I'm looking for guidance on the school age break down.

Hi, depending on when he turns 12, he is more than likely going to be in Form 2 of secondary school when they go back in September after the summer holidays.
As for schools, I don't have any experience of secondary schools. Mosta school is basically brand new?!

Caroline

Hi RKH,

As a student of higher education I can give you a slightly better perspective on the education system in Malta.
Since he's currently 12, if you intend to get here by September, then he will be starting Form 3. (Form 2 is for 12 year olds, but he'll be past that scholastic year by then). 

Since your son probably has no idea of the typical maltese teenagers, I'd suggest an international school as the best option. The best option would be the Verdala International School. Here rather than the typical Maltese system, your son can commence with the usual US grades, and even do his SAT's and his IB Diploma!

Check out the school here:
http://www.verdala.org/

If you do not like it, my second suggestion would be St.Edwards, which caters for a lot of international students too:

http://www.stedwards.edu.mt/

These are both highly recommended high schools. However tuition fees are not cheap at these institutions, I'm assuming approx 5000 per annum. Probably a tad less.

If you want a cheaper option you should place in mind that ALL Maltese governmental schools are free of charge! Church schools have really inexpensive feels (about 400 a year), while other private schools: St.Martins, St.Micheals, San Anton, San Andrea etc, have variable fees.

I wish you son a great scholastic experience!

I'm not sure if the links popped up or not but I'll attach them again:

http://www.verdala.org/


Good luck!

RKH wrote:

My son will be heading into 6th grade coming from an American public school. He will be turning 12 what grade does that age mean for his enrollment into the Maltese school system.  Any suggestions on great schools?

It says he will be turning 12. My son is turning 12 this year and would have  been in Form 2 next year (he was kept back a year.) This is why I wrote that it depends on when he turns 12.

Also, I know many English speaking children that join government secondary schools with no problem at all. You just need to find a school in an ex-pat area.

coxF0001, is it not also sometimes true that immigrant children are placed in a year below that which their chronological age would indicate them to be to be placed?

True, he could be either going into Form 2 or 3 depending on when his birthday is. Yes he can join a governmental school, and having gone there myself for 13 years (then going to a church school college), I can assure you the teachers are amazing. But probably, if you can afford it, he will feel more included in a Private or Intonational School since in all of these schools they speak English apart from Maltese classes.; Also at these schools students are constantly popping up mid semester and so on, so your son will most definitely not be labelled the new kid since this happens all the time.