Making the first eight
Eton
Founded 1440
Motto Floreat Etona (May Eton flourish)
Fees £14,698 per term
A GIANT among schools (literally, with almost 1,300 boys and a new boarding house—the 26th—being planned). Academically impressive despite headlines about reduced Oxbridge successes, but a broader church than people think. ‘Eton’ is now undeniably a hindrance on any Oxbridge application, but the statistics belie the large numbers choosing top US universities instead, as at many leading schools.
The current young head, Simon Henderson, has made decisions that haven’t been universally popular, but he has put diversity and inclusion high on his agenda, with plans to double the number of 100% bursaries and and a partnership to open three selective sixth-form colleges. Eton is far from the comic-strip pastiche of a hide-out for junior viscounts (although you still get a few of those).
‘As at Eton, quirky traditions abound: the Long Ducker race and school songs at the Royal Albert Hall’
Sports-wise, it remains better at rowing than perhaps anything else. There’s also its own games of Fives and the much-loved Field Game, plus a vast new pool complex opening soon and gym redevelopment hard on its heels.
Where Eton dazzles is group singing , boys in gold lamé leotards nailing or the famous Eton pastiche of .
