Eton College

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.