Eton College

The oldest item in the Eton College archives dates back to around 1091.

Oppidans, numbering more than 1,200, are students at Eton College who are housed in boardinghouses under the care of house masters. They typically come from England's wealthiest and most prestigious families, many of whom are aristocratic.

Eton College has been the alma mater of twenty British prime ministers, including Lord Curzon and Victor Cavendish. The school has a long history of educating future political leaders.

Eton College was established by King Henry VI on 12th September 1440.

The Foundation Charter of Eton College was issued on October 11, 1440 by King Henry VI, declaring his intention to establish a school and identifying the initial scholars.

Henry VI established Eton College as a charity school to provide free education to 70 underprivileged boys who would later attend King's College, Cambridge. The school was modeled after Winchester College, with some scholars transferred from there to Eton.

After Henry VI was deposed by King Edward IV, the new King annulled all grants to Eton College and removed most of its assets and treasures to St George's Chapel, Windsor.

Building at Eton College resumed around 1517 under the Provost Roger Lupton, with the construction of the big gatehouse in the west range of the cloisters.

In the early 1600s, Eton College expanded its curriculum by introducing the regular study of Greek alongside Latin. This addition further enriched the educational offerings at the institution.

The range between Lower School and Chapel at Eton College was completed in 1694 by Matthew Bankes, Master Carpenter of the Royal Works.

During the reign of George III, the Fourth of June celebration at Eton became a significant event in the school calendar. It was established as a major celebration with speeches, cricket matches, and a boat procession, in honor of King George III's birthday.

The Head Masters’ registers dating from 1791 provide a complete list of boys who have studied at Eton College since then.

The annual cricket match between Eton College and Harrow at Lord's Cricket Ground is the oldest fixture in the cricketing calendar, dating back to 1805. The match has been a significant event in London society.

The Pop Society, officially known as 'Eton Society', was created in 1811 by Charles Fox Townshend. It is a prestigious society comprising popular, well-regarded, confident, and able senior boys at Eton College.

In 1815, Eton College documented its football rules, becoming the first football code to be written down in the world.

The Eton Match, an annual cricket match between Eton and Winchester, started in 1826 as a two-day event with additional social activities like dinners, concerts, or dances.

In 1851, Mathematics was introduced as a new subject at Eton College. The decision was made due to the demands of Universities and the Army, emphasizing the importance of all boys having a proficient understanding of Mathematics before completing their schooling.

The Clarendon Commission of 1861 resulted in significant changes at Eton College, including improvements in accommodation, a wider curriculum, and better-qualified staff.

In 1863, the completion of New Schools marked the beginning of a program to build dedicated classrooms for different subjects at Eton College, replacing the old days when classes had over 150 boys.

The Public Schools Act of 1868 was passed as a result of the Public Schools Commission's investigation into the standards of education at nine schools, including Eton. The Act brought about significant changes to the timetable of lessons and the subjects of study, aiming to improve the quality of teaching and facilities provided.

In 1875, Eton College had established itself as a prestigious educational institution in England. The 19th century marked a period of growth and development for the college.

The Eton football team, known as Old Etonians F.C., won the FA Cup twice in 1879 and 1882. They reached the finals of the prestigious football competition six times.

By 1891, Eton College had over a thousand boys who were taught a wide variety of subjects in new purpose-built classrooms, laboratories, and lecture halls, reflecting the growth and development of the school.

In 1959, Eton College constructed a nuclear bunker to house the college's Provost and fellows, which is now used for storage.

The uniform worn at Eton College was gradually adopted and standardized towards the end of the nineteenth century. Until 1967, boys under the height of 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) wore a cropped jacket instead of a tailcoat.

In 1969, Dillibe Onyeama became the first black person to obtain his school-leaving certificate from Eton, but later faced racism and was banned from visiting the school after publishing a book about his experiences.

Michael McCrum succeeded Anthony Chenevix-Trench as the Head Master of Eton College in 1970. He retained private corporal punishment by masters but made changes to the caning procedures.

Eton initiated the Universities Summer School in 1982, providing an intensive residential course for boys and girls from state schools in the UK at the end of their first year in the Sixth Form.

Sebastian Doggart, a film director, claims to have been the last student to receive caning at Eton College in 1984, marking the end of this disciplinary practice.

In 1987, the rules for the Pop Society at Eton College were altered to change the process of electing new members. The new intake was not elected solely by the existing year and a committee of masters.

In 1990, Eton College discontinued the practice of registration at birth, which had allowed Old Etonians to secure admission for their sons, contributing to a decrease in the proportion of boys with familial ties to the school.

In 1992, it was calculated that tax breaks saved Eton College about £1,945 per pupil per year. This subsidy has declined since the 2001 abolition of state-funded scholarships to independent schools.

The Thames Valley Athletics Centre, controversially funded by a National Lottery grant, opened in April 1999, providing Eton College with full daytime use of the facilities.

The Eton Match tradition, which included the annual cricket match between Eton and Winchester, ceased to exist by 2001.

In 2005, Eton College was found to have breached the Competition Act 1998 along with fifty other leading independent schools in the country.

Until December 18, 2010, Eton College was an exempt charity under English law. However, under the Charities Act 2006, it became an excepted charity and fully registered with the Charities Commission, becoming one of the 100 largest charities in the UK.

Eton became the sole educational sponsor for Holyport College, a state boarding and day school that offers free education to pupils. The college is located in Holyport, Berkshire.

In 2019, Boris Johnson became the 20th British Prime Minister to have attended Eton College, following in the footsteps of previous Conservative leader David Cameron.

For the academic year 2021-2022, the fee for Eton College was £44,094. The sum is considerably lower for pupils on bursaries and scholarships.

Eton College Archives receive a diverse collection of records including letters, diaries, reminiscences, and school reports. These materials provide valuable insights into the lives of individuals who have attended Eton. The Archives welcome donations of relevant items such as diaries, correspondence, and photographs to enrich their collections.

The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) from Eton College participated in a training weekend at a British Army Training Camp in March 2024.