Eton is a very old school.
A king started it long ago. Boys live there all week. It is a big place to learn.
Many famous people went there. Do you like old schools?
Eton is a very old school.
A king named Henry VI started it. He wanted to help poor boys learn.
The school has many big buildings. One building is a large chapel. Boys live at the school all week. Many famous leaders went to this school. It is a very large place to live and learn.
Eton College is a famous school in England.
A king named Henry VI started it in 1440. He wanted to help 70 poor boys get an education.
The school has many old and grand buildings. One of the main buildings is a large chapel.
In the past, life at the school was not always easy. Some boys lived in rooms with very little furniture. They did not always have warm beds or clean water. In 1861, a group called the Clarendon Commission studied the school. They looked at how the school was run. Later, new buildings were made to give boys better rooms.
Many important people went to Eton. These people include world leaders and famous actors.
During World War I, some boys even helped grow food in victory gardens.
Today, it remains a very large boarding school for boys.
Eton College is a famous private boarding school in England.
It is located in the town of Eton in Berkshire. This school is the largest boarding school in the country. Boys aged 13 to 18 live at the school seven days a week during term time. This tradition of boys-only boarding is rare among English schools. Many other schools have since become co-educational, meaning they accept both boys and girls.
The school works as a place for academic study and living. Students stay in boarding houses while they attend classes. Some students live in the town, but many live on the school grounds. The school has a very long history of teaching many different subjects. In the past, the school focused heavily on classical studies. Today, it remains a place where many students prepare for future leadership roles.
King Henry VI founded the school in 1440.
He originally called it Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore. He wanted to provide free education to 70 poor boys. These boys were meant to go on to study at King's College, Cambridge. The king used Winchester College as a model for his new school. He even appointed the headmaster of Winchester to help lead Eton.
Eton has many important buildings and interesting facts. The College Chapel is a very grand building on the grounds.
In 1940, a bomb fell on the grounds during the Blitz. This event damaged the Upper School and the chapel windows. Later, artists like Evie Hone and John Piper created new stained glass windows. The school also has a large library built between 1725 and 1729. For the 2023/24 year, the school costs up to £52,749 per year.
Many famous people have attended Eton over the centuries. These students are often called Old Etonians. The school has educated prime ministers and world leaders. It has also taught Nobel laureates and famous actors.
During World War I, students even worked in victory gardens.
These students helped grow food to support the country. This shows how the school connects to the wider history of the world.
Eton College is a prestigious private boarding school in England.
It serves boys aged 13 to 18. The school is located in the town of Eton, Berkshire. It currently stands as the largest boarding school in England. Eton is one of only four schools in the country that maintains a boys-only, boarding-only tradition. Most other historic English schools have become co-educational, meaning they accept both boys and girls. At Eton, students live at the school seven days a week during the academic term.
The school's financial structure is significant. For the 2023/24 academic year, tuition costs up to £52,749 per year. This breaks down to £17,583 per term. There are three terms in each academic year. In the 2013–14 period, it was the sixth most expensive boarding school in the UK within the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.
This wealth has allowed the school to maintain its historic campus and extensive facilities over many centuries.
Eton was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI.
He originally named it Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore. The King intended it to be a charity school. It was designed to provide free education to 70 poor boys. These students were meant to eventually attend King's College, Cambridge. Henry VI used Winchester College as a model for Eton. He even appointed William Waynflete, the headmaster of Winchester, as Eton's first Provost.
The school's history includes periods of great difficulty. When King Edward IV deposed Henry VI in 1461, the school lost much of its support. The new King annulled many of the school's grants. He moved many of its assets to St George's Chapel at Windsor. Legend suggests that Jane Shore helped save some parts of the school.
Construction of the grand College Chapel was also interrupted. It was originally intended to be twice as long as it is today. Only the Quire of the intended building was completed during that era.
Life for students has changed drastically over the centuries. In the 19th century, living conditions for some students were very harsh. Some boys lived in the Long Chamber, a large first-floor room. These rooms often had little more than wooden beds and bureaus. Students faced cold winds and lacked basic items like washstands. In 1834, some reports suggested that scholars faced privations similar to those in a workhouse.
Later reforms, such as the 1861 Clarendon Commission, investigated the management of such schools. These investigations helped lead to better accommodation, like the New Buildings designed by John Shaw Jr.
The school has produced many influential people known as Old Etonians.
This group includes prime ministers and world leaders. It also includes Nobel laureates and famous actors. Some historical figures, like the Duke of Wellington, are associated with the school's character. Wellington once remarked that the "stuff" that won the Battle of Waterloo was found in the youth of England.
This idea linked the school's culture of sport and character to national leadership.
Eton has also been shaped by major global events. During World War I, students participated in victory gardens to grow food.
In December 1940, a bomb fell on the college grounds during the Blitz. This destroyed part of the Upper School and damaged the Chapel windows. The school later replaced these with beautiful stained glass. Artists like Evie Hone and John Piper contributed to this new art.
These windows depict various biblical stories and miracles.
Today, Eton remains a central part of the English educational landscape. It connects to various fields, from classical studies to modern leadership. The school has even built facilities like a nuclear bunker for its leaders. This bunker, built in 1959, is now used for storage. The school continues to evolve while holding onto its long history. It remains a place where tradition and modern education meet.
Where will your curiosity go next?
🖼️ Images & Media (13)
+ 1 more
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
🔬 Go deeper
More advanced topics to explore
🪜 Step back
Simpler topics to build understanding
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.