So how do you try for Eton then?

[Newyearchanger]

I read that you can try common entrance at 13, but I also saw comments about putting a child's name down.... What does that mean?

Surely Eton has its admissions details on its website. I believe that children do a computerised screening test to weed out those who are truely hopeless several years before common entrance.

Eton or any private school is completely out of my family's league as the school fees are so high.

Www.etoncollege.com and then select admissions....

There's this site called Google which is really good when you are searching for stuff....

One does not simply 'try' for Eton, does one? Surely one is 'born' to attend Eton. Looking at some of the toff spawn pupils (I mean you, royal princes) and it is clear that academic achievement has little to do with it.

You go to a prep school, make sure the school gets boys into Eton so knows the deadlines, get expertly tutored for Common Entrance and be very clever, articulate and musical, sporty or gifted in some other way. Easier if you have money to pay the fees. More difficult if you want a scholarship. Start saving?

You have to register your DS no later than the month in which he turns 10 yrs 6 months. Pre-test at 11. CE for those with conditional offers June before entry.

Kings Scholarship, if trying, in the spring before entry. Seriously difficult.

They do ask about OE connexions, which may give a leg up to some. But it's straight competitive entry for the vast majority these days.

just skimmed through the prospectus. Fees are "£11k per half" - is that per half term? ie £66,000 per year?

No! Eton weird terminology. What everywhere else calls a term, they call a half.

Because at Eton, long ago, the school year was divided into two terms (hence Half as name for each) and no-one did the maths when they moved to a three term year.

Halfs are terms I.e. 3 halfs in a year. Oddly.

Thanks
Google and site only mention exams and scholarships not name putting down

This is why DS has to go to a prep school that knows how to get boys in to Eton. DIY is very difficult!

We live far away and wouldn't consider boarding until yr 9 but he loves academic work and school in general and might be able to get a scholarship maybe...bt this is only 1/10 th of fees

Scholarship is only 1/10th of fees?????

How can they get away with calling that a scholarship?

Still about 32 grand then

Scholarships about academic honour. In some schools they have zero cash value.

They offer bursaries for families who cannot pay full fees. That way clever boys from rich families don't get their fees paid & clever boys from less prosperous families do.

Contact the school if you are interested.

Eton and a few other top name schools have a generous bursary policy and a reasonably high % in comparison to other schools on bursaries.

I am sceptical....if the modern Eton is supposed to be a true meritocracy in the application process why do they still ask about connections to Eton on the registration form...that sort of question does not appear in most other senior school registration forms....nor does it in Oxbridge applications.......it sort of suggests there are still a certain % of places unofficially "reserved" for those who can answer, "my father and grandfather is an OE".

Most private school application forms ask whether there is any connection to the school, either past or present. I suppose it gives an indication of the level of interest.

i have looked at a few...and have not seen one that asks that question....but then perhaps it's only certain ones like Eton that do

These have been more 'local level' indies - not the same league as Eton.

yes obviously we are not applying to the right schools...

my point still stands though ...if an application process is truly meritocratic then you shouldn't be asking that question..it does suggest the information may be used in weighing up the application doesn't it ?

same point for mother's and father's occupation...

For 'occupation' they might be assisting if you can really afford it!

And I think other connection to a school can used for sorting out borderline candidates. If you've offered most of your places to the best academic performers, then have say 10 places left and 20 applicants on the next rung all if whom merit a place academically, then other criteria kick in, such as siblings, other connections to the school, points that came up at interview or reference or anything else valued in that particular school community.

"Tim, Tim, nice but dim" is far less likely to walk into a selective school these days.

The Girls' Day School Trust are unflashy & were direct grant schools and they ask for family connections. I put down that my DDs' grandmother had been to Blackheath High in the 1920s. I didn't bother to put my mother had failed to get in twice in the 40s & 50s.