Eton College | School, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom

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External Websites

• Ancient Origins - In Ironic Twist of Fate, Elitist Eton Was Founded to Educate the Poor
• The Victorian Web - Eton College, Windsor
• Official Site of Eton College, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom
• History of Education Society - Education, Education, Education: 500 Years of Learning at Eton College

Ask the Chatbot a Question Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Dec 15, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot a Question Quick Facts Date: 1440 - present (Show more) Areas Of Involvement: secondary education scholarship King’s Scholar (Show more) Notable Alumni: William Pitt, the Elder William Ewart Gladstone George Orwell George Canning Robert Boyle (Show more) See all related content

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Eton College to cut number of free and assisted places amid Labour tax raid • Dec. 15, 2024, 4:21 AM ET (The Telegraph) Show less

Eton College, boarding school near Windsor, Berkshire, one of England’s largest independent secondary schools and one of the highest in prestige. It was founded by Henry VI in 1440–41 for 70 highly qualified boys who received scholarships from a fund endowed by the king. Simultaneously, Henry founded King’s College, Cambridge, to which scholars from Eton were to proceed. That connection is no longer in place.

Today, as throughout the school’s history, Eton names about 14 King’s Scholars, or Collegers, each year, for a schoolwide total of 70. The selection is based on the results of a competitive examination open to boys between 12 and 14 years of age. King’s Scholars are awarded scholarships ranging from 10 to 100 percent of fees and are boarded in special quarters in the college.

The other students, called Oppidans, now number more than 1,200 and are housed in boardinghouses under the care of house masters. The Oppidans have traditionally come from England’s wealthiest and most prestigious families, many of them aristocratic. Boys enter Eton about age 13 and continue there until they are ready to enter university.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by J.E. Luebering.