Immense, I am always encouraging people to try for Eton as I’m convinced it is arguably the greatest school in the world. I hasten to add it does not mean other schools are inferior, it’s just that Eton ticks all my boxes and idea of a great school. The teaching and facilities it offer the boys are second to none. In fact, the whole Eton environment is perfectly conducive to learning.
I clearly remember during my interview (parent) with the Head Master some twelve years ago, I was asked why did I pick Eton for my son. I replied that I understood the teaching was great and I knew the facilities it offered were ‘out of this world’. The impassive look on the Head’s face when he starred back at me seemed to say, ‘You ain’t seen nothing yet’. Years later, I discovered he was of course right.
The great thing about Eton is that the School NEVER tells the boys what its past pupils had achieved in life or what is expected of them when they finally leave. The boys who are there would have already known what great men had passed through those same gates of the School. Rather like you telling your sons now about Eton, they would have learnt from various sources of the many great achievements of Old Etonians. And I’m not talking only about prime ministers. Etonians are therefore, highly inspired. They know that it is perfectly possible for them to achieve similarly, be it in politics, business, science, journalism, entertainment, the judiciary, the armed forces, the lot really.
From high inspirations come high competition. Etonians will compete in anything and everything. The School encourages this competitive mindset. Often, prizes and rewards are given to winners but non-winners are given a pat on the back, so to speak, for competing and are encouraged to try even harder next time. So it is perfectly normal that you win some and you lose some and boys take both winning and losing with equal measures.
Boys therefore, need to work hard under their own steam lots of the time because they know competition will come from the most unexpected corners. They cannot rest on their laurels. The teachers (Masters) are there in the classroom and outside it to offer help and advice. Almost all Masters live in the school and its surroundings. Classes are small compared to state schools, of course. In the higher forms, sometimes as small as 4 or 5 boys according to subject taken. Boys are treated with respect as young adults and they are streamed according to ability. EW (homework) is often set and is expected to be handed in on time. Equally, the work is marked and returned to boys by Masters within 24 - 36 hours to indicate seriousness and respect for boys’ work. Again, good work is rewarded with a ‘Show-Up’. Yes, the whole teaching style is more akin to a university and it requires tremendous self-discipline on the part of the boy. University life later on will be second nature to an Old Etonian.
On the basis that you said your DS is quite laid back, needs lots of pushing, not sporty, never encountered a musical instrument, etc. he would be totally sunk at Eton I’m afraid. Not too different at Harrow or any of the major public schools too, sorry to say. Better be blunt and face the reality than to give you false hope to lead you nowhere. But again, your DS is only 10 years old, what do you expect? He can CERTAINLY change within the next couple or so years to be a strong candidate for Eton by taking up sports, have more self-discipline, be more inspired and the desire to achieve. Good chess is definitely a plus but Eton isn’t too hot on chess. Parents can do wonders to influence a child to do all the above. Perhaps you might want to contemplate how you may help?