From the Founding Head

Welcome

It brings me immense joy to extend a warm welcome to you and your families to Haileybury Malta. Since opening our doors to 50 pupils in September 2023, our school has found its temporary home in the charming town of Tarxien. However, we eagerly anticipate our upcoming move to Mtarfa, where we’ll be nestled amidst breathtaking views of the Maltese landscape and the historic walled city of Mdina. Throughout this journey, our sister school, Haileybury UK, provides invaluable support as we expand to accommodate different year groups.

At Haileybury Malta, we proudly embrace the British Curriculum, paving the way for our VIth form pupils to pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. This globally recognized qualification offers our local and international pupils unparalleled flexibility in choosing their university path and destination. With English as the primary language of instruction, our school provides a conducive environment for academic success and linguistic fluency. We believe that education should be as dynamic, forward-thinking, and multifaceted as the world our pupils will one day lead. Since opening our doors, we’ve been proud to offer not only the strength and tradition of a world-renowned British curriculum, but also a bold and future-facing educational vision rooted in innovation, creativity, and inclusion.

From the very start, our digital strategy has been more than an add-on; it’s been a cornerstone of how we teach and how our pupils learn. Every child, from our youngest learners in Key Stage 1 to our senior pupils in Year 10, is empowered to use technology as a tool for curiosity, communication, and creativity. Whether using iPads to create digital stories, collaborating on shared documents in real time, or building multimedia presentations, our pupils are growing into digitally fluent, adaptable young people who are ready for a world we can only begin to imagine.

But digital innovation is just one part of the picture.

Walk through our school on any given day and you’ll see something special: learners working across year groups, mentoring one another, exploring complex questions, and celebrating each other’s successes. Our commitment to cross-year collaboration fosters empathy, leadership, and a true sense of community. Whether it’s older pupils supporting Year 4s with coding projects, or Year 2s learning new mathematical skills supported by Year 7s, the result is a vibrant and inclusive learning environment that values every child’s voice.

Differentiation lies at the heart of our teaching philosophy. We know that no two learners are the same, and nor should their education be. Our teachers are expert at tailoring tasks, content, and outcomes to suit individual needs, enabling every child to be challenged, supported, and celebrated in their own right. From EAL learners mastering new vocabulary through interactive apps, to high-achieving pupils tackling independent research projects, we ensure that every learner is stretched and nurtured in equal measure.

Just as importantly, we offer a rich and growing cultural programme that inspires creativity, confidence and global awareness. Our music, art, drama, and languages programmes are central to school life, with opportunities for every child to perform, create, and be seen. Haileybury Malta pupils are encouraged to engage with the world, and to shape it for the better.

Beyond academic excellence, our holistic approach to education prioritises the well-being and personal development of every pupil. While pastoral care remains a cornerstone of our ethos, we also offer a vibrant co-curricular program that allows our pupils to explore their passions and talents outside the classroom.

I am genuinely excited about the opportunity to welcome you and your children to the Haileybury Malta community, where we strive to nurture well-rounded individuals equipped for success and fulfilment in both their academic pursuits and personal endeavours.

Louise Salmond Smith 

Founding Head, Haileybury Malta

About the Head

We are delighted to welcome Louise Salmond Smith as the Founding Head of Haileybury Malta. Mrs Salmond Smith has worked in education for almost 30 years, and as a Headteacher for the last 10. 

Mrs Salmond Smith read Music at University and is an accomplished solo performer. She began her career teaching music and has served as Director of Music in a number of schools, including five happy years at a school in Chile. As well as being a qualified teacher, she also has an MA in Educational Research and an MBA. She has been a Team Inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate for ten years.

She has two daughters in their 20s; one is an army officer and the other is a trainee teacher. In her free time, she enjoys music, countryside walks, and photography.