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Eton College may be England's most famous boys' school, if not the most famous school in the world. Thanks to series such as The Crown, even people in China know that Eton College educates royalty and other illustrious personages. But is access to Eton College limited only to the aristocracy?
Eton College retains an air of distinction by being only one of three boys' schools to still uphold their all-boys, all-boarding tradition. Radley College and Harrow School are the other two. But none of them caters strictly to the noble classes. By no means does that say that Eton College (or the other two schools) have abandoned tradition altogether. And they certainly haven't forsaken their reputation for excellence, both academic and prestigious. At Eton College, you'll find:
- a range of 'societies'; interest groups (clubs) that students may participate in
- expansive sports facilities that include everything from football pitches to tennis courts
- facilities to explore music, drama and art; to date, Eton boasts fully 49 instrumental ensembles
- a Natural History Museum, a library, a chapel and other purpose-built facilities
- a rack of school magazines students may contribute to or work on publishing
- a career education program
For some students, enrolment in Eton College represents the pinnacle of academic achievement. With Eton on their Curriculum Vitae, all doors will open to future opportunities. That's not just a grandiose assumption. If you want your son to learn the Eton way, you need a stress-free guide to registrations, admissions and examinations.
About Eton College
Eton College was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI. In its first year, this school welcomed and educated 70 disadvantaged boys. Initially founded to teach the poor, somewhere along the way, this school's student body changed to welcome the privileged exclusively. Today, that tide has turned again. Eton welcomes around 1,300 pupils to its Berkshire site each year, a fair number of them on a full bursary.
The school’s goals focus on “providing a broadly-based education designed to enable all boys to discover their strengths, and to make the most of their talents within Eton and beyond.” Each year for the past thirty years, Eton has seen 60-100 of its graduates accept offers from both Oxford and Cambridge University. Even more impressively, the school has given rise to 19 UK Prime Ministers, as well as cadres of musicians, scientists and philanthropists.
In an interview with the Telegraph in 2015, the current Head, Simon Henderson, said that he envisions an Eton that continues to expect academic excellence from all its pupils, but that also recognizes that “[y]oung people learn as much, if not more, from each other as from their teachers and as much, if not more, outside the classroom as within it." Educators at the City of London Boys' School would concur.
To get an idea of whether Eton College is right for you, have a look through the Eton website. You may also access the school's “New Boy Guide”, complied for your use. It includes information on boarding, work, games, and how to make your way around the school. It also describes the average pupil’s day. For specific questions or to contact the current Head, you may refer to Eton’s contact guide.
Eton College Admissions Policy
Eton College welcomes boys aged 13 to 18. Like Radley College, the third school to uphold the all-boys, all-boarding tradition, entry into Eton is very competitive. You must register your son three years ahead of his planned entry date. The only exceptions to these strict registration deadlines are boys applying for the King's Scholarship or the Music Awards.
Boys who are registered by 30 June of a given year will enter Eton three years hence. Thus, if you register your son before 30 June 2023, their projected entry date will be in 2026. A full registration package will contain the registration form, a copy of their unabridged birth certificate and a non-refundable registration fee. That amount is currently £400 but keep checking the Eton college website. Even they say that that amount is subject to change.
Guidelines for 13+ Entry
Eton College reserves the right to reject and discard incomplete registration packages after 30 days. Unlike registering at Dulwich College, Eton does not negotiate on these principles. They can hardly afford to; they have far too many registrations to go through.
Once your son is duly registered, he will complete a two-stage assessment. The first stage involves online pre-tests; the Independent Schools Examination Board (ISEB) Common Pre-Tests. To complete this initial assessment, the school requires a report from your child's head teacher outlining your child's academic strengths, interests and personality.
Once he clears the pretest, your son will have further ordeals to undergo. Those include a computerised reasoning test and an assessed group activity. After all of that, he will submit to an interview with one of Eton’s masters.
Guidelines for 16+ Entry
Although the vast majority of boys enter Eton at 13+, a limited number of placements are offered to boys entering Sixth Form. To apply, your son must have received at least 6 A-grades at GCSEs. He will also be required to provide a completed application form and report from his current school.
Eton College Interviews and Examinations
If your son does well on the 13+ assessment, he will be offered a place at Eton College. Of course, the same is true at other schools, such as St Paul's School and others mentioned throughout this article. As with every other school, so with Eton: their offer is conditional. For assured acceptance, he must do well on either his King’s Scholarship, Common Entrance, or Eton Entrance Exam in Year 8.
For Sixth Form, in addition to their 6 A-grade GCSE subjects, shortlisted boys will be invited to sit for an interview and assessment. These undertakings are similar to those required of the 13+ entrants; they will take place in February, before their entry. At this point, you will also be asked to provide a confidential medical report. Upon acceptance into Eton, you must consent for this report to be passed along to the Eton school doctor.
In the name of fairness, Eton College does not provide sample papers to prospective students. However, there are plenty of online resources that can help your son familiarise himself with common exam and GCSE questions. These may also assist him in overcoming revision or writing struggles.
For the interview portion, Eton emphasises the importance of being able to contribute to school culture both socially and academically. Prospective pupils should be prepared to speak about their current curriculum and subject interests, the same as they would for any other boys' school entrance interview. Most advantageous would be if future Etonians could describe how they’d like to build upon those interests in their future at Eton.
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