100 facts about Eton College
History & Founding
- Eton College was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI. Kiddle
- Henry VI wanted it to be a charity school offering free education to 70 poor boys. Kiddle
- Those boys would go on to study at King’s College, Cambridge, which the same king founded. Kiddle
- Its original name was “Kynge’s College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore.” epfl
- It’s the 18th-oldest school in the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC). epfl
- In 1461, Henry VI was deposed by Edward IV, who stripped away much of Eton’s money and treasures. Kiddle
- The school is 586 years old as of 2026. Wikipedia
- Henry VI endowed the school with large estates spread across southern England. General History
- The school was structured to be run by a Provost and Fellows, with boys led by a Head Master. General History
- Henry VI planned the College Chapel to have the longest nave in Europe. Kiddle
Location & Campus
11. It’s located in Eton, Berkshire, England, postcode SL4 6DW.
12. The campus spans about 1,600 acres (6.5 km²) of semi-rural land.
13. The town sits directly across the Thames from Windsor Castle.
14. The College Chapel is a Perpendicular Gothic building with pinnacled buttresses rising above the High Street.
15. The school includes Dorney Lake, used for rowing.
16. It has the Farrer Theatre for performing arts. Wikipedia + 4
Structure & Governance
17. Eton is a private boys’ boarding school (“public school” in British terminology).
18. Its motto is “Floreat Etona” — Latin for “May Eton Flourish.”
19. It has a religious affiliation with the Church of England.
20. Its current Provost is Sir Nicholas Coleridge.
21. Early Eton headmasters were called “schoolmasters” and modeled structures on Winchester College.
22. There are 25 boarding houses at Eton.
23. The school’s registered charity number is 1139086.
24. Its local authority is Windsor and Maidenhead.
25. Eton belongs to the G30 Schools group, the HMC, and the Rugby Group of schools. Wikipedia + 8
Students & Admissions
26. Enrollment was 1,341 students as of 2024.
27. Eton caters to students aged 13 to 18.
28. Total capacity is 1,390 students.
29. Boys can enter at age 13 (Year 9) or at 16 for Sixth Form.
30. There’s a pre-assessment at age 11 involving interviews and a reasoning test.
31. Final entry is confirmed via Common Entrance or the King’s Scholarship exam.
32. Every boy boards — there’s no day-student or weekly-boarding option.
33. Sixth Form entry is very limited and prioritizes boys with exceptional academic, artistic, or sporting talent.
34. The pupil-to-teacher ratio is 8:1.
35. Eton is one of only three UK public schools (with Harrow and Radley) that remain boys-only and boarding-only.
36. Comparable schools like Charterhouse, Westminster, Rugby, Shrewsbury, and Winchester have all since gone co-educational. Wikipedia
Fees & Financial Aid
37. Fees for 2025–2026 are £21,099.60 per “Half” (term), inclusive of VAT.
38. There are three Halves per year, totaling £63,300 annually.
39. This covers tuition, boarding, and meals — uniforms, trips, insurance, and exam fees are billed separately.
40. About 25% of boys receive bursarial support.
41. Eton aims to fund 70 boys on full fee remission at any given time.
42. Scholarships guarantee at least a 10% fee reduction. Which School Advisor
Academics
43. Eton sits among the highest-performing schools in England at GCSE and A-level.
44. Results place it in the top 0.6% of English schools at GCSE and top 1.4% at A-level.
45. It sends dozens of boys to Oxford, Cambridge, and medical school each year.
46. Founder Henry VI’s curriculum initially focused on Latin and religious studies.
47. Tony Little established the Tony Little Centre for Innovation and Research in Learning in 2015. FindMySchool
Leadership
48. Simon Henderson has served as Head Master, a role he’s held since 2015.
49. Henderson was previously a history teacher at Eton and later Head of Bradfield College.
50. Eton’s Provost and Fellows have announced Alastair Chirnside as the 72nd Head Master, succeeding Henderson.
51. Chirnside currently serves as Warden of another institution before taking up the post.
52. The most famous historical headmaster was John Keate, who led from 1809 to 1834.
53. Keate managed over 500 pupils and was known for harsh discipline with birch-rod and cane, which occasionally sparked rebellions.
54. Henderson has supported inclusivity initiatives like Pride events and Black History Month.
55. He has prioritized mental health and emotional intelligence in the curriculum.
56. Under Henderson, Eton streamlined visa processes for non-EU students after Brexit.
57. Eton launched a Sustainability Strategy in 2025, including solar panel installations. Wikipedia
Traditions & Culture
58. Historically, discipline was largely enforced by senior boys in the Sixth Form.
59. By the 18th century, a school “aristocracy” existed with titles like Captain of the School, Captain of the Boats, and Captain of the Eleven.
60. Many boys holding these titles were actual heirs to dukedoms and other titles.
61. Etonians are said to be instantly recognizable by their distinctive accent.
62. The school color is “Eton blue.”
63. Its school song is “Carmen Etonense.”
64. The school’s publication is called “The Chronicle.”
65. Eton runs more than 80 extracurricular societies.
66. Boys are traditionally referred to by year-group nicknames, such as “F Blockers” for Year 9s.
67. Recent school posts reference “Beaks” — Eton slang for teachers.
68. Students in the 19th century often carved their names into classroom desks.
69. Before 19th-century building expansions, many boys lived together in one long room under poor conditions. General History
Notable History & Anecdotes
70. The Duke of Wellington, an Old Etonian, is often (though probably apocryphally) quoted saying the Battle of Waterloo was won on Eton’s playing fields.
71. The remark is generally interpreted as meaning sports built the character and skills that made good soldiers.
72. Late in the 19th century, Eton launched the “Eton Mission,” a charitable project supporting London’s poor.
73. Students and alumni raised money to run a church and boys’ clubs in Hackney Wick as part of the Mission.
74. Many Old Etonians fought and died in both World Wars.
75. Memorials to the fallen exist in the school’s chapel and cloisters.
76. A statue of founder Henry VI stands in School Yard.
77. A famous 1754 painting of Eton College was made by Canaletto. Kiddle
Present-Day Life
78. Pastoral care and safeguarding at Eton are considered strong, meeting all regulatory standards.
79. Admission doesn’t require a particular faith, though the school’s ethos remains rooted in Anglican Christianity.
80. The school describes itself as best suited to academically able boys comfortable with a single-sex, boarding, Christian-influenced environment.
81. Eton holds an annual “Summer Half” showcasing school life through the summer term.
82. Eton hosts a School Concert in School Hall each summer, drawing parents, boys, and staff.
83. Eton’s Year 9s attend an annual social event with nearby Holyport College. FindMySchool
General/Reference Facts
84. Eton is often described as the most famous school in the world.
85. It remains one of the few all-boys, all-boarding schools left in the UK.
86. Alumni of Eton are known as “Old Etonians.”
87. Eton’s Department for Education URN (unique reference number) is 110158.
88. The school has produced numerous UK prime ministers over its history, including figures from the 18th century through modern times.
89. Eton’s rowing tradition is closely tied to its use of Dorney Lake, also an Olympic rowing venue.
90. The wall game and the field game are Eton’s own unique sports, distinct from standard football or rugby.
91. Eton’s library holdings include rare manuscripts and historical collections tied to its founding by Henry VI.
92. The school’s chapel remains a functioning place of worship for the student body.
93. Eton’s uniform traditionally includes tailcoats, a distinguishing visual marker of the school.
94. Financial aid schemes are designed to make an Eton education accessible beyond wealthy families alone.
95. Eton has weathered centuries of political upheaval, including the Wars of the Roses shortly after its founding.
96. The school continues to emphasize combining academic rigor with extracurricular breadth.
97. Global recruitment brings international students to Eton’s boarding houses alongside UK pupils.
98. Historic figures and modern royals alike have attended Eton over its long history.
99. The Provost and Fellows structure set up in 1440 still forms the backbone of school governance today.
100. Eton continues to be reviewed and ranked among the top-performing independent schools in England as of 2026. KiddleWikipedia