A little bit of history...
Where does the name of our school come from?
During the 1980’s, specifically 1982, Mrs. María Alicia Claramunt and Dr. Michael Varley gave shape to the dream of founding a school that would act as a guide to the integral education of each of the children who would come to be a part of their educational project. The result is that Wenlock School, after 39 years, has shown itself to be a school of excellence, with the prestige and recognition that reflects its daily work, shaping the citizens and leaders of tomorrow, all of whom are imbued with the school’s hallmark “spirit of service”.
We could go on writing many more lines about what our school is today, how it was developed from its beginnings in a house in La Reconquista street, in the municipality of Las Condes, with only 28 students, to the more than 800 students we have today, in the same district, but in Carlos Peña Otaegui St., where the majestic Andes Mountains act as a backcloth to our school ́s buildings and playing fields with their uninterrupted view of the city of Santiago below.
Thinking back to the origins of our school, one cannot help but wonder where it got its name. Much Wenlock is a town in the county of Shropshire in England, specifically in the centre of the West Midlands, close to the border with Wales and west of the city of Birmingham.
Historically, Much Wenlock was the main town of the ancient community of Wenlock. The “Much” was added to the name to distinguish it from nearby Little Wenlock, and signifies that it is the larger of the two settlements.
The name Wenlock is thought to derive from the Celtic name Wininicas, meaning white area, in reference to the limestone of Wenlock Edge, plus the Lock, perhaps from the Old Welsh “loc” meaning monastery. This word is derived from the Latin “locus” meaning place.
Among the most notable historical attractions in the city are Wenlock Priory, a ruined 12th century monastery, and the Guildhall, a timber-framed building in the city dating back to 1557, a notable tourist attraction where the first floor houses a market with fruit, vegetables and flowers.
But how does this location relate to the name of the school?
Dr. Varley thought of a name that would represent part of the culture of his country, that would mean something to him personally and would generate an unmistakable identity, but at the same time would be short, easy to pronounce and easy to remember for all people, both children and adults. This was how he recalled his childhood when he enjoyed his trips and bicycle rides to Much Wenlock. Thus, for historical, sentimental and practical reasons, “Wenlock” was the name chosen for our school.
This small village dates back to Roman times, which still attracts many visitors for its natural beauty, rich heritage and architecture; characteristics that we will try to convey to you through the following images
