Verdala Elementary Brochure

ELEMENTARY Early Years to Grade 5

Where Curiosity meets Community Aspiring to be Malta's First IB Continuum School

2026 verdala.org

WELCOME TO VERDALA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL "SAFE, VALUED, INSPIRED, AND EXCITED TO LEARN" At Verdala Elementary, every child is welcomed into a vibrant learning community where they are known, nurtured, and challenged to grow with confidence, curiosity, and joy.

From Early Years through Grade 5, we create an experience that is both caring and ambitious. Our internationally-minded approach ensures that every student develops as a thinker, communicator, and internationally minded learner.

VERDALA ELEMENTARY AT A GLANCE A VIBRANT ELEMENTARY PROGRAM Serving young LEARNERS in Malta.

Verdala Elementary offers a nurturing, internationally-minded learning community where children from Early Years through Grade 5 thrive. Our inquiry-based approach develops the whole child academically, socially, and emotionally.

QUICK FACTS Ages 3-11

Early Years through Grade 5. Small class sizes ensure every child is known, supported, and challenged to reach their full potential.

IB PYP Candidate

Implementing the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme, developing inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young learners.

Whole-Child Focus

Inquiry-based learning in an international community. We nurture academic excellence alongside social-emotional growth and internationally mindedness.

WHO WE ARE 55+ NATIONALITIES Learning, growing, and celebrating together as one community.

At Verdala Elementary, we are a vibrant tapestry of cultures, languages, and perspectives.

Our diverse community brings together families from across the globe, united by a shared commitment to nurturing curious, compassionate, and confident learners.

OUR COMMUNITY Inclusive Community

Every child belongs. We create safe spaces where all students feel welcomed, respected, and valued for who they are.

International-Mindedness

We develop global citizens who understand and appreciate different perspectives, cultures, and ways of thinking.

Celebration of Diversity

Our differences make us stronger. We honour traditions, languages, and stories from around the world every day.

OUR MISSION & VALUES GUIDED BY THE IB LEARNER PROFILE To ensure that all our students emerge as knowledgeable, inquisitive, and ethical contributors to our world.

We are committed to creating a unique environment that nurtures academic learning while encouraging students to become open-minded, principled, and reflective individuals who appreciate the richness of our diverse, multicultural society.

WHY VERDALA ELEMENTARY? WHERE CURIOSITY DRIVES LEARNING Every child develops as a thinker, communicator, and internationally minded learner.

At Verdala Elementary, we nurture the whole child through an inquiry-driven approach inspired by the IB Primary Years Programme. Our learning environment encourages students to ask questions, explore ideas, make connections, and develop deep conceptual understanding in meaningful and engaging ways.

THE IB ADVANTAGE Inquiry-Driven Learning

Students develop curiosity, critical thinking, and understanding through questioning, investigation, and purposeful exploration.

Whole-Child Development

We support academic, social, emotional, and physical growth, helping each child build confidence, resilience, and wellbeing.

Student Agency & Action

Students take increasing ownership of their learning, make meaningful choices, reflect on their progress, and take action in response to what they learn.

HOW WE LEARN LEARNING ACROSS, BETWEEN, AND BEYOND SUBJECTS Our curriculum develops knowledge, conceptual understanding, skills, and agency through transdisciplinary inquiry.

Through the IB Primary Years Programme, students engage in a broad and balanced curriculum that connects learning across subject areas. At Verdala Elementary, children build understanding through Units of Inquiry that bring together important concepts, knowledge, and skills in meaningful realworld contexts. This helps students see learning as connected, relevant, and purposeful, while also developing strong foundations across the curriculum.

TRANSDISCIPLINARY LEARNING Concepts & Connections

Students explore significant ideas that link learning across language, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts, PSPE, and world languages, helping them make connections and deepen understanding.

Skills & Agency

Students develop thinking, research, communication, self-management, and social skills as they ask questions, collaborate with others, reflect on their learning, and take increasing ownership of it.

Knowledge in Context

Strong subject knowledge remains important, and students apply what they learn in authentic contexts that invite inquiry, creativity, reflection, and meaningful action.

LEARNING THROUGH INQUIRY INQUIRY AS A JOURNEY Through tuning in, finding out, sorting out, going further, reflecting, and taking action.

At Verdala Elementary, inquiry is at the heart of learning. Students are encouraged to wonder, ask meaningful questions, investigate ideas, make connections, and reflect on how their learning can lead to action. Inquiry is not a fixed path; it is a responsive journey shaped by curiosity, collaboration, and deepening understanding.

OUR INQUIRY JOURNEY Tuning In

Students connect with prior knowledge, share their wonderings, and become engaged in the learning.

Finding Out

Through research, observation, discussion, and exploration, students investigate ideas and gather information from different perspectives.

Sorting Out

Students organise their thinking, make connections, identify patterns, and deepen their conceptual understanding.

Going Further

Students pursue new questions, test ideas, extend their thinking, and apply their learning in purposeful ways.

Reflecting

Students think carefully about what they have learned, how their ideas have changed, and what they understand more deeply now.

Taking Action

Students use their learning to make a positive difference through choice, contribution, and meaningful action.

A FULL EXPERIENCE LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Our vibrant community CELEBRATES every child’s unique talents.

At Verdala Elementary, learning extends well beyond the classroom. Through field trips, student leadership opportunities, House events, performances, special theme days, and community celebrations, students build confidence, develop relationships, and experience school as a vibrant and connected community. These experiences enrich learning, strengthen belonging, and help make school both meaningful and memorable.

ACTIVITIES & EVENTS Student Council & Leadership Student-led initiatives build confidence and responsibility. Our House system fosters community spirit and friendly competition throughout the year.

Exploration & Discovery Field trips connect classroom learning to the real world. Book Week ignites imagination, while the PYP Exhibition showcases student inquiry and growth.

Sports & Enrichment

Sports Day celebrates teamwork and achievement. After-school activities in arts, music, coding, and athletics nurture every child's passions.

WELLBEING & SUPPORT NOT JUST A NUMBER "Every child is known, included, and supported."

At Verdala Elementary, every child is known, included, and supported. Our comprehensive wellbeing network ensures students feel safe, valued, and ready to learn. From dedicated homeroom teachers to specialized support services, we nurture the whole child.

OUR SUPPORT NETWORK Homeroom & Care

Dedicated teachers who know each child personally, serving as the central point of care and communication.

Specialist Support

Specialised teachers provide individualised support for diverse learning needs and English language learners.

Safety & Wellbeing

Robust policies and trained staff ensure every child's safety and protection at all times.

HOME-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS WORKING TOGETHER Strong partnerships between home and school help children thrive.

At Verdala Elementary, families are valued as important partners in learning and in the life of the school. We believe children thrive when home and school work closely together, and we are committed to building relationships based on trust, openness, and shared purpose.

Through regular communication, PYP Cafés, Coffee Mornings, student-led conferences, learning events, and school celebrations, families remain informed, involved, and connected to their child’s journey. These opportunities help strengthen understanding, invite dialogue, and build a strong sense of community.

Families also contribute to the wider life of the school through events, feedback, shared expertise, and community-building initiatives. Together, home and school create a welcoming, connected, and supportive environment in which every child can flourish.

FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PYP Cafés

Interactive sessions where families explore the PYP curriculum alongside their children through hands-on learning activities.

Coffee Mornings

Informal gatherings with school leadership to discuss topics, ask questions, and connect with other Verdala families.

Conferences & Celebrations

Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences and learning celebrations showcase student growth, achievements, and inquiry journeys.

YOUR CHILD'S JOURNEY A CONNECTED IB PATHWAY One educational journey from the Early Years to graduation.

At Verdala, students are part of a connected learning journey shaped by the values of international education. From curious Early Years learners to confident young adults, each stage of the school builds on the last, supporting growth in knowledge, understanding, independence, and internationalmindedness.

THE IB PATHWAY Elementary (IB PYP)

Ages 3-11 | Early Years through Grade 5 Candidate school for the IB Primary Years Programme, working toward authorization in 2026–27.

Middle School (IB MYP)

Ages 11-16 | Grades 6-10 An interdisciplinary programme that develops critical thinking, creativity, and personal responsibility.

High School (IB DP)

Ages16-18 | Grades 11-12 A rigorous and globally recognised programme that prepares students for university and life beyond school.

A DAY AT VERDALA ELEMENTARY A BALANCED AND THOUGHTFULLY STRUCTURED DAY Supporting learning, wellbeing, play, and connection.

At Verdala Elementary, each day is carefully designed to provide children with a balanced rhythm of learning, movement, play, and community. From morning arrival to the final homeroom, students experience a school day that is structured, nurturing, and responsive to their developmental needs, helping them feel settled, engaged, and ready to learn.

DAILY SCHEDULE Arrival

8:00 - 8:30am 8:30 - 8:45am

Morning 8:45 - 9:25am

9.25 - 10:10am

- Homeroom Meeting - Period 1 - Period 2

10:10 - 10:40am - Break

Midday

Afternoon

10:40 - 11:25am - Period 3 11:25 - 12:10pm - Period 4 12:10 - 1:00pm

- Lunch

1:00 - 1:45pm 1:45 - 2:30pm 2:30 - 3:15pm

- Period 5 - Period 6 - Period 7

3:15 - 3:30pm

- Closing Circle

DISMISSAL TIMES PK1: 3:00pm PK2–KG: 3:10pm Grades 1–5: 3:30pm

OUR HISTORY | OUR CAMPUS SINCE 1976 Founded in 1976, our School initially served as a day school for children of employees in the oil industry. It first made its home within the historical Verdala Barracks in Cospicua, deriving its name from the nearby Verdala Gate. This gate, constructed in the 17th century by the Knights of St. John, was named in honour of the French Grand Master Hugues Loubenx De Verdale. In 1987, the school moved to its current location at Fort Pembroke, a 19th-century British coastal fort built between 1875 and 1879 to protect the northeastern approaches to the Grand Harbour.

Our Middle and High Schools are situated in the original barracks buildings, while the High School occupies the fort’s distinctive hexagonal centre. Continuing our tradition of academic excellence, we introduced our first International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) in 1995, further enriching our educational offerings.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY The International School of Choice

Schedule a Tour How to Apply School Fees Any questions regarding the application process, can be referred to the ADMISSIONS TEAM at admissions@verdala.org

THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF CHOICE Celebrating Diversity, Empowering and Inspiring Future Generations +356 21375133 The Fort, Pembroke, PBK 1641, Malta www.verdala.org