Our history
Past. Present. Future. Always with purpose.
Every great legacy begins with a vision.
In 1937, Mrs. Ada Ellen Florence Crew dreamed of more than a school: she envisioned a place where knowledge, strength of spirit and holistic education were inseparable. Thus was born Dunalastair, a girls’ boarding school with British roots and a universal vocation.
Today, almost 90 years later, we continue to honour that dream with every step we take.
We were born with Scottish roots. We grew up with a global identity.
Our name comes from a place sacred to the Clan Donnachaidh, one of the oldest clans in Scotland. But our sights have always been set on the future: to educate people capable of flourishing in a changing, diverse and challenging world.
Virtutis Gloria Merces.
‘Courage deserves glory.’
It is not just a slogan. It is our compass. Strive. Learn. Fall. Stand up. To better ourselves. Because here, every student discovers that true success is born of character.
A journey that evolves with you
What began as a boarding school in 1937 is now a living community with three sites in Santiago: Las Condes, Chicureo and Peñalolén.
In 1981, we became co-educational. In 1989 we opened what is today Dunalastair Las Condes, in 2004 Dunalastair Chicureo and in 2010 Dunalastair Peñalolén, thus opening new doors. But the essentials haven’t changed: at Dunalastair, every stage of your life has room to grow.
Pioneers in rethinking education
At the beginning of the 21st century, we decided to break the mould: we said no to static models and yes to lifelong learning.
We create our own way: teaching to think, learning to learn, and building a relevant, flexible and humane curriculum.
We are part of something bigger
Proud members of the Association of British Schools of Chile (ABACH), we participate with them in sports tournaments, academic competitions, cultural meetings and artistic activities. https://www.absch.cl/html/en/
These experiences enrich our students and connect them to a diverse, demanding community committed to excellence.
Today, we still choose to defy the familiar
Our present combines:
- An educational project in constant innovation: Reimagine Learning
- Trilingualism: Spanish, English and digital language
- Spaces designed for real-world collaboration
- Unique programmes like D-Thinking, D-Project and D-Inquiry
- IB World School
- A curriculum that trains for life with 21st century skills
And most importantly: a close, warm and humane community.
The future cannot be predicted. It is designed.
We do not know what tomorrow’s world will be like. But we do know how to prepare you for it – we don’t know what tomorrow’s world will be like.
At Dunalastair, change is part of our DNA. Therefore:
- We continue to educate people who transform their surroundings
- We teach to think, create, collaborate
- Innovating with purpose and vision
- We bring the best professionals together
- We create global experiences
- And we improve every corner of our school, without losing the essentials
Our promise
From 1937 to the present day, we have educated generations with a bilingual, solid and transformative education.
We are part of the global Cognita network, with more than 100 schools worldwide, which opens new international windows for our community.
We have an Academic Advisory Board that keeps us at the forefront, spotting global trends and incorporating the best for our students.
