The idea of fair play, or fairness, is a central value in the formative efforts of a British education, which understands life through the metaphor of sport, as multiple relationships between people, and groups of people, trying to achieve a common goal. In these relationships it is necessary to adhere to shared norms that restrict our personal freedom, so as to have predictable behaviour towards each other (knowing what we can expect – and what we cannot expect – from each other). This reciprocal surrender of freedom is how we recognise each other as persons and members of a community, and is the basis for mutual respect, for honesty and fairness in our relationships, and for consideration of others. This idea is very much reinforced through sport, but it must be present in all the school’s activities.

It is essential that our students develop inner strength from a young age, so that they have the work discipline that enables them to break inertia. It is about enabling each one, through the exercise of habits of perseverance and order, to experience a deeper and more permanent level of well-being, that which derives from the development of the cognitive, affective and behavioural skills necessary to respond to the challenges we face in life.

Virtutis Gloria Merces, ‘courage deserves glory’, is the school’s motto, and in a complex and demanding world, Dunalastair seeks to develop pupils who are able to recognise and overcome the difficulties they face, who can learn from problems and defeats and also enjoy and grow from moments of success.

Creativity, innovation and the ability to carry out projects through the actions that make them a reality is something that should characterise Dunalastair students.

Given its non-denominational character, Dunalastair has always welcomed a diversity of beliefs in its community, in the conviction that living together in diversity is an important value in itself. Furthermore, it educates for a life in which multiculturalism will be increasingly prevalent, and is therefore an essential value of democratic life.

On the other hand, coeducation has been chosen because it is assumed that the world needs women and men who are able to accept their differences as an opportunity and understand that the feminine and masculine views together make it possible to face life’s challenges successfully.

Dunalastair has always sought a balance between intellectual education, moral training and physical health. For this reason physical education and sport are a fundamental part of the curriculum. We seek to educate young people who value and protect their health, and who enjoy physical activity and sport.

The ability of our students to act and reflect on the needs of the community and the country, as well as to assume responsibility for the consequences of their actions, is an important part of our educational work. The school should therefore be a space for reflection and dialogue aimed at finding alternative responses to the challenges that a community faces.

In this way, developing team projects, in which the student has the opportunity to value collaboration in achieving group or social goals over the purely individual, and to contribute constructively, becomes a fundamental objective.