Entry to Eton

At any one time there are almost 1,300 boys in the School, almost all of whom joined the School at age 13. The School's entry system has evolved significantly during the past few decades. Up until the sixties, virtually every Etonian had been registered at birth on a 'House List', which guaranteed him a place in the School so long as he could pass the Common Entrance examination at or around age. In the interests of fairness and likewise of the School, we radically reformed the system. A boy could now be registered on the 'General List': if he came though a selection procedure when he was 10 or 11 he had a guaranteed place in the School, so long as he could pass the Common Entrance examination of course. The House List system remained in place, but accounted for only about half of our entrants.

A few years ago, and for the same reasons, we made further radical reforms.

A boy who now wishes to join the School at the age of 13 must be registered the Eton List, must come through a selection procedure when he is about 11, and must subsequently pass the Common Entrance examination. Throughout these reforms, we have continued to accept Scholars (King's Scholars, Junior Scholars Music Scholars) with virtually no preliminary registration. And in recent year we have been accepting a few Sixth Form Entrants with again virtually no preliminary registration.

THE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION

IN THE UNITED STATES

OF AMERICA

TEXT 1

EDUCATION IN THE USA