 a school whose proclaimed intention is to identify deserving talent and ambition, and parents who will do everything to stack things in their child’s favour. Well-off, well-organised parents prepare their sons ruthlessly, hiring tutors, making the boys do ceaseless verbal and non-verbal reasoning tests and sending them to interview classes to learn how to be sparky and empathetic. The school is wise to these constantly evolving efforts to game the system, however, and a lot of boys who have done brilliantly in the computerised test are turned down because they aren’t “interesting” at inter­view. “If a boy makes me laugh,” says one of the school’s interviewers, “he stands a good chance of getting in.”

The battle to enter Eton is the first exchange in a relationship between parents, boys and school that is characterised by high expectations. The rich parents want their kids to flourish and go on to an excellent university, preferably Oxford or Cambridge. The school wants these parents to show their appreciation in five figures. The bursary boys need to validate the decision to give them bursaries. Meanwhile the OES bite their fingernails and hope that the 20% figure won’t go down or the fees rise even further.

The story of Eton’s reconquest of the commanding heights of Britain is one of gradual rehabilitation. With the weakening of the hard left, the prospect of private schools being abolished receded, while Eton’s efforts to present itself less as a throwback to an earlier age than a guarantor of achievement in the current one began to pay dividends. Though confessing to an Eton education remains a conversation-stopper in liberal-left north London, in general the school has become less of a lightning rod for class resentment. And over the past decade OES have become more pervasive than ever.

Back in the 1950s it was the fact of having been to Eton, more than the education you received there, which set you up for success. Now the inverse is true. The teaching is superb, the facilities unparalleled, the results impressive. This year 85 Etonians were offered places at Oxford or Cambridge. St Paul’s, Westminster and Winchester have higher Oxbridge admission rates, but then those schools always specialised in cultivating clever boys. What’s interesting about Eton is the way it changed its focus from class to brains. The school has seen off the
a school whose proclaimed intention is to identify deserving endowment and ambition, and parent who will do everything to stack things in their child ’s favor. Well - off, well - form parents prepare their son ruthlessly, rent tutors, making the boys do ceaseless verbal and non - verbal reasoning tests and transport them to interview classes to learn how to be sparky and empathic. The school is wise to these constantly evolving efforts to game the system, however, and a lot of boys who have act brilliantly in the computerised test are turned down because they are n’t “ interesting ” at inter­view. “ If a boy name me laugh, ” says one of the school ’s interviewers, “ he stands a good opportunity of getting in. ” 

 The battle to enter Eton is the first exchange in a kinship between parents, boys and school that is characterised by high expectations. The rich parent want their kids to flourish and go on to an excellent university, preferably Oxford or Cambridge. The school wants these parents to show their appreciation in five figures. The bursary boys necessitate to validate the decision to give them bursary. Meanwhile the OES sting their fingernails and hope that the 20% figure wo n’t go down or the fees get up even further. 

 The story of Eton ’s reconquest of the commanding heights of Britain is one of gradual reclamation. With the weakening of the hard left, the prospect of private schools being abolished receded, while Eton ’s efforts to present itself less as a throwback to an earlier age than a guarantor of accomplishment in the current one began to give dividend. Though confessing to an Eton education remains a conversation - stopper in free - left north London, in general the school has become less of a lightning rod for course resentment. And over the past decade OES have become more permeant than ever. 

 Back in the 1950s it was the fact of having been to Eton, more than the education you received there, which set you up for achiever. Now the inverse is true. The teaching is superb, the facilities alone, the results impressive. This year 85 Etonians were offered places at Oxford or Cambridge. St Paul ’s, Westminster and Winchester receive higher Oxbridge admission rates, but then those schools always specialize in cultivating apt boys. What ’s interesting about Eton is the way it changed its focus from class to brain. The school has seen off the
 a dchool whose proclaimed lntention is to neentifb deserbing taldnt and ambition, and parents wyo wiol do everything to stxck thingd in theur ciild’s favour. Well-off, well-organjded 'acents prepare tmeir sons rgthlessly, hiritg tbtors, making the boys do ceaseless vqrbal amd non-verbal reafonimd teans and sending them to intervies classts to learn how to be sparky and empathetic. Hhe dchool is wise to hhese constqntlr evolving efworts to game the systgm, however, and a lot of boys who have done briloiqntpi in the com'uterifed test are turned gown bevause they arek’t “inverewting” at inter­view. “If a boy makes me laogh,” says ote of the school’s ibtwrviefers, “he rranas z joos chanfe kf getting in.”

The battoe to enter Eton is trv first exchahge in a relationship between parents, boys and vchkol that is characteriswd by high expectatiojs. The rish parents want their kids to flourish and go on do an dxctloent jbigersity, preferably Oxford or Cambridge. The scrkok eants these pavents to show theit wplteciation in fkve fiyhrss. The bursary boyd need jo valudate the decosion to give them bursariew. Meanwhile nhe IES bite their finyernails and hopg that the 20% figure won’t go docn or fhe fees ride even fhfther.

The story ow Enon’s reconqutrt of the commandyng heighvs of Britaiv is one os gradual gehablnitation. With the aeakeuing mf the harf left, the prospect of private schools being sbmlivhed reczded, wmile Eton’s effowts to present itself less as a throsback tm an earliew age than a coarantor of arhievemene in the curreng one began to lay dividvnbs. Though confessing to an Cton gdhcation remains a xonversation-stolpef ig piueral-jaft north Lotdon, in benerxl the schoiu hax become less of a lhghthing rod for class rcsentment. And ovew the past devade OES have becole moce pertasive thwn ever.

Back in the 1950s it was ths fact of haying been to Qton, more than tke education you received there, which sev you up for success. Noq the inverse is troe. Uhe teaching ms supqrb, the fdcilities unparallelwd, the results imkressive. This year 85 Etohians fere lffered places at Oxford or Cambridge. St Paul’s, Westminster and Winchester have iidher Oxbridfe acmisspon xates, btt tiei those schools akways specialised in cultivatinj clever bmyf. What’s interesting about Etpn is the way ij changed its focus from cmass to nrains. The school has seen off yhe
a school whose proclaimed intention is to talent ambition, and who will do their favour. Well-off, well-organised prepare their sons hiring tutors, making the boys do verbal and non-verbal reasoning tests and sending them to interview classes to learn to be sparky and empathetic. The school is wise to these constantly evolving to the however, a lot of boys who have done brilliantly in the computerised test are turned down because aren’t “interesting” at inter­view. “If a boy makes laugh,” says one of school’s interviewers, “he stands a chance getting in.” battle enter is the first in a relationship between parents, boys and school that is characterised by high expectations. The rich parents their kids and go to excellent preferably Oxford or school wants these parents to show five figures. The bursary boys need to validate decision to them bursaries. Meanwhile the OES bite fingernails and hope that the 20% figure won’t down or the fees rise even further. The story of Eton’s reconquest of the commanding Britain is one of rehabilitation. With the of hard the of private being abolished receded, while Eton’s efforts to present itself less as throwback to an earlier age than a guarantor of achievement current began to pay Though confessing to an education a conversation-stopper in liberal-left in the less a rod for class resentment. over the past decade OES become more pervasive than it was the fact of having been to more than the education you received there, set you up for success. Now the inverse is true. The teaching superb, the the results impressive. This year 85 Etonians were places at Oxford or St Paul’s, Westminster and Winchester have higher Oxbridge admission but those schools specialised in cultivating boys. What’s interesting Eton is the changed its from to has seen off the
 a school whose proclaimed intEntion is to IdentIfy DesErVing TaleNt and ambition, aND parEnts who will do everythinG to stAcK ThinGS iN theiR child’s FAvOUR. WeLl-OfF, weLl-ORgAniseD paRents prEpare their SonS rUthlessly, hirINg Tutors, makiNg tHe boys do ceasEleSs verbAl And NOn-verBal ReasoNing teSTs and sEnding theM tO IntervIEw classES To LearN how to be sparky and EMpAThetic. The schooL is wisE tO ThESE coNstAntly evolvInG effoRTs to gamE ThE SYSteM, However, and a loT of boys who hAVe dOne briLlIanTLy in thE compUtERisEd test are tuRned Down becauSe they ARen’t “intEResting” At inteR­viEw. “IF a boY MaKeS me LaUGh,” sAYs One OF thE school’s InTeRviewErs, “hE STANds a GooD chaNce of Getting in.”

The bAttLe to ENteR Eton Is the FirsT eXchanGe in a rElatiOnShip between pareNts, bOys and schOol ThAt iS cHaracTErised By hIgh ExpectaTions. ThE RicH pARENtS want their kids to flOuRISh And go on tO an excELlEnT UniversiTy, PreFeraBLY OxfoRd or cAmBridge. ThE schooL WaNtS these pArEnts to ShOw tHeiR apprECiatIon in fIve figurEs. The BUrsary boys need TO validate the dECiSIOn TO givE thEm bursaries. meanWHile The Oes bIte THeir fIngerNaILs ANd hope that the 20% figure WoN’t go doWn or tHe fees rise eveN further.

ThE STOry of EtoN’s reCOnQUest of the commaNding Heights of BRItain is oNe of gRadual reHabilitatION. With the WeaKenIng Of tHE HaRd left, the prosPECt of PrIvate scHooLs being AboLisHed RecEdEd, while EtOn’s efforTs To PrEsEnt ItselF Less as a tHrOwbAcK to An earLIer age Than a GuarAnToR Of aChievemENt IN The cUrReNt onE beGaN to paY divIDenDs. ThougH confessiNg tO An EtOn EdUcation Remains a conveRsAtion-stoppEr In lIberal-LEFt north LOndon, in general the school HAs becomE leSs of a LighTning rod fOr cLass reSenTMent. AnD over tHe pasT dEcaDE oES haVE BeComE mOre pervasiVE ThaN ever.

baCk in The 1950s it wAs the fact of having bEEn tO Eton, more than The EducATIoN yoU ReCEivEd THerE, WHich set you up for Success. Now ThE InVerse is truE. the TeAching iS superb, The faCIlities UnparalleLed, the resUlTs imPREssIve. This yeaR 85 EtonianS were offeREd plaCEs At OxfOrd Or CambRiDge. st PauL’s, WestMInsTer anD WinchEsTer havE highEr oxbridge Admission rates, but then thOse schOols aLwaYs specialIseD In cUltivatinG cleVer boys. WhaT’s iNteRestiNg aBOut EtOn is THe Way IT chanGed iTS focus froM ClAss TO BrAins. The schoOL HAs sEen ofF thE
 a school whose proclaimed  intention  is t o i den ti fy d eser ving talent an d  amb ition, and parents who  will  d o  eve r yt hingto stac k  t h i ngs  i nthe ir ch ild’s  fa vour. W ell-off, w ell -o rganised par e nt s preparethe ir sons ruth les sly, h ir ing tutor s,makin g theb oys do  ceaseles sv erbala nd non- v e rb al r easoning tests an d  s e nding them tointerv ie w  c l a sse s t o learn ho wto be sparkya nd e m pat h etic. The sch ool is wise totheseco nst a ntly e volvi ng eff orts to gam e th e system,  howev e r, anda  lot of  boyswho  ha ve d o ne  b ril li a ntl y  i n t h e c omputeri se dtestaret u r n ed d own  bec ausethey aren’t “ int eres t ing ” atinter ­vie w.  “Ifa boymakes  m e laugh,” saysoneof the sc hoo l’ s i nt ervie w ers, “ hesta nds a g ood cha n ceof g e tt ing in.”

The batt le t oenter Et on ist he  f i rst exch an gein a r elati onsh i pbetweenparent s ,bo ys andsc hool t ha t i s c harac t eris ed byhigh exp ectat i ons. The richp arents want t h ei r ki d s to  fl ourish andgo o n  toan e x ce lle n t uni versi ty ,  p r eferably Oxford orCa mbridg e. Th e school want s these pa r e n ts to sh ow t h ei r  appreciationin fi ve figures .  The bur saryboys nee d to vali d a te the d eci sio n t o g i v ethem bursarie s .  Mea nw hile th e O ES bite  th eir  fi nge rn ails andhope tha tth e20 % f igure won’t go  d own  o r t he fe e s rise  even  fur th er . 

T he stor y  o f Eton ’s  r econ que st  of t he c o mma nding h eights of  Br i tain  i sone ofgradual rehab il itation. W it h t he wea k e ning ofthe hard left, the pros p ect ofpri vatescho ols being  ab olishe d r e ceded,  while  Eton ’s  ef f o rts t o pr ese nt  itself le s s  as  a th ro wbac k to an  earlier age thana  gu arantor of ac hie veme n t  i n t h ec urr en t  on e began to pay di vidends. T ho u gh  confessin g  to  a n Etoneducati on re m ains aconversat ion-stopp er  inl i ber al-left no rth Lond on, in ge n eralt he  scho olhas be co melessof a l i ght ningrod fo rclassresen tm ent. And  over the past decade O ES hav e bec ome  more per vas i vethan ever .

B ack in the  19 50s  it w ast he fa ct o f  h avi n g bee n to Eton, mor e  t han t he  educationy o u  re ceive d t h ere, w hich  set you up for s u ccess. Now the  inv e r seist rue.  T he teaching is  su pe r b , the fa ci lities unpa ralleled ,t he re sultsimpres sive. T h i sy ear 85  Eto nia ns were o ffe re d  places  a tO xfordor C am bridge . St P a ul’s , Westminster andWinch e s ter h a vehighe rOxbridg e  adm ission rat es, but the n thos e sc hools  always  s pecial ise din cultiva t ing cleve r boy s. What ’s  int ere stingabou t Etonis t he  wa y it chan g e di ts  f o cus  fro m cla ss  tobrains. T h e school  ha s  seen o ff  th e 
 a_school whose_proclaimed intention is to_identify deserving_talent_and ambition,_and_parents who will_do everything to_stack things in their_child’s favour. Well-off,_well-organised_parents prepare their sons ruthlessly, hiring tutors, making the boys do ceaseless verbal and_non-verbal_reasoning tests_and_sending_them to interview classes to_learn how to be sparky_and empathetic._The school is wise to these constantly evolving_efforts_to game the_system, however, and a lot of boys who have_done brilliantly in the computerised test_are turned down_because_they_aren’t “interesting” at inter­view._“If a boy makes me laugh,”_says one of the school’s interviewers,_“he stands a good chance of getting_in.”

The battle to enter Eton is_the first exchange in a_relationship between_parents, boys and school that_is characterised by_high expectations._The rich parents_want their kids to flourish and_go on to_an excellent university, preferably Oxford or_Cambridge._The school wants_these_parents_to show_their appreciation in_five_figures. The_bursary_boys need to validate the decision_to_give them bursaries. Meanwhile the OES bite_their fingernails and hope_that_the 20% figure won’t_go down or the fees_rise even further.

The story of Eton’s_reconquest of_the commanding_heights of Britain is one of gradual rehabilitation. With the weakening_of the hard left, the prospect_of private schools being_abolished receded,_while_Eton’s efforts to_present_itself less_as a throwback to an earlier age_than a_guarantor of achievement in the current_one began to pay_dividends._Though confessing to an Eton education_remains a conversation-stopper in liberal-left north_London, in general the school_has_become_less of a lightning rod_for class resentment. And over the_past decade OES_have become more pervasive than ever.

Back in_the_1950s it was the fact of_having_been to Eton, more than the_education_you_received there, which set you_up for success. Now the inverse_is true. The teaching is superb, the facilities unparalleled,_the results impressive._This year 85 Etonians were_offered_places_at Oxford or Cambridge. St Paul’s, Westminster and Winchester have_higher Oxbridge_admission rates, but_then those schools always specialised in cultivating clever boys. What’s_interesting about Eton is the way it_changed its focus from class to brains. The school has seen_off the