year by year towards a full roll of 800 pupils aged 3 to 18. Its permanent home is the historic Royal Naval Hospital at Mtarfa, with views across the Maltese countryside towards the walled city of Mdina. For UK families moving to the island, it offers something familiar: English National Curriculum teaching, Key Stages and year groups that match those back home, then Cambridge IGCSEs and the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
The school opened its doors in September 2023 with 50 pupils and has added year groups steadily since then, with continuing support from its sister school, Haileybury UK. If you are still deciding whether Malta suits your family, our guide to relocating from the UK is a good place to begin, and the international schools directory shows how Haileybury compares with other options on the island.
The campus and the school’s story
Haileybury Malta has been based in the town of Tarxien while the Royal Naval Hospital in Mtarfa has been restored. The plan is for pupils to move to that permanent campus from September 2026, where there will be space for children from kindergarten to the end of senior school. The Founding Head, Louise Salmond Smith, has worked in education for almost 30 years, the last 12 of them as a headteacher. She read Music at university, holds an MA in Educational Research and an MBA, and spent ten years as a Team Inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate before moving to Malta.
The school’s mission is to provide an inclusive education rooted in happiness, belonging and academic excellence, built on inquiry, reflection and international mindedness. In partnership with Haileybury UK and inspired by Malta, it aims to prepare young people to become responsible global citizens. Mtarfa itself is a quiet hilltop town beside Mdina and Rabat, and our Mdina guide is useful reading for anyone considering a home in this part of Malta.
Early Years and Pre-Prep
The youngest children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage, the play-based framework used in England for ages three to five. It covers seven areas: communication and language, physical development, personal, social and emotional development, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, and expressive arts and design. The school believes early learning works best when children lead it themselves, exploring in a safe and nurturing setting, so the curriculum encourages creativity, imagination, curiosity and a willingness to take risks.
Years 1 and 2 form Key Stage 1, for ages five to seven. Pupils build on their early skills in English, mathematics and science, alongside history, geography, art and music. Every class in the Pre-Prep has a fully qualified class teacher, and specialists help with subjects such as music and sport in Years 1 and 2. Years 1 and 2 joined the school in September 2024, and Reception pupils followed in September 2025.
Prep School for ages 7 to 11
Years 3 to 6 make up Key Stage 2. Pupils study English, mathematics and science together with languages and the arts, and they meet history, geography, theology and philosophy as separate subjects, often linked through longer project work. Music, drama and art get generous practical time, and technology lessons run for longer sessions so that children can go deeper into engineering, design, robotics and coding.
Co-curricular activities are a real part of Prep life. Pupils challenge themselves, show commitment to service and complete an independent project that lets them apply what they have learned across subjects. From Year 5 upwards, pupils use an iPad, and the school publishes the specification so parents know what to buy. Digital skills are built in from the first years, from digital storytelling to shared documents and multimedia presentations.
Senior School: IGCSE and the IB Diploma
Key Stage 3 covers Years 7 to 9, ages 11 to 14, and brings together English, mathematics, science, history, geography, Spanish, art, music, physical education, theology, philosophy and ethics, and drama. The first Year 9 and 10 pupils arrived in September 2024. Key Stage 4 covers Years 10 and 11, when pupils work towards the International General Certificate of Secondary Education, usually taking eight to ten subjects. English, mathematics and science are compulsory, and pupils choose options from the rest. Course guides are published for Business, Coordinated Science, English Language, English Literature, Geography, History, Mathematics and Spanish.
Haileybury Malta is an International Baccalaureate World School, so older pupils in Years 12 and 13 can take the IB Diploma Programme, an internationally recognised qualification for ages 16 to 19. Alongside their subjects, students complete the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge and Creativity, Activity, Service. Because of the link with Haileybury UK, the school presents itself as a route to universities in the UK, Europe and the United States, which matters to British parents planning ahead.
Learning support and the Haileybury Academic Pathway
Haileybury is non-selective and welcomes children who may need extra help. Support includes subject clinics, one-to-one meetings with teachers, peer support programmes, mentoring, and specialist learning support or English as an Additional Language teaching. Staff work closely with parents and with any outside practitioners involved with a child.
A new programme, the Haileybury Academic Pathway, launches in September 2026 for international pupils of Year 7 age and above who need to build their academic English before joining the mainstream timetable full time. It is not a general language course. Pupils learn in small groups of four to six, begin with a diagnostic assessment, follow an individual learning plan with clear milestones, and move into their year group as they reach the standard required. An annual surcharge covers the extra teaching; its amount varies with the support needed and is not printed on the website, so ask the admissions team.
Teaching style, culture and daily life
The Founding Head describes digital learning as a cornerstone of teaching, with pupils from Key Stage 1 to Year 11 using technology for curiosity, communication and creativity. Teachers tailor tasks, content and outcomes to each child, from newcomers learning English to high achievers tackling independent research projects, and classrooms have smart boards and modern computing devices. Older pupils mentor younger ones, for instance helping Year 4 with coding, and a growing programme of music, art, drama and languages gives every child a chance to perform and create.
Well-being sits beside academic progress. The school describes pastoral care as a cornerstone of its ethos, and it runs a co-curricular programme so that pupils can follow interests in sport, outdoor activity, music, drama, art and languages outside lessons. In the senior years pupils are encouraged to make more ambitious choices in languages and the creative arts, guided by subject specialists, before they settle on their IGCSE options. Cross-year collaboration is a feature of the week, with older pupils supporting younger ones, which many parents find builds confidence and a sense of belonging in a school that is still growing.
Daily life in Malta suits an outdoor, active family. The Malta weather guide shows how mild the winters are, things to do in Malta covers weekends and half terms, and the best beaches in Malta will help once summer arrives. Parents who plan to work remotely may also like our digital nomad guide to Malta.
Applying and getting in touch
The admissions pages offer a prospectus, visit days, a guide to fees and scholarships, and an application process, and the admissions team handles entry requirements and assessments. If you are moving a business or your finances at the same time, our Malta tax guide for UK nationals and our featured partner CLA Malta cover the practical side. For a wider picture of the island, the about Malta overview is a useful companion.
To ask about places, visits or the Academic Pathway, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Haileybury Malta.
Questions about Haileybury Malta
What is Haileybury Malta and which curriculum does it follow?
Haileybury Malta is a co-educational British international school taught in English. It follows the English National Curriculum, with Early Years and Key Stages 1 to 3, Cambridge IGCSEs at Key Stage 4 and the IB Diploma in Years 12 and 13.
What ages does Haileybury Malta teach?
The school is growing towards a full roll of 800 pupils aged 3 to 18. It opened in September 2023, and Reception, Years 1 to 2, the senior years and the IB years have been added in stages, so check which year groups are open when you enquire.
Where is Haileybury Malta located?
Its permanent campus is the restored Royal Naval Hospital in Mtarfa, near Mdina and Rabat. The school started in a temporary campus in Tarxien, with the move to Mtarfa planned from September 2026, so confirm the current site when you make an enquiry.
What is the link with Haileybury UK?
Haileybury UK is the sister school and has supported Haileybury Malta since it opened in September 2023, in both academic provision and pastoral care. The school says this helps pupils aiming for universities in the UK, Europe and the United States.
Does the school offer learning support?
Yes. Haileybury is non-selective and offers subject clinics, one-to-one teacher meetings, peer support, mentoring and specialist learning support or English as an Additional Language help, working closely with parents and any outside practitioners.
What is the Haileybury Academic Pathway?
It is a programme starting in September 2026 for international pupils of Year 7 age and above who need stronger academic English. Pupils study in groups of four to six with an individual plan, and an annual surcharge applies, which varies by the support required.
Can I visit and request a prospectus?
Yes. The school offers a prospectus and visits through its admissions team. You can start by sending an enquiry through the VisitMalta.co.uk form on this page, and we will pass your message to the school.
Are fees published on the website?
Fees have their own page on the school’s website, but this directory does not quote figures, and the Academic Pathway surcharge is not printed. Ask the admissions team about current fees and scholarships when you enquire.
Practical information
Haileybury Malta is listed at the former Royal Air Force site in Mtarfa, Malta MTF 1171, near Mdina. The school was operating from a temporary campus in Tarxien while the Royal Naval Hospital in Mtarfa was restored, with the move to its permanent campus planned from September 2026, so check the current location when you enquire. Opening hours are not published, and fees are handled by the admissions team, who can also arrange a visit and send a prospectus. To start, 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 25 October 2026, as published on the Haileybury Malta website. Services, prices and hours can change, so please confirm when you enquire.