Eton College (Education in Great Britain)

Eton College

Eton College is an English independent boarding school for boys in Eton, Berkshire, near Windsor. It educates more than 1,300 pupils, aged 13 to 18 years. Price of tuition is 24.490 pounds or $50.000 per year. Some students do not pay tuition penny, being honorable royal scholarship.

Eton College was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"

Henry was known as the "Scholar King". This was early in the King's reign (1429-71).

Henry's purpose was to provide free education for 70 poor scholars who would continue their education at King’s College, Cambridge (also founded by King Henry).

Henry VI  (6 December 1421 – 21 May 1471) was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471.

• Eton is one of the original seven public schools as defined by the Public Schools Act 1868.

Following the public school tradition, Eton is a full boarding school, and it is one of four such remaining single-sex boys' public schools in the United Kingdom.

• Eton has been described as the most famous public school in the world, and been referred to as "the chief nurse of England's statesmen".

• Eton has educated generations of British and foreign aristocracy, and for the first time, members of the British royal family in direct line of succession: Prince William and his brother Prince Harry

Prince William

Prince Harry

School Terms

• There are three academic terms(known as halves in the year):

1. The Michaelmas Half, from early September to mid December

2. The Lent Half, from mid-January to late March

3. The Summer Half, from late April to late June or early July

• They are called halves because the school year once split into halves, between which the boys went home.

Curriculum

The current Eton curriculum includes a range of classical and modern subjects. Until the first half of the 19th century the normal course of instruction at Eton remained almost wholly classical. There were masters for other subjects, but they were unconnected with the general business of the school. Boys could attend these subjects in their free time. 

Eton College was one of the many British schools which introduced school uniforms in the mid-19th Century.

When a boy comes to Eton he will join a house of just over 50 boys aged between 13 and 18.

• His house will be the hub of his life at Eton for the next five years. Each house is under the care of a house master, who will look after him, support him and, if necessary, make sure he behaves himself.

Every boy at Eton has his own study-bedroom. This is his own private space, which he can decorate as he pleases and where he can entertain his friends, or exclude them if he wants a bit of peace and quiet .