Eton, the Most Famous Public School in the World
Eton College, or just Eton, is a British independent school for boys founded by King Henry VI in 1440 as a charity school to provide free education to 70 poor boys who would then go on to King’s College, Cambridge, founded by the same King in 1441. The original buildings consist of two quadrangles containing the chappel, the upper and lower schools, appartments for officials, the library, and offices.
Eton College is in Eton, near Windsor in the English county of Berkshire. It is north of Windsor Castle. The school is one of the original nine English “public schools” as defined by the Public Schools Act 1868. The school is a member of the Eton Group of independent schools in the United Kingom.
Eton is a full boarding school. All pupils live at the school. It is one of four such remaining single-sex boys’ public schools (the others being Winchester College, Harrow College and Radley College). It educates more than 1,300 pupils, aged 13 to 18 years. For every 8 pupils there is one teacher.
Eton has educated generations of British and foreign aristocracy and members of the Royal family. The list of graduates includes nineteen former British Prime Ministers. Eton has been described as the most famous public school in the world and has been referred to as “the chief nurse of England’s statesmen”.
About 20% of pupils at Eton receive financial support, through a range of bursaries and scholarships. Students at Eton College are drawn from a variety of nationalities and backgrounds. One in ten students come from overseas. Special learning support is offered to students whose first language is not English.
Eton continues to have a strict dress code. One of the most interesting aspects of Eton is the school uniform: tailcoats, stiff collars and the famous Eton tie. The cost of the basic uniform runs to about £1,000.
There are three academic terms (known as halves) in the year. They are called halves because the school year was once split into two halves, between which the boys went home.
Sports provision is diverse, but focused on football, rugby and rowing.
As for me, it is very interesting and useful information. I think Eton it is the best school for boys and it is cool that for every 8 pupils there is one teacher. But for me the main disadvantage that it is a single-sex school. It would be boring without girls. I agree that boys would be shy and less cooperative at future jobwithout an experience of communication with girls. I would like to add that I was greatly surprised that their basic uniform runs to about £1,000. I think it’s too expensive.
It was very interesting to read about Eton College. In my opinion it’s a cool school. But I don’t want to study there because it’s a single-sex school. As for me, boys and girls should learn how to work together. Also I didn’t like the uniform, because it’s really expensive. But in general, I’m sure that students have excellent education and have great opportunities for the future, that’s the main reason in such schools.
I enjoyed reading this short but useful information. In my opinion, Eton is the best school. I’ve learnt that it is for boys only and it is the oldest of the original nine English public schools. I think it is very boring to wear a uniform every day. But students in Eton College should wear the same uniform because it is a strict requirement. Tuition is expensive but it’s worth studying there because of high standards. I consider the fact that it’s a single-sex school as disadvantage. I’m sure that boys and girls should study together and learn to be in a team with people of different sex.