Eton
[key], town, Windsor and Maidenhead, central England, on the Thames River.
It is known chiefly for Eton College, largest and most famous
of the English public schools, founded with King's College, Cambridge, by
King Henry VI in 1440. Some of the buildings (chapel, lower school,
cloisters) date back to the 15th cent. Eton is unlike other English public
schools in that it does not have a prefect system. At Eton senior students
have a larger voice in the selection of student leaders. Another distinctive
feature at Eton is the tutorial system, by which each student has a personal
tutor. Many of England's most notable men were schooled at Eton. It
maintains a close alliance with King's College, Cambridge; scholarships are
offered between the institutions. The annual cricket match between Eton and
Harrow attracts much attention.
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