The school was first located in the "Cerro Alegre" area of Valparaíso. One of the founders of the school was Scot Peter Mackay, who was also the first headmaster. The school had a spectacular welcome, showing why more teachers were needed. One that arrived to reinforce Mackay was George Sutherland. By 1866, the institution counted with more than 140 students. Another educator that arrived was Thomas Somerscales, who was contracted as an arts teacher. Until then, only students who spoke English were accepted. But this tradition would be broken in 1871, when opening the first course for Chilean children who did not speak the English language.
