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Due to the fact that the Primary Schools in Birzebbuga had, by the 1950's, become too small and
fragmented, the authorities decided that it was time to build a new school - one that would be big
enough to house them both. St. Michael Street, St. Catherine Street and Church Street bordered the
chosen site on three sides. (Zaren Dalli Street, bordering its fourth side, had still not been
built.)
The architect who drew the plans for the new school was Joseph Borg Grech, A.&C.E. The whole
complex was to contain three two-storey blocks of twelve classrooms each, a large hall complete
with stage and dressing room, a gymnasium, and several corridors adjoining all three blocks and
hall. Four very spacious yards were to separate the blocks.
The first five classes to move into the new school on 21st September 1956, were the
boys from 91, Pretty Bay. The latter premises, together with the infant classes from the boys'
school, started to form part of the girls' school on 1st October 1956. The boys' school
was, at the time, made up of 12 classes - 5 in the new school and 7 at the 'Smiling Prince'. A
year later, on 16th September 1957, the remaining 7 classes moved into the new school
and the 'Smiling Prince' was vacated.
The girls still attended the schools in Pretty Bay but, on 6th November 1958, a big
storm did considerable damage to both the 'school down the bay' and the 'red house' and the
children were panic-stricken. The school premises were declared habitable and free of danger but
the parents' pleas for their children to move out of the schools were too strong. Just two days
later the girls' moving into the new school began. The first Eucharistic Day in the new school
was held on 30th April 1959.
The two schools started to be administered separately but in the same complex. The Boys' School
comprised the Primary classes from Standard 1 to 6 and the Girls' School comprised the Infant
classes, Stages 1 and 2, and the Primary classes from Standard 1 to 6. At that time, children
finished their Primary Education at about 14 years of age. When the Kindergarten classes were
introduced in 1975, they too started to form part of the Girls' School.
(The block facing St. Catherine Street, currently housing the Kindergarten Section)
In 1974, part of the school premises were taken up to start accommodating a Boys' Trade School,
where Woodwork, Automobile Engineering and Electrical Installation were taught. The school hall
was also taken up by the Trade School to be used as a workshop and the stage as a store. After a
time, the Trade school population started dwindling constantly until, in June 1983, it was shut
down. The school hall was renovated by a group of volunteers and officially opened by Prime
Minister Dr Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici on 28th May 1985.
The same block was once again taken up to start housing a Girls' Trade School in 1985. This time,
the school hall continued to serve its original function. In Scholastic Year 1988/89 the school
took the name of Mons. M. Azzopardi Girls' Trade School, but it too was shut down in 1992.
From Scholastic Year 1980/81 the current Primary Schools' format was introduced, whereby classes
started to be mixed and the children began their Secondary Education after Year 6 at about 11
years of age. The Girls' School took the name of School A and started to cater for the
Kindergarten classes and Years 1, 2 and 3. The Boys' School started to be known as School B and
caters for Years 4, 5 and 6.
(The block facing St. Michael Street, currently housing School A)
The Heads of School during this period were as follows:
Girls' School/School A
- Ms Gracie Zammit (1958-1961)
- Ms Josephine Ellul (1961-1984)
- Ms Katy Abela (1984-1989)
- Mr Emanuel Ph. Attard (Acting Head)
- Mr Charles Debono (1990-2004)
- Ms Catherine Spiteri (2004- )
Boys' School/School B
- Mr Reginald Vella Tomlin (1948-1955)
- Mr Salvu Farrugia (1955-1956)
- Mr Reginald Vella Tomlin (1956-1963)
- Mr Anton Agius Muscat (Acting Head)
- Mr Joseph Micallef Azzopardi (1964-1978)
- Mr Victor Borg Busuttil (1978-1979)
- Mr Anton Agius Muscat (1979-1982)
- Mr Hugh Mercieca (1982-1984)
- Mr Carmel Ellul (1984-1989)
- Mr Alfred Zammit (1989-1991)
- Mr Emanuel Ph. Attard (1991-1992)
- Mr Theo Degiorgio (1992-1994)
- Mr Louis Portelli (1994-1997)
- Ms Antoinette Psaila (Acting Head)
- Ms Lina Caruana (1998-2000)
- Mr Emanuel Grech (2000-2003)
- Mr Oreste Mifsud (2003-2005)
- Mr John Zammit (Acting Head)
- Ms Miriam Mallia (Acting Head)
(The block facing Church Street, currently housing School B)
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