Dunalastair

Aims

Our educational aims guide the School’s educational efforts, and outline the profile of a Dunalastair student.

Sites

Our school has 3 sites:

Curriculum

Dunalastair’s curriculum has a strong emphasis on literacy and numeracy skills, tempered by a broad curriculum model that combines the different requirements of a school that has a British background but must comply with local requirements as well..

A central part of our curriculum is its growing emphasis on 21st Century skills, that is Collaborative Learning, Critical Thinking, Communication and Creativity. This is addressed by methodologies of inquiry and project-based learning, that are especially important in our primary and middle years.

Personal and social development is an important part of our learning experience, delivered by teachers under the supervision or our Learning Support Department. A comprehensive programme is in place from the early years to ensure that developmental needs of our students are catered for at all levels. In the later years this includes vocational advice and information related to careers and universities..

Principles

Dunalastair takes from the humanist tradition:

A recognition of the role of reason and emotion in the process of obtaining knowledge or understanding.

A respect towards others, that allows us to live in communities, and to collaborate with others in social activities.

Freedom, as a central human value, educating our students to make their own decisions.

The development of an esthetic sensibility as a way of developing creativity.

An awareness of other cultures, and an open non-discriminatory attitude towards the world.

An awareness of the advances of humanity in its various aspects: scientific, cultural, technological and ethical, thus encouraging our students to be active participants in one or more of these areas.

The importance of encouraging a critical spirit, able to evaluate the challenges and dangers that these developments may imply, and the deficiencies that can be improved..

A sense of responsibility that will make them social agents who will contribute to their community and country.

Objectives

Excellence

Dunalastair strives to achieve the highest academic and personal standards, which is why we constantly assess what we do, using our own indicators, and external benchmarks. It is important that each one of our students be required to give their utmost. Their potential cannot be wasted, and Dunalastair will seek to educate them as critical thinkers, so that they may contribute to the development of their society.
Bilingualism

One of Dunalastair’s main goals since its foundation, has been the teaching of English as a second language and every student that graduates should speak English with fluency as well as having a very good command of their mother tongue. The learning of a second language is complemented with a certain familiarity of the cultures of English speaking countries.
Technology

The development of Information and Communication Technologies, and the opportunities that this has created for communication and knowledge, has had a strong impact on the world. Dunalastair must take the maximum advantage of the potential they offer the educational process, as our students are active players in this new reality.
Art Development

An esthetic sensibility is of great importance in itself, and is well worth encouraging in a world where almost everything is judged by its instrumental value. Artistic expression is a human dimension that is undervalued in Chilean education, and Dunalastair aims at a well-rounded education of our students.