Lower and upper secondary
Organisational Variations and Alternative Structures in compulsory education (lower and upper secondary)
National Sports School
The National Sports School (NSS) was set up in September 2012, aiming to provide opportunities for gifted, young athletes to develop their sporting talents as part of their schooling. The NSS is a co-educational institution situated in Pembroke catering for an average population of 240 students, aged between 11 and 16. The school offers expert coaching in a wide variety of sporting disciplines and boasts a variety of facilities and services such as physiotherapy and sports nutrition. Students follow a balanced curriculum of academic studies together with their sports specialization. The students’ coaching is carefully timetabled around their academic subjects during the school day. Great care is taken to provide students with every opportunity to maximize not only their sporting but also their academic potential. An example of a timetable at the NSS is the following:
|
Curriculum Set-Up at NSS |
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|
Subject |
Number of Lessons |
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|
(all lessons are with a duration of 40 minutes) |
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|
Year 7 |
Year 8 |
Year 9 |
Year 10 |
Year 11 |
|
|
Maltese |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
English |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Mathematics |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Religion/Ethics |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Social Studies |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Integrated Science |
4 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
PSCD |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Physics |
|
|
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
History |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Geography |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Information and Communication Technology |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Mains Sport |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
|
Fundamentals in Sports Specific (MQF2): Psychology/Physiology/Nutrition/Media in Sports |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Progressive in Sports Specific (MQF3): Psychology/Physiology/Nutrition/Media in Sports and SGH which incorporates Social Studies, Geography, History and PSCD |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Sports Fundamentals: Athletics/Gymnastics/Swimming/Weight-Lifting Technique |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Fitness: Strength and Conditioning |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Foreign Language |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Option 1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
Option 2 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
Total |
40 |
40 |
40 |
40 |
40 |
Assessment (both Formative and Summative) is the same as in other lower general secondary schools (See Section 6.3 Assessment in General Lower Secondary School).
Visual and Performance Arts School
The Malta Visual and Performing Arts School (MVPA) was set up in 2017 to offer students the opportunity to enhance their talent without renouncing their proficiency in core academic subjects. Visual and Performing Arts catered for by the school are Art, Drama, Music, Dance and Media Literacy. The MVPA has a yearly intake of 48 students, and an approximate school population of 240 students.
Throughout their time at the MVPA (that is, years 7 to 11), students learn traditional subjects, which follow the standard curricula taught in state Middle and Secondary schools, alongside their chosen art form. In Years 7 and 8, students are also exposed to the other four art forms on a rotation basis. School times at MVPA are 8:05am till 14:16. The table below presents the number of lessons at MVPA.
| Curriculum Set-Up at MVPA | |||||
| Subject | Number of Lessons | ||||
| (all lessons are with a duration of 40 minutes) | |||||
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 | Year 10 | Year 11 | |
| Maltese | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| English | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Mathematics | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Religion/Ethics | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Social Studies | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Integrated Science | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Physics/Biology/Chemistry | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| History | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Geography | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Social Studies | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| PSCD | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Information and Communication Technology | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| PE | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|
Art Form (including VET Qualification in the Performing Arts) |
10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Second Foreign Language | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Option 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Option 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Total | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
Assessment (both Formative and Summative) is the same as in mainstream schools (See Section 6.3 Assessment in General Lower Secondary School).
Alternative Learning Programme (ALP)
The Alternative Learning Programme (ALP) is a school, for Year 11 students, that promotes learning of core subjects, vocational competencies and life skills, through hands-on learning experiences that recognise and nurture the student’s individual interests. In this way, students are encouraged to continue compulsory schooling and prepared for stepping into further education of a vocational nature. In school year 2023-24, 115 students were registered in the ALP, who are organised in groups that do not exceed 8 students.
Learning Support Centres and Resource Centres
There are 5 Learning Support Centres (LSCs) in secondary schools, which support students who exhibit risky challenging behaviour. There are also, 5 Schools with a specialised setting, 4 in Malta (Helen Keller, Guardian Angel, San Miguel and Wardija) and 1 in Gozo (Sannat Special Unit), and another Resource centre for post-secondary students which support students with profound and/or multiple intellectual severe disabilities and who, thus, cannot be supported in mainstream schools. For more information on Learning Support Centres and Resource Centres see National Descriptors Chapter 12.2.
Organisational Variations and Alternative Structures in post-compulsory education
Youth.Inc
Youth.inc is a youth work programme offered by Agenzija Żgħażagħ with the aim to guide young people to old you need support in skills and competences for the workplace and who need to enhance their independent living skills can attend this programme. The programme is developed around a youth centred approach with the aim to engage the young people in their own process of development and enable them to live more independently and access further study or employment. The entry requirement is completion of full-time compulsory education. The young person applying should also have literacy, numeracy, and personal skills.
Through this 3 year programmes, students can obtain a MQF Level 3 Qualification Connect: Skills and Competences for the Workplace. Students will be able to develop communication skills, judgemental skills and learning skills. They will also become more autonomous and responsible and will be able to gain knowledge, skills and competences to become more independent and to enter the labour market or gain qualifications to continue in further education and/or training.