This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Verdala International School in Malta. An accredited American school, set in Fort Pembroke, Verdala differs from mainstream schools: It is the only one that offers an international curriculum.

The Verdala International School was established to accommodate foreign families residing in Malta, or Maltese families who sought a different method of education for their children. Throughout these 30 years the school has grown and evolved into something unique.

Verdala School headmaster Adam Pleasance said that when he came to Malta in 1993, there were only 180 students.

"There are now 260 with 38 different nationalities in the student body. We have expanded the course offerings, introduced the International Baccalaureate, and the International Primary Curriculum, and we have increased the demands to award the American High School Diploma. The infrastructure has been considerably upgraded and there is currently a plan submitted to Mepa for us to build a gymnasium."

The school's unique campus is found inside Fort Pembroke, a building that was constructed by the British in the 1880s. Remnants of the past are still very much in evidence at the school, reminding teachers and students of Malta's rich history and culture. The fort's gun emplacements are now the school gardens; the armoury where cordite was put into the cannon shells is the chemistry laboratory, and the defensive ditch is now the school "farm".

International students and an international curriculum is what makes Verdala different from any other school in Malta.

Mr Pleasance said that students have "greater exposure to a variety of cultures which increases their global knowledge, makes them and all of us more tolerant of their customs and world views, and makes them feel more part of the world and less isolated".

The school is certified to offer the prestigious International Baccalaureate, a university preparatory programme from Geneva in Switzerland. The school is an accredited American School, which also offers the University of Cambridge IGCSE programme. At the elementary level, the school offers the International Primary Curriculum. These programmes give students from around the globe the possibility of fitting right back into their national systems if they wish to return, or give them qualifications to apply for foreign universities.

Mr Pleasance added that the curriculum is very demanding and has a dual focus on continuous assessment and external summative exams like the International Baccalaureate.

"Our programmes make students more competitive in terms of application to universities world-wide and also transcend national curricula by putting the focus on skills needed to be life-long learners. The content of our programmes may be different from those of local schools but follow a clear scope and sequence of general knowledge and skills. We also have greater freedom to respond to topical issues such as global warming as we are able to adjust our programmes to suit current needs."

Two former students, Kevin Schembri Orland and Sam Bishtawi, have fond memories of their years at Verdala. Mr Bishtawi, a former British student, describes his years at Verdala as fulfilling and enhancing years of his life. "I knew from the outset that what lay ahead would be a unique experience. I quickly came to realise that within the confines of Fort Pembroke was a meeting place for people from diverse countries from all over the world, where we worked and socialised without the hindrance of cultural barriers. The bonds we students built together paid off not only during our studies but during most of our free time and long after our final exams."

Mr Schembri Orland talks about his experience at Verdala with equal enthusiasm. "Verdala International School provided a friendly and, somewhat, different environment for Maltese students such as myself. The student community is very diverse and ideal for learning different languages and for understanding different cultures, as Verdala has students from over 100 different countries, including Germany, Spain, Italy, Africa, Asia, Russia, the UK and the US."

Mr Schembri Orland also talked about many social activities most common perhaps to American schools, which are not the norm in Malta. "Two of my most memorable moments would have to be my senior Prom, which was hosted at the Westin Dragonara hotel, and my graduation, where the French ambassador gave a speech and presented us with our High School diplomas."

Currently working with The Sunday Times, he feels that the people at Verdala and their friendly attitudes have helped him build character and become a very sociable person, which helped him quickly gain a good rapport with his colleagues.

"The scholastic experience provided me with both the concentration and attitude which has helped me cope with the stress and problems that crop up when working towards my deadlines. The IB was a very tough course, which prepares you for university life as well as the 'real world'. I don't regret my decision of taking up the challenge as it was an ideal stepping stone for my studies in the UK next year."