Eton College facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eton College |
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Aerial view of Eton College from the north
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Eton, Berkshire, England
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SL4 6DW
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| Coordinates | 51°29′31″N 0°36′29″W / 51.492°N 0.608°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Public school Independent boarding school |
| Motto | Latin: Floreat Etona (May Eton Flourish) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Church of England |
| Established | 1440 |
| Founder | Henry VI |
| Local authority | Windsor and Maidenhead |
| Department for Education URN | 110158 Tables |
| Provost | Sir Nicholas Coleridge |
| Head Master | Simon Henderson |
| Gender | Boys |
| Age range | 13–18 |
| Enrolment | 1,311 (2020) |
| Capacity | 1,390 |
| Student to teacher ratio | 8:1 |
| Area | 1600 acres (647 hectares) |
| Houses | 25 |
| Colour(s) | Eton blue |
| Song | Carmen Etonense |
| Publication | The Chronicle |
| School fees | £46,296 per year US$55,875 per year |
| Affiliations |
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| Alumni | Old Etonians |
| Charity Commission. Eton College, registered charity no. 1139086. https://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/SearchResultHandler.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1139086. | |
Eton College is a famous school for boys aged 13 to 18 in Eton, Berkshire, England. It is a "public school", which means it is a private school where students live and study. King Henry VI started the school in 1440. He called it Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore. This makes Eton one of the oldest schools in England.
Eton is known for its long history, its beautiful buildings, and its many famous former students. These students are called "Old Etonians". Eton is one of the few schools in England that still teaches only boys and where all students live at the school during term time. This means the boys live there seven days a week.
Many important people have studied at Eton. These include prime ministers, world leaders, and actors. The school is sometimes called "the nurse of England's statesmen" because so many leaders have come from there. Eton is the biggest boarding school in England. It costs about £49,998 per year to attend.
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History of Eton College
King Henry VI started Eton College in 1440. He wanted it to be a free school for 70 poor boys. After studying at Eton, these boys would go on to King's College, Cambridge, which the King also founded. Henry VI used Winchester College as an example for Eton. He even brought some students and the headmaster from Winchester to help start Eton.
The King wanted Eton to have amazing buildings. He planned for the school's chapel to be the longest in Europe. He also gave the school many valuable things, including land and religious items.
However, in 1461, King Henry VI lost his throne to King Edward IV. The new King took away many of Eton's gifts and treasures. Luckily, Edward's mistress, Jane Shore, helped save much of the school. Even so, the school had less money and fewer staff.
Building the chapel stopped when Henry VI was removed from power. Only the main part of the chapel was finished. Eton's first Head Master, William Waynflete, finished the front part of the chapel. Other important buildings, like the lower parts of the cloister and College Hall, were built between 1441 and 1460.
Since the school had less money, later buildings were often paid for by rich people who supported the school. Building started again around 1517 when Roger Lupton was the Provost (head of the college). The famous gatehouse in the School Yard is named after him. The College Library, built in the 1720s, holds a very important collection of books.
Eton in the 1800s and 1900s
The Duke of Wellington, a famous general, went to Eton. People often say he said, "The Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing-fields of Eton." What he likely meant was that the games and sports at schools like Eton helped boys become strong and brave.
In the 1840s, new buildings were added to make living conditions better for the students. Before this, many boys lived in a long, crowded room called Long Chamber.
In the late 1800s, Eton started a project to help people in poor areas of London. This was called the "Eton Mission" in Hackney Wick. It raised money and helped set up clubs, like a rowing club, for young people.
During the First World War, many Etonians died. Their names are remembered in the school's buildings. In World War II, a bomb hit part of the school. New stained-glass windows were made for the chapel after the war.
In 1969, Dillibe Onyeama became the first black student to finish Eton. Later, he wrote a book about racism he faced there. The current Head Master, Simon Henderson, has since apologized to Onyeama for this.
Eton's Coat of Arms
Eton College has its own special coat of arms. King Henry VI gave it to the school in 1449. The shield is black with three silver lily flowers. These lilies show that the school will bring forth "brightest flowers" of knowledge. The top part of the shield has symbols from the King's own royal arms: a French Fleur-de-lys and an English lion.
The three lilies also represent the Virgin Mary, in whose honor the college was founded. The school's motto is Floreat Etona, which means "May Eton Flourish".
How Eton College Works
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Eton College is led by a Provost and a Head Master. There is also a group of governors, called Fellows. They choose the Head Master.
School Leadership
As of 2022, the school's governors include important people like William Waldegrave, Baron Waldegrave of North Hill (the Provost) and Princess Antonia, Duchess of Wellington. These leaders help make sure the school runs well.
Eton has 25 boarding houses for boys. Each house has a housemaster, who is a senior teacher. There are about 155 teachers at Eton. Most students from Eton go on to study at universities. About one-third of them go to very famous universities like Oxford or Cambridge.
Eton is known as one of the most famous public schools in the world. It has educated many members of the British royal family, including Prince William and Prince Harry.
The school is bigger now than it used to be. In 1678, there were only 207 boys. Today, there are over 1,300 students.
Helping Students with Costs
About 20% of students at Eton get financial help. This help comes from bursaries and scholarships. The school wants to make it possible for any boy to attend, no matter how much money their parents have. In 2014, over 260 students received help, and 63 students attended for free.
Changes at Eton
Some old traditions at Eton have changed. For example, hitting students as punishment (corporal punishment) is no longer allowed. Also, younger boys no longer have to act as servants for older boys. Academic standards have improved a lot. By the mid-1990s, Eton was one of the top schools for getting students into Oxford and Cambridge.
Fewer boys at Eton are now sons of former students. This is because entrance exams are harder, fees have increased, and more students from around the world apply.
School Terms
Eton has three school terms each year. They are called "halves":
- The Michaelmas Half: From early September to mid-December. New students usually start in this term.
- The Lent Half: From mid-January to late March.
- The Summer Half: From late April to late June or early July.
They are called "halves" because the school year used to be split into two parts.
Boys' Houses
Students at Eton live in different houses. There are two main types of students: King's Scholars and Oppidans.
King's Scholars
One house, called College, is for 70 King's Scholars. These boys get scholarships by taking a special exam each year. They used to pay less in fees, but now this financial help is being changed. King's Scholars are often the most academically talented boys in the school.
King's Scholars can use 'KS' after their name. They wear a black gown over their uniform, which gives them the nickname 'tugs' (meaning "wearers of gowns").
Oppidans
As the school grew, more students joined. These students paid their own fees and lived in houses in the town of Eton. They were called Oppidans, from the Latin word oppidum, meaning "town".
Each Oppidan house usually has about 50 boys. While classes are for the whole school, boys spend a lot of their time in their house.
Some boys who pass the scholarship exam choose to be Oppidans instead of King's Scholars. They are called Oppidan Scholars. They can earn this title by doing very well in exams. Oppidan Scholars can use 'OS' after their name.
Each Oppidan house is usually known by the initials of its housemaster (the teacher in charge). For example, "Mr. Smith's house" might be called "J.S.H."
House Life
Each house has a house master, a house captain, and captains for sports and arts. The oldest students in a house have their own room called the "Library". Students in the second-to-last year have a room called "Debate".
Every evening, there is a house gathering called "Prayers". The house master makes announcements, and sometimes the boys put on entertainment.
In the past, younger boys had to serve older boys. This no longer happens, but house captains might still ask younger boys to do small tasks, like collecting mail.
There are many competitions between houses, including sports, drama, and music.
School Uniform
Eton is famous for its traditional uniform. Boys wear a black tailcoat (a long jacket with tails) or a morning coat, a black waistcoat, a stiff white collar, and black pinstriped trousers. Most students wear a narrow white tie. Some older students can wear a white bow tie and a special winged collar.
The idea that the uniform started as mourning clothes for King George III is not true. The uniform became standard over time in the late 1800s. Before 1967, shorter boys wore a cropped jacket called an "Eton jacket" or "bum-freezer" instead of a tailcoat.
Teachers and Learning
Teachers at Eton are sometimes called "beaks". There are 8 students for every teacher, which is a very small class size. Classes start with about 20-25 students in the first year. By the final year, classes can have fewer than 10 students.
In the past, the main subjects were Latin and Ancient History. Now, the school teaches many subjects. For example, over 100 students learn Chinese. In the 1970s, there was only one school computer. Today, all boys have laptop computers, and the school has fast internet in all classrooms and bedrooms.
Each boy has a House Master who looks after their studies. They also have a tutor who helps them. Classes are called "divisions" or "divs". The classrooms are separate from the houses. The oldest classroom still used today, "Lower School", is from the 1400s.
Every evening, there is a "Quiet Hour" for about 75 minutes. During this time, boys are expected to study or do homework.
A report from 2016 said that students at Eton achieve "exceptional" results. They do very well in exams and get into top universities around the world.
School Magazines
The Chronicle is the official school magazine. It started in 1863 and is written by the students. It often makes fun of school rules or talks about recent events. The Oppidan used to cover sports. The Junior Chronicle is for younger students and is written by them.
There are also many other magazines for different subjects, like history, philosophy, math, and music.
School Clubs and Societies
Eton has many clubs and societies, where students meet to talk about topics or listen to guest speakers. There are about 50 different groups. They are mostly run by the students themselves.
Some societies have been around for a long time. They cover many interests, like American culture, art, astronomy, debating, economics, and music.
Famous people who have spoken at Eton include Rowan Atkinson, J. K. Rowling, and Boris Johnson.
Awards and Prizes
Students can earn prizes for doing well in exams. There are also special prizes for different subjects and activities. The most important prize is the Newcastle Scholarship, given for an exam in philosophy and ethics. Other prizes are for history, economics, and science.
Prizes are also given for things like painting, music, and design.
The school also gives grants to students who want to travel or work abroad for educational reasons.
Rewards and Punishments
Eton has ways to encourage good work and deal with bad behavior.
- Show Up: For excellent work, a student's work can be "shown up" to his tutors.
- Sent Up For Good: If a student creates an amazing piece of work, it can be "Sent Up For Good". This means it is saved in the school's archives forever. This is very rare.
- Rip: For poor work, a paper might get a "Rip". This means the teacher tears the top of the page. The student must get his housemaster to sign it.
- White Ticket: If a student gets many "Rips", he might get a "White Ticket". This is a report that all his teachers must sign. It can lead to punishments like doing chores or writing lines.
- Tardy Book: If a student is late, he might have to sign the "Tardy Book" every morning for a few days.
- On the Bill: For more serious problems, a student might be put "on the Bill". This means a prefect will announce in class that the student must see the Head Master to talk about his actions.
- Georgic: In the past, a serious punishment was copying long Latin poems by hand. This is very rare now.
In the past, Eton was known for hitting students as punishment. This was called "beating". This practice was stopped in the 1980s.
Prefects
Eton has senior students who help with school discipline. They are allowed to wear special uniforms, like winged collars and bow ties.
- Pop (Eton Society): This is a group of the most popular and respected senior boys. Many students want to be chosen for Pop. Members of Pop wear a special braided tailcoat, checked trousers, and a white bow-tie. They can also wear fancy waistcoats. They help with school events and keep order. Famous members include Boris Johnson and Prince William.
- Sixth Form Select: This group is chosen for their academic skills. It usually has 10 senior King's Scholars and 10 senior Oppidan Scholars. They wear silver buttons on their waistcoats. They also act as "Praepostors", who announce when a student needs to see the Head Master.
- House Captains: These are the leaders of each of the 25 houses. They have responsibilities within their own house. They can wear a special grey waistcoat with their house colors.
A student can be in Pop, Sixth Form Select, and be a House Captain at the same time.
Sports at Eton
Eton has almost 200 acres of playing fields. Sports are a very important part of life at Eton.
- Autumn Term (Michaelmas Half): Students play football (called Association) and rugby union. Some boys also do rowing.
- Spring Term (Lent Half): The main sport is the Eton Field Game, a type of football unique to Eton. Students also play the Eton wall game, which Prince Harry played. Field hockey and Rugby 7's are also popular. Rowers train for races.
- Summer Term (Summer Half): Students choose between "dry bobs" (cricket, tennis, or athletics) and "wet bobs" (rowing on the River Thames or the rowing lake).
Eton owns the rowing lake at Dorney. This lake was used for the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games. It was the place for rowing and canoeing events. Many medals were won there, and it was called the "best-ever Olympic rowing venue".
The yearly cricket match against Harrow at Lord's Cricket Ground is the oldest cricket game. It has been played since 1805.
In 1815, Eton College wrote down its football rules. These were the first football rules ever written down.
Music and Drama
Music
Eton has a Head of Music and many music buildings. There are eight organs in the school. Students can learn many instruments, even unusual ones like the didgeridoo. Many students are part of the National Youth Orchestra. The school gives scholarships to talented musicians.
In 2009, a TV show called A Boy Called Alex showed an Etonian student, Alex Stobbs, who had cystic fibrosis. The show followed him as he prepared to conduct a difficult piece of music.
Drama
Many plays are put on at Eton College each year. There is a main theatre called the Farrer (which seats 400 people) and two smaller studio theatres. There are usually 8 or 9 plays put on by the different houses. There are also school plays open to all students. These plays are very popular and often sell out.
Sometimes, girls from nearby schools act in the female roles. Students are also in charge of the lighting, sound, and stage management for all the plays.
Celebrations
Eton's most famous celebration is the "Fourth of June". This day celebrates the birthday of King George III, who was a big supporter of Eton. On this day, the best rowing teams from the top four years row past in old wooden boats. The "Fourth of June" is not always on June 4th, but on the Wednesday before the first weekend of June.
Eton also celebrates St. Andrew's Day, when the Eton wall game is played.
Old Etonians
Former students of Eton College are called Old Etonians. Many have become famous in different fields.
Politics
Eton has produced twenty British prime ministers. Some of them include:
- Robert Walpole, the first Prime Minister of Great Britain
- William Pitt the Elder
- William Ewart Gladstone
- Anthony Eden
- Harold Macmillan
- David Cameron
- Boris Johnson
Royalty and Nobility
Many members of royal and noble families from around the world have attended Eton.
- Prince William
- Prince Harry
- Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
- Leopold III of Belgium (King of Belgium)
- Birendra of Nepal (King of Nepal)
Writers
- Henry Fielding
- Ian Fleming (who wrote the James Bond books)
- Aldous Huxley
- George Orwell
- Percy Bysshe Shelley
Scientists
- Robert Boyle, a famous chemist
- John Gurdon, a biologist and Nobel Prize winner
- Stephen Wolfram, a computer scientist
Actors
- Tom Hiddleston
- Hugh Laurie
- Damian Lewis
- Eddie Redmayne
- Dominic West
Music
- Thomas Arne, composer
- Humphrey Lyttelton, jazz trumpeter
- Hubert Parry, composer of "Jerusalem"
Other Famous Old Etonians
- Bear Grylls, adventurer
- John Maynard Keynes, economist
- Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury
Thirty-seven Old Etonians have won the Victoria Cross, which is the highest award for bravery in the British military. This is more than any other school.
Images for kids
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Eton College, Provost's Garden
