Best place for a family to live?

Izzybenjaz wrote:

My son goes to Gzira boys, but, his school is closing permanently this year, so your son might be in sliema . we did actually try to get him into private but couldn't find one private school that offered Spanish so opted for state, plus none of the private schools really wanted to take him because of him being in his final year. I wouldn't worry about the fact your son hasn't been taught in English, none of mine have been either and they're all fine , the spellings are the biggest problem with my 2 younger daughters but they're starting to get better with that now, if your son speaks English as native he will be fine, you will find that some of his classes are taught in Maltese only, and a lot of the teachers tend to slip into Maltese when teaching as its of course their first language. My son is doing very well academically he isn't keen on his school due to it being all boys, the Maltese boys are quite macho  and he is not a rough and tumble kind of kid, but he's not unhappy he doesn't get any hassle and only has to stick it out till April anyway, then he can go to higher secondary  He hasn't really made any friends who he hangs out with, but again that will change once he gets to do his a levels. It is a huge change for them, my son is usually ok with change, and very sociable and outgoing but he has struggled the past few months, but it's to be expected I think. Pembroke juniors for your younger daughter is full of all nationalites, it's one of the newest and best equipped primary schools here, they teach in English and Maltese , and is a really lovely school. My daughters are really happy in school and have lots of friends, my younges is 9 and my middle one 11, I but I know a few other mums who have kids aged 3,4,5 years in Pembroke primary. Good luck with everything!

Thanks! We move in just over two weeks and can't wait now. 

We did contact Gzira boys, but they told us to contact Sliema because they were closing.  When we contacted them they said they had loads of different nationalities there, so that's why we aimed our search to live in their catchment area. My son is quite shy, but he copes well with change, whereas my daughter has the confidence for us all!  I don't think she'll have any problems at school, so that's why I've been focusing on my son. It is a bit worrying because like you I'd have preferred he finished his education in the country he'd been educated in, but I'm hoping he can catch up with a bit of extra work and private tuition.  He's really looking forward to it, so that's a bonus.

Hi
We moved to Bahar ic Caghaq, Malta from Nottingham at the beginning of October with our 13 year old son, 5 year old daughter and now 1 year old baby boy. We chose to put the oldest in a private school to try to keep his levels up and it seems to be working - he goes to San Andrea which is great for sporty kids like him. It costs around €1500 each term (they only have 3 here compared to 5 in the uk) which is one of the cheaper private schools, but it has the best reputation and results. There are, like with the state schools here, lots of other costs that you find out about as you go along - ie exercise books, photocopy costs, etc and of course the very expensive uniform from the only suppliers - Yorkie! Be prepared to fork out around €200 each child even for state schools, and don't expect the best quality either! The state schools are very strict on catchment areas - our daughter goes to Pembroke primary and it is a great school, but if like her your kids are very bright, be prepared to put some work in yourself to keep up their standard of English. She's in year 1 and they are currently doing the english alphabet - something she did in nursery - and even though we requested they give her reading books from year 2 they have said they can't! It is a Maltese school after all I suppose. She travels on the free school mini-bus each day and its great, she loves it (I was the one nervous about it). The drivers get to know the kids & the one that brings them home makes it like a mini-disco for them! My sons transport costs €170 per school year and picks him up outside.
I'm about to start work and it was a real worry about childcare but we have found a great place in Sweiqi that follows the same system as in the UK - EYFS - so the kids get educated too. If both parents work & pay tax, you can also get free childcare.
The Maltese are very friendly but don't expect things to move at the speed they do in the UK - its best to think the way it was about 15-20 years ago! Most things close on Sunday, places close for lunch, and systems will be long winded - if you're prepared for that and the damp/cold in the winter, you should survive with no problems!
If any more info is required, I'm only too happy to help - after all Expat.com helped me loads before I came!
Michellex

Hi
Have your children settled into Malta life well. How is your son finding the school with regards to settling understanding lessons making friends etc.

how long is he on the bus for to travel to school and does it drop him back off same place and is it close to your home.

Sounds like your enjoying your time on Malta. Can I ask you what the area you are living in is like and accommodation.
Thanks Faye.

Micat22 wrote:

Hi
We moved to Bahar ic Caghaq, Malta from Nottingham at the beginning of October with our 13 year old son, 5 year old daughter and now 1 year old baby boy. We chose to put the oldest in a private school to try to keep his levels up and it seems to be working - he goes to San Andrea which is great for sporty kids like him. It costs around €1500 each term (they only have 3 here compared to 5 in the uk) which is one of the cheaper private schools, but it has the best reputation and results. There are, like with the state schools here, lots of other costs that you find out about as you go along - ie exercise books, photocopy costs, etc and of course the very expensive uniform from the only suppliers - Yorkie! Be prepared to fork out around €200 each child even for state schools, and don't expect the best quality either! The state schools are very strict on catchment areas - our daughter goes to Pembroke primary and it is a great school, but if like her your kids are very bright, be prepared to put some work in yourself to keep up their standard of English. She's in year 1 and they are currently doing the english alphabet - something she did in nursery - and even though we requested they give her reading books from year 2 they have said they can't! It is a Maltese school after all I suppose. She travels on the free school mini-bus each day and its great, she loves it (I was the one nervous about it). The drivers get to know the kids & the one that brings them home makes it like a mini-disco for them! My sons transport costs €170 per school year and picks him up outside.
I'm about to start work and it was a real worry about childcare but we have found a great place in Sweiqi that follows the same system as in the UK - EYFS - so the kids get educated too. If both parents work & pay tax, you can also get free childcare.
The Maltese are very friendly but don't expect things to move at the speed they do in the UK - its best to think the way it was about 15-20 years ago! Most things close on Sunday, places close for lunch, and systems will be long winded - if you're prepared for that and the damp/cold in the winter, you should survive with no problems!
If any more info is required, I'm only too happy to help - after all Expat.com helped me loads before I came!
Michellex

Hi Michelle, did you know that they can do after school club at Pembroke primary, my daughter goes every day as i work, its 80 cents per hour and they do their homework with them, read etc. they also offer the service in school holidays.
glad youre settled in!
kelly

Hi Faye & Kelly

My son has made friends in school no problem & although he complained a lot to start with about how different things were, he seems fine now he knows how things work. His school transport picks up & drops him off right outside and takes between 20- 30 mins depending on traffic (& my daughters from Pembroke is literally at the top of the street too).
It's been a bit different for us as we have family here already - my maltese nephew is 15 and goes to Sliema secondary school.
I did know about the 3-16 after school club at Pembroke - I have all the paperwork ready for my daughter when I know when I'm starting work - its a great service, especially for 80c an hour!
Bahar ic Caghaq is a lovely quiet area literally 10 mins from Sliema up the coast road (opposite Splash N Fun & Tony's ice cream parlour). It's becoming very sought after & rents are going up - close to both Buggiba & St Julians its just far enough from the tourist areas. Buses run very regular to most places, it has a lovely little park (with a new one on the way I'm told) & people are very friendly. Sliema is a nice area too but has a large student population due to all the international language schools there and thats why the rents are very high!

I hope thats of help - PM me if you need any help with flat hunting, I have a few good contacts!!
Mxx

Hi Michelle
Thank you for sharing that information it good to hear such positive stories especially with regards to the school
And your children settling and doing well. That's all we want is for our children to be happy and content. We have just been looking at St. Catherine school (only on internet) as we are trying to keep our twins together don't really want them in two separate schools if possible.  Do you know anything about this school Michelle whether positive or negative.
Thank you Faye.

Hi Faye
We looked at St Catherines, but its quite small, didn't have much in the way of sports facilities, and (if my memory serves me right) didn't offer such a broad number of subjects. My son has managed to stick virtually to the subjects he was going to study in the UK (hes in grade 10 - year 9 uk ). We met the head and some staff at San Andrea when we visited in July and we just felt a nice vibe from both the school and them. At San Andrea the classes are mixed too. My sister in law is Maltese and she told us that it was the best school on the island - so that kind of helped us finalise our decision.
Our arrival to Malta was delayed by a few weeks so he started a couple of weeks into the school term - we emailed the school and they were very good in keeping in contact and making sure he was fine when he started.
I don't know of any children who go to St Catherines, apart from a 3 year old, so can't really pass judgement.
The school websites were quite true to the schools and we found them helpful, but visiting them will always be the best way to make your decision.
Michelle x

Hi Michelle
That's really good useful feed back so thank you. I have looked at San Andrea and San Anton and have read good comments about both. San Andrea seems to pop up with good comments on here quite a lot. Your right it is best to see things before making final decision.  We have been told lot of schools are mixing the first year now in secondary so that's good.

Do you mind if I ask you if San Andrea is expensive as heard you have to pay so much each term and do you know if cheaper if have two children or is it set price per child.

Thanks Faye.

Hi Faye
I believe it is cheaper for second/ third child. I will see if I still have the paperwork with all the info on and let you know. It's around 1500 euro per term (4500 per school year) for one child - I think its actually cheaper than most the other private schools too. San Anton is like the juniors and San Andrea the seniors - both set in the same place in the countryside.
When are you looking to move? The schools finish at the end of May/beg June for the summer, so it may be worth checking if the schools take new students in the later terms. I heard some don't & some kids ended up waiting until September - not sure if private or government schools though.
I'm happy that passing on my experience may help - its never an easy decision.
M x

Hi Michelle

If you can find out how much for second child that will be great. Wouldn't be until late in year or maybe even early 2016. As in middle of courses etc in uk that need to be completed. 
Thanks for all your information it is much appreciated.

Faye.

If he's looking forward to the moved Sam4321 then he should be fine, he will also have an advantage with his French and will fly through his o level in it. Plus I think being young and bilingual probably helps with learning Maltese as it makes it easier to learn further languages, my son tends to be able to get the gist of most conversations already. He also may get malteses for foreigners classes but that depends from school to school as out of my 3 only my middle daughter gets those classes in her school.
If you have any recent school reports with grades etc from his school in France do bring them as the school will ask for them so they can assess which classes to put him in , I had to translate all three of mine for the headteachers so just wrote at the side of each subject what it was. If you need to know anything about the process of getting them into school just message me am happy to help, it's a pretty long winded process as you can't just go direct to your chosen school and apply there, but everyone at the schools and department of education are really helpful.
Happy moving!
Kelly

Micat22 wrote:

Hi
We moved to Bahar ic Caghaq, Malta from Nottingham at the beginning of October with our 13 year old son, 5 year old daughter and now 1 year old baby boy. We chose to put the oldest in a private school to try to keep his levels up and it seems to be working - he goes to San Andrea which is great for sporty kids like him. It costs around €1500 each term (they only have 3 here compared to 5 in the uk) which is one of the cheaper private schools, but it has the best reputation and results. There are, like with the state schools here, lots of other costs that you find out about as you go along - ie exercise books, photocopy costs, etc and of course the very expensive uniform from the only suppliers - Yorkie! Be prepared to fork out around €200 each child even for state schools, and don't expect the best quality either! The state schools are very strict on catchment areas - our daughter goes to Pembroke primary and it is a great school, but if like her your kids are very bright, be prepared to put some work in yourself to keep up their standard of English. She's in year 1 and they are currently doing the english alphabet - something she did in nursery - and even though we requested they give her reading books from year 2 they have said they can't! It is a Maltese school after all I suppose. She travels on the free school mini-bus each day and its great, she loves it (I was the one nervous about it). The drivers get to know the kids & the one that brings them home makes it like a mini-disco for them! My sons transport costs €170 per school year and picks him up outside.
I'm about to start work and it was a real worry about childcare but we have found a great place in Sweiqi that follows the same system as in the UK - EYFS - so the kids get educated too. If both parents work & pay tax, you can also get free childcare.
The Maltese are very friendly but don't expect things to move at the speed they do in the UK - its best to think the way it was about 15-20 years ago! Most things close on Sunday, places close for lunch, and systems will be long winded - if you're prepared for that and the damp/cold in the winter, you should survive with no problems!
If any more info is required, I'm only too happy to help - after all Expat.com helped me loads before I came!
Michellex

Hi Michelle,
We're looking at moving from Swieqi to Bahar, my daughter currently doesn't get the bus to Pembroke primary as were so close but she will need to if we move, where in the village does the primary school bus pick up, I know the secondary collects from by the park just wondered if you know if it's the same for primary ?
Thanks
Kelly

Izzybenjaz wrote:

If he's looking forward to the moved Sam4321 then he should be fine, he will also have an advantage with his French and will fly through his o level in it. Plus I think being young and bilingual probably helps with learning Maltese as it makes it easier to learn further languages, my son tends to be able to get the gist of most conversations already. He also may get malteses for foreigners classes but that depends from school to school as out of my 3 only my middle daughter gets those classes in her school.
If you have any recent school reports with grades etc from his school in France do bring them as the school will ask for them so they can assess which classes to put him in , I had to translate all three of mine for the headteachers so just wrote at the side of each subject what it was. If you need to know anything about the process of getting them into school just message me am happy to help, it's a pretty long winded process as you can't just go direct to your chosen school and apply there, but everyone at the schools and department of education are really helpful.
Happy moving!
Kelly

Yeah, I'm hoping it'll be easier for him to pick up Maltese with him being bilingual.  He didn't do too well with German when he started that at school, but he seemed to do better with Spanish.

I'll more than likely be in touch when I start looking to get him enrolled in school.  I'm hoping it's not too confusing. To be honest, I've not looked into the process too much, but I was aware we'd need reports so I've been sorting them today.  How long does the whole process usually take? Do they need anything else, like doctors records or anything? In France you have to supply proof of vaccinations before they'll enroll them.

I've not gone and picked the wrong place to live, have I?  Is there a reason why you're moving from Swieqi?

Hi Sam,

Yes bring the vaccination records you will need them, it's the same in Spain too so think it's Europe wide, you can download and print the application forms for school online, once you get here you can then make an appointment with josette White at the department of education in Floriana, she's the lady that handles applications for foreigners in state school. I took originals and photocopies of birth certificate, passport, parents birth certificates , passports and marriage certificates and a copy of the rental contract...... I think that's everything! I'm presuming he is born in the U.K., if not you need a translated birth certificate into English by an official translator ( I got my daughters done in Spain before I left but there's people who do it here too). Once you've seen miss white you then have to wait for a letter through the post confirming your acceptance into the state system, you then go to head office of Santa clara college which is just next to Pembroke secondary, you then fill out more forms and have to wait again for another letter through the post confirming which school he will be at, once you get that the school secretary will contact you to make an appointment to see the head and get everything finalised, he can then chose his options for o level etc and you will be given uniform / stationary list etc.........prepare to fork out at least a couple hundred euros on uniform it's expensive and you can only buy it from one shop on the island, for example the blazer alone is 40 euros, jumpers about 18 each shirts about 14, tracksuit  about 27 euros there also pe shirts, polos, school coat pe t shirt and shorts  etc........
No there's no problem with Swieqi we knew when we rented our place that we wouldn't stay longer than the initial 6 months contract, like you we had to chose quickly , we only had 1 day then had to fly back to Spain, and in July theres very little available, our maisonette is nice but as we live near a busy road and it's been a bit of a culture shock, we previously lived in a house in a community in Spain that had gardens and a pool and 5 minutes walk to the sea front my daughters would just be out playing with their friends all day every day and we would go out with the kids on our bikes, well you ain't gonna get that in Malta for 900 euros a month ( I wish you could!) so we had to compromise.
We've seen a nice place in Bahar ic-caghac and it overlooks a park and it's a quite place, kids play out more there so the girls would have their freedom and it's just over the road from the sea and lots of paths where we can walk the dog and go on our bikes, it's only an extra 5 mins to St julians and the same bus route as our house now so will be fine for my son too, as long as he has internet for his playstation hes happy! Swieqi is a good place to start, and I have friends who love it here, and once your boy is in school if you decide you want a change you can move anywhere in the catchment for Santa clara college and that's a big area.

Hi Kelly
The bus picks up at the top of Triq L'iskall  around 7.45am then turns right & stops aprox 100 meters down the street in front of the park. It drops off in front of the park near the pizzeria any time from 2.40- 3pm. Speak to the school as they will sort it all out for you.
Michelle x

Thanks for the info,  yes I was offered the bus by school before but never took it up as easier just to take her myself,I don't need afternoons as she's at Klabb, will put her on the bus if we move as the place were looking at is above the pizzeria so will be perfect!😄