“We aim to offer the best educational experience we possibly can to current and future generations of Etonians – and then we aim to share that as widely as we possibly can.”
Eton has been educating for the future for nearly 600 years. Our academic success derives from a longstanding commitment to learning and independent thought, and pupils benefit from the intellectual quality and inspiring teaching of masters who are passionate about their jobs. House Masters and Dames lead small boarding houses which offer communal identities and this, alongside our broad co-curriculum, supports the positive development of character and attitude. We firmly believe that boys learn as much beyond the classroom as within it, and as much from each other as from their teachers.
Our job is to create the positive climate in which good things happen – but above all to send Etonians into the world positive about engaging with others, believing that they have as much to learn as they have to give. By the time they leave we want our boys to have that true sense of self-worth which will enable them to stand up for themselves and to stand for a purpose greater than themselves and, in doing so, to make a real contribution to society.
One of the most striking features of Eton is the diversity of pupils, staff too, of very different backgrounds, temperaments, opinions and interests, each of which has their place here. We expect boys to celebrate their own individuality and to respect the differences of others. The best Etonians do not sit on the sidelines sniping at other people’s efforts; they put themselves forward to accept an active role in seeking to make things better. In doing so, they are helping to create an environment in which their own talents, and the talents of others, can flourish.
As an outward-looking institution, with considerable resources and an absolute commitment to education, Eton believes passionately in the power of partnership. Organisations which share improve more rapidly themselves, as they have an open-minded mindset of self-reflection and self-improvement. We aim to offer the best educational experience we possibly can to current and future generations of Etonians – and then we aim to share that as widely as we possibly can.
Eton has a proud history and rich heritage and tradition is still important here, up to a point, and continues to shape some of our guiding principles. However, while this provides a context it does not define us. If Eton chooses only to do what has worked well in the past then this provides no guarantee of sustained success in the future. We are determined that, as we move towards our 600th anniversary in 2040, Eton remains a forward-thinking school that enthusiastically embraces innovation and new opportunity when we feel that it will enhance the educational experience of our boys.
Simon Henderson Head Master
A boy does not come to Eton simply to earn a set of qualifications.
“Half” a term: Michaelmas, Lent and Summer
All boys joining F Block (Year 9) study the following subjects:
ENGLISH
GEOGRAPHY
MATHS
SCIENCE
HISTORY
DESIGN*
LATIN
CLASSICAL GREEK (OPTIONAL)
MODERN LANGUAGES**
DIVINITY*
P.E.*
* These subjects are studied on rotation throughout the year
** French, German, Spanish, Russian, Japanese or Mandarin
When a boy comes to Eton he will join a house of just over 50 boys (unless he is a Colleger; there are 70 boys in College) aged between 13 and 18. His house will be the hub of his life and traditionally inspires a great sense of community and loyalty. 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. The house master is the main point of contact with the school for a boy’s parents.
The house master is supported by a dame, a dame’s assistant and a full house team. The dame looks after a boy’s health, and they also oversee the day-to-day running of the House. Each house has a deputy house master and two assistants attached to it and they will also help to ensure that every boy gets the best out of his time at Eton.
There are a number of important senior boys with responsibilities in the house, the first of whom is the house captain. Every boy will also be encouraged to take part in plenty of other house activities: concerts, plays, musical and debating competitions, and so on.
Every boy at Eton has his own study-bedroom. This is his own private space, which he can decorate as he pleases (within limits set by his house master) and where he can entertain his friends, or exclude them if he wants a bit of peace and quiet. About half of the houses eat breakfast, lunch, and supper in Bekynton, a large central dining complex; the others have their own chefs and dining-rooms.
All boys are allowed home for Long Leave every half and for Short Leave twice in the Michaelmas and once in the Lent and Summer halves. Boys can also go home after formal commitments have finished on a Saturday for one other weekend each half (when Chapel is on Sunday evening). Boys can also go home or go out with their parents, with their house master’s permission, whenever they are free from school or house commitments.
“Chambers”
a mid-morning break of 25 minutes when boys return to their houses for a snack and masters gather together
The Drawing Schools have facilities for painting, drawing, printmaking, computer graphics and digital photography. There are also two purpose-built 3D studios that have facilities for ceramics and sculpture in wood, metal and plaster.
“Specialists” Sixth Formers
A boy does not come to Eton simply to earn a set of qualifications. That is obviously an important part of what happens in the school, but it is certainly true that the most important things that you learn at school are not really to be measured in terms of qualifications.
When a boy leaves Eton, we hope he will look back on exciting academic, sporting, dramatic, artistic and musical experiences. Here is just a taster of some co-curricular activities that boys can get involved in.
There is a vast range of sports available, from the familiar like soccer, rugby, hockey, cricket, rowing, athletics, squash, to the less familiar like rackets and fives. There are some games which can only be played at Eton, namely the Wall and Field Games. In all, there are nearly 30 different sports on offer, all coached by Eton masters and professional coaches.
There are music lessons in almost any instrument you can imagine; join an orchestra, choir, rock band, or just enjoy the variety of concerts on offer. Senior boys and houses put on their own concerts; orchestras, bands (jazz bands, wind band, pipe band), chamber ensembles, choirs, choral society, and music technology provide wide and varied musical opportunities for boys of all standards. The orchestras and choirs give occasional outside concerts and the College Chapel Choir and School Orchestra go on regular concert tours.
More than 25 theatrical productions are staged at Eton in a typical year, including School and House Plays, a Lower Boy Play for students in E and F (Year 9 and 10), and plays mounted independently by students. Productions have frequently gone to the Edinburgh Fringe. The whole repertoire is covered from classics, musicals and comedies to the latest contemporary plays. Every third year there is a School Play Festival for the performance of new plays written, directed and produced by students and staff.
Listen to talks and debate with world class speakersfrom politicians and medical professionals, to footballers and television personalities. At any one time there are about fifty societies and clubs in existence, catering for a wide range of interests and largely run by boys.
A boy must be registered at any time up to 30th June in UK School Year 5 (the UK academic year in which he reaches the age of 10 years). There is no advantage to registering early; all registered boys will sit the initial assessment.
These are strict deadlines unless a boy is specifically applying for either the King’s Scholarship or a Music Award, which eligible boys can apply for in UK School Year 8. These are both highly competitive entry routes.
The registration is completed online at application.etoncollege.com
As part of the registration, you will need to upload a copy of the boy’s unabridged birth certificate (showing parental details) and pay the non-refundable registration fee.
Please note we cannot process incomplete applications and reserve the right to discard them after a month.
Autumn term of UK School Year 6
All boys sit the ISEB Common Pre-Tests in October or November, either at their current school, or at an agreed venue. We will also request a Head Teacher’s report covering a boy’s academic strengths, interests and character.
Results will be published in mid-December.
Successful boys will be invited to Stage 2.
Boys are split into groups, depending on their age, and will be invited for Stage 2 at Eton either in the Spring or Summer term of Year 6.
Boys will have an individual interview and will sit an online predictive test of academic ability and potential.
Results will be published usually 4-6 weeks after a boy’s assessment.
The following outcomes will be communicated after Stage 2:
Offer of a conditional place: Confirmed by passing the King’s Scholarship, Common Entrance or Eton Entrance examinations in UK School Year 8.
Waiting list:
Boys will be reassessed in the Summer term of UK School Year 7, having another interview and sitting the online test again.
Parents and boys with a conditional place will meet a selection of House Masters with a view to finding a suitable boarding house during UK School Year 7.
No place offered
Admission to Eton at age 16 is possible for a small number of candidates either through the Orwell Award or Sixth Form Entry.
Entry for these routes opens in the summer before a boy starts UK School Year 11 via an application form on the Eton College website. All applications received will be considered and we will then shortlist boys to come to Eton for an assessment in the November or December of UK School Year 11.
Award
These awards are for boys who have spent Years 9, 10 and 11 in a UK state school. Boys who are receiving substantial financial assistance at a UK independent school that does not have a sixth form may also apply. This award offers recipients a funded place, subject to means testing. We are particularly interested in boys in/on the edge of care, boys who are on pupil premium, boys with a need to board, or who will be the first in their families to go to university.
Sixth Form Entry (fee-paying places):
Boys who are studying at a UK independent school, state school or overseas school may apply for this entry, for which there is no financial assistance available.
We are committed to making an Eton education accessible to talented boys whatever their background and very significant levels of financial support (up to 100% of full fees) are available through our various bursary schemes.
Eton welcomes talented boys from all backgrounds and can offer significant levels of financial support. Thanks to generations of benefactors and supports we are fortunate to have a well-established endowment, which allowed us to budget £8.7 million to scholarships and bursaries in the 2021/22 financial year.
Bursaries are means-tested awards which are given to help support families who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford some, or all of the school fees. We support as many applications as possible. In 2021/22, 261 pupils (19% of all pupils at Eton) received a means-tested bursary, with 90 students paying no fees at all.
1
In Year 6 (age 11)
Parents can apply for a meanstested bursary, and will be notified of their bursary upon the award of a conditional place. We offer four Rokos Awards each year which are won on academic merit through the Year 6 application process. These are only available to boys who have been educated in the UK state system and who require significant financial aid.
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In Year 8 (age 13)
A boy with great academic strength from any educational background can win a King’s Scholarship, and an outstanding musician with good academic qualities can win a Music Award.
3
In Year 11 (age 16)
UK students expected to gain outstanding GCSE results can compete for an Orwell Award. Boys under the age of 17 on 1 September after taking GCSEs and who are attending a state school are eligible to apply. Candidates receiving substantial bursarial assistance at fee-paying schools with no provision for Years 12 and 13 may also apply.
Please note that we do not offer sports or arts scholarships, though such abilities feature strongly in all our selection processes along with all-round personality and suitability for membership of a boarding community.
A SITE COVERING 1,450 ACRES BOYS VOLUNTEER OVER 250 HOURS PER WEEK IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
The oldest items in the Collections are more than of which about 80 are listed Estate comprises just over 400 properties, concerts and recitals per year
160,000+ OVER 36,000 followers on SOCIAL MEDIA
53
1,316 individual music lessons taught weekly. Boys can even learn the didgeridoo!
120
INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLES artefacts, specimens and files of documents in the Collections
500 MILLION YEARS OLD
45 different sports 1,000+ HOUSE MATCHES PER YEAR
76 SOCIETIES OVER 200
169 SPORTS TEAMS with 1972 places available
25 DRAMA PRODUCTIONS EACH YEAR
EXTERNAL SPEAKERS each year A LEVEL subjects offered academic prizes 150 30 GCSE subjects offered 24
1,104,540 meals per year for the boys
We prepare and serve
We cook
The Laundry cleans 2million items per year for boys
1,250kg of potatoes each year
320,600 free range eggs per year (sourced locally)
Teacher, whether male or female.
Block
The school is divided into five blocks, F-B: a new boy joins F Block (year 9).
An iron lamp post conveniently positioned right in the centre of Eton and hence often used as a meeting point.
Chambers
A mid-morning break of about 25 minutes when boys return to their houses for a snack, and masters gather together.
Cricketers. Sometimes used for any non-rowing sportsman.
Work set by a teacher to be done out of school.
Eton’s own (older) version of football.
A sport developed in the late 19th century at Eton, which is similar to handball.
A term: Michaelmas, Lent and Summer.
A time in the afternoon when boys can make snacks in a House kitchen.
The school prefects, more properly known as The Eton Society.
A lesson.
The school uniform, often referred to as ‘tails’.
Specialists
Sixth Formers.
Trials
End of term examinations.
Wet Bobs
Rowers.
ADMISSIONS
admissions@etoncollege.org.uk 01753 370 611
FINANCE
bursaries@etoncollege.org.uk 01753 370 580
www.etoncollege.com
@Eton_College
@eton.college
For more information on admission to Eton including the Parent Information Booklet please visit www.etoncollege.com/admissions/entry-to-eton or scan the QR code.
