Haileybury Malta has opened its new €19 million campus in the former Royal Navy Hospital in Mtarfa this weekend, giving more than 230 pupils the run of the historic site’s sprawling grounds from this scholastic year.

The opening marks a major step for the British international school, which started out with 50 pupils in temporary premises in Tarxien three years ago and will eventually accommodate up to 700 pupils from nursery right up to sixth form.

The campus was officially inaugurated on Saturday, September 5, 2026, by Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg and Education and Sport Minister Byron Camilleri during a ceremony attended by Haileybury Malta’s founding head, Board of Governors, staff, pupils and families.

Haileybury Malta founding head Louise Salmond Smith said the opening was the culmination of enormous belief, effort and investment by the many people involved in bringing the school to life.

“This is a proud moment for everyone who has been part of this journey since our very first day in 2023. This campus gives our pupils a permanent home worthy of their ambitions, and worthy of Malta,” she said, adding this new campus also strengthened  Malta’s international education offer. 

Haileybury Malta follows in the footsteps of Haileybury in the UK, providing a rigorous British education for pupils residing in Malta. 

Mark Smith, founding member of the Board of Governors, said this project grew from a shared belief that Malta deserved a school of this calibre. 

“Seeing that belief realised in Mtarfa, with room to grow to 700 pupils, is an extraordinary achievement for everyone involved,” he said.

The €19 million investment included support from the Malta Development Bank, which mobilised €10 million through its Guaranteed Co-Lending Scheme.

The extensive rehabilitation of the former Royal Navy Hospital has also significantly improved the building’s energy performance, with primary energy use expected to be approximately 75 per cent lower.

Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg said the project held particular significance for him because of his personal connection to the area and showed how historic buildings could  be preserved while being given new purpose.

“As someone who has lived in this area throughout my life, it gives me great satisfaction to see this building given a new life and purpose while respecting its history and character. 

“This is a clear example of the role the government is playing in creating the conditions and financial structures necessary for responsible investment to be undertaken and to generate lasting value for our country,” Dr Borg said.

Education Minister Byron Camilleri said the campus represented would further strengthen and diversify the educational opportunities available in Malta.

“We want an education system that offers choice, quality and high standards, but above all, we believe that the true value of education lies in what it gives students. 

“Students and their holistic development must always be at its heart. We want to provide them with strong academic foundations while nurturing curiosity and critical thinking, building character and resilience, and equipping them with the skills and values needed to face the future with confidence,” Dr Camilleri said.