St Martin’s College yesterday launched a Maltese independent sixth form, which will open its doors to Maltese and foreign students in October.

Principal Bernie Mizzi said the sixth form will focus on the students and not the subjects. “We felt that it was the right time and that there is the demand for a sixth form in a Maltese independent school,” she said.

Mrs Mizzi went on to explain that the school had registered very encouraging results at SEC level and that the sixth form would be able to guarantee pass marks of 80 and 90 per cent in certain subjects.

“We carried out surveys and questionnaires among the parents and many said they wanted a sixth form,” she said.

Mrs Mizzi explained that St Martin College offers a full range of services starting from child minding services and kindergarten classes at Chiswick House School and primary and secondary school classes.

“At St Martin’s we teach the students as opposed to teaching subjects – we strongly believe in developing the students’ full potential,” said Mrs Mizzi.

The registration for sixth form will open on 15 February and is open to both Maltese and foreign students, she explained.

Once students register, they will be placed on a list and ranked according to a points system once the results are out. The points system will take O level results and the result of an interview into consideration. However, Mrs Mizzi said, St Martin’s College students will be given preference.

The interviews will be held between February and September. The fee for three terms for both Maltese and EU students is Lm2,300 and includes a one-time Lm100 registration fee, said Mrs Mizzi.

The sixth form needs a minimum of 40 students to start operating. However, Mrs Mizzi said she was confident that the school will be up and running next September.

The classes will be very small giving each student the individual attention he or she needs, she said. They will vary between 10 and 12 students at A Level and 15 students at Intermediate level.

Classes will run from October to June with Christmas, Easter and mid-term holidays. Mrs Mizzi explained that students who fail to achieve a pass in Maltese or maths by September will be considered and given an available place once they show their commitment to passing the subject within the two-year course.

Furthermore, she said, students will take on an additional, intensive programme in maths or Maltese during first year.

The courses will offer students a variety of subject combinations which will allow entry in practically all courses at the University of Malta.

Mrs Mizzi said that a call for applications for the post of head of school will soon be issued and that eventually teachers will be recruited for the different subjects.

Once the sixth form is opened, the students will use the present school premises but at different times from other students. Eventually, she added, if needed, new premises will be built.

Students will have their own computer and the latest technology – including Wi-Fi – will be available in all lecture rooms.

Sixth form students will also be able to take advantage of job placements which will be relevant to the subjects they are studying, said Mrs Mizzi.