Has the school preserved its importance in the British education system that it had, before World War II

Like any old educational establishment, Eton has gone though different periods. But to many people, the name still has a magic ring. When I go to some international conference and say that I work at Eton, I immediately feel interest and respect. Eton traditions are not about ossified conservatism. The school uses modern, state-of-the-art teaching methodologies, but the most important thing of course arethe moral principles and rules of gentlemanly behavior that are part of the education process.

Eton College was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI. The College originally had 70 King's Scholars or 'Collegers' who lived in the College and were educated free, and a small number of 'Oppidans' who lived in the town of Eton and paid for their education.

Eton is a full boarding school committed to:

- promoting the best habits of independent thought, learning, and research in its boys;

- providing a broadly based education designed to enable all boys to discover their strengths, and to make the most of their talents within Eton and beyond;

- engendering respect for individuality, difference, and the contribution that each boy makes to the life of the school and the community;

- supporting pastoral care that nurtures physical health, emotional maturity and spiritual richness;

- and fostering self-confidence, enthusiasm, perseverance, tolerance and integrity Today it is a secondary school (a 'high school' in the American sense) for approxi­mately 1,290 boys between the ages of 13 and 18, all of whom are boarders. There are now some 1,280 boys in the School aged between 13 and 18, most of them resident in the United Kingdom but with some from overseas: rather more than 1,200 Oppidans in addition to the 70 Collegers. Almost 20% of the boys in the School receive financial assistance by means of scholarships and bursaries. Every boy at Eton is a boarder in a House of about 50. Boarding requires a boy to take responsibility for his own life and to get on with a community of other people. It also provides him with a secure base and a focus of loyalty in a very large school, as well as an opportunity for exercising responsibility and leadership in a community. Each House is presided over by a House Master, who is responsible for the academic and personal welfare of his boys and for dealings with their parents. The House Master is assisted by a 'Dame', who looks after the health of the boys and the domestic affairs of the House. Every boy also has an academic 'Tutor', whom he sees regularly, and has access to a range of medical, pastoral, and counseling services.

Eton is a religious foundation and religion continues to play a central role in the life of the community. Although the vast majority of boys belong to the Church of England, boys with many different religious affiliations attend Eton, and wherever possible we provide facilities to allow boys to practice and pursue: their own beliefs.