Eton College (UK) — detailed description, address, opening hours, how to get there. Information about curricula and courses, reviews.
Alma mater of 20 English Prime Ministers of Great Britain at once, Eton College is, perhaps, not in vain considered one of the most aristocratic educational institutions of Her Majesty the Queen. This private British school for boys was founded in 1440 by Henry VI just 30 km west of London, on the banks of the Thames, next to Windsor Castle. See Localcollegeexplorer.com for information about American Education And Media.
The boarding school for boys, in which children aged 13-18 study, takes no less than 25 thousand pounds a year for the opportunity to gnaw on the granite of science in these walls. The high cost of education does not discourage the powers that be from sending their offspring here. Today, 1,300 students study at Eton, some of them, by the way, do not pay a penny, being honorary royal scholarship holders.
Throughout the history of Eton College, its connection with the royal house has been observed, which is not surprising – Windsor Castle is located across the bridge. This college has always been under the special patronage of the royal family. For example, George III, who lived almost all his life in the neighborhood, in Windsor, often went to Eton to chat.
Prince William, Lady Di’s son, as well as his younger brother Prince Harry, are also Eton graduates.
Eton, by the way, is not one college – several educational institutions are located within its walls at once. King’s Scholars (or King’s Scholars) is reserved for 70 students who pay a maximum of 10% of the tuition fee, the rest is at the expense of Eton. Upon graduation, they have the right to use the letters “KS” after their name, as well as to wear a black robe over a tailcoat (for which they were nicknamed among other students “tugs” – short for English tug from Latin togati – those who wear robes). The other 24 colleges are Oppidans, from the Latin word Oppidum, which refers to a temporary walled city in the Roman Empire. Those who are able to pay for their own education study here. Each such college, as a rule, has about 50 boys. If before the guys at Eton studied Latin, today more than 100 students are cramming Chinese.
In one class, 20-25 students study in the first year of study, by the last year, often up to ten students remain.
Eton is not only famous for cramming – the college is known for its rich cultural life, many plays are staged here every year, both in the main Farrer theater and in the two studio theaters Caccia and Empty Space. The most popular local holiday is the Fourth of June, the birthday of King George III. The celebration begins with a procession of boats of rare elegance, which is opened by a fleet of old wooden rowing boats.
If before the guys at Eton studied Latin, today more than 100 students are cramming Chinese.
Eminent college graduates deserve special mention – writers Aldous Huxley, Percy Bysshe Shelley, George Orwell and Ian Fleming, Antarctic explorer Lawrence Oates, politician Alan Clark, composers Thomas Arne, Hubert Parry, actor Hugh Laurie (the same Dr. House) and many others.
It is not so easy for a student from Russia to enter Eton. In addition to fluency in English, you must have the skills to pass exams and write tests, as well as a good knowledge of English literature, the ability to “think” as is customary in English private schools. The easiest way to stake out a place in Eton in advance, at the age of 7-9 years, is to bring your child to England and arrange it in one of the preparatory boarding schools.
It’s much easier to come to Eton just for a tour. In view of the fact that Eton and Windsor are twin cities, and excursions to the royal castle from London are held almost every hour, it is easiest to join just such an excursion and make an independent trip for half an hour or an hour towards the college. The second option is to get by train from London (Waterloo station), the journey takes about 1 hour.
