Zuzanna Kościuk

The most famous public schools in Great Britain

When we hear of public schoolspublic schools (public school)public schools, we think of schools that are free for all. In Great Britain, however, a public school is a fee‑charging institutionfee‑charging institutionfee‑charging institution. In historical times, the word “public” referred to schools that were open to pupils regardless ofregardless ofregardless of localitylocalitylocality, denominationdenominationdenomination, or their fathers’ profession. It didn’t mean that they were free. Let’s have a look at some of the most famous public schools in the UK.

Charterhouse

Charterhouse used to be a single‑sex boys’ schoolsingle‑sex boys’ schoolsingle‑sex boys’ school but is now changing into a school with full co‑education.co‑educationco‑education. The school is famous for its historical campuscampuscampus which is 400 years old. The school featuresfeatures (feature) (verb)features amazing sports facilitiessports facilities (sport facility)sports facilities such as golf and tennis courts and even a hockey pitchhockey pitchhockey pitch. In 2020, more than 60% of Charterhouse’s students had the highest results on their A‑levels examsA‑level exams (A‑level exam)A‑levels exams. To apply, you need to take a pre‑testpre‑testpre‑test and come for an interviewinterviewinterview with the school’s staffstaffstaff.

Eton

Eton is one of the four remainingremaining (remain)remaining all‑boys schoolsall‑boys schools (all‑boys school)all‑boys schools in Great Britain. It’s got many famous graduategraduates (graduate)graduate such as Prince William, Prince Harry, and 19 prime ministersprime ministers (prime minister)prime ministers. The school is over 500 hundred years old, but it is developing all the time. Its newest additionadditionaddition is The Tony Little Centre for Innovation and Research which focuses on neuroscienceneuroscienceneuroscience research and new technologies. The school features outstanding sports facilities such as a 25‑metre pool as well as football, cricketcricketcricket, and hockey pitchespitches (pitch)pitches. To apply, you need to take two pre‑tests and come for an interview with the school’s staff.

Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury is a co‑educational boarding schoolboarding schoolboarding school. It was establishedwas established (establish)was established in 1522. The school celebrates its history while always looking to make students’ experiences as good as possible. Shrewsbury’s most famous graduates is Charles Darwin (a British scientist who established that all speciesspeciesspecies have common ancestorscommon ancestors (common ancestor)common ancestors. The school’s campus features expansive gardens and sports facilities such as a sports hall with an adjunctadjunctadjunct swimming pool. To apply, you need to take a pre‑test and come for an interview with the school’s staff.

Harrow

Harrow is an all‑boys boarding school. It was foundedwas founded (found)was founded in 1572 and remains one of the most prestigiousprestigiousprestigious schools in Great Britain. The school’s campus covers over 300 acresacres (acre)acres and features conservation areas,conservation areas (conservation area)conservation areas, a golf course, and a working farm. In 2020, more than two‑thirds of Harrow’s students received As on their A‑levels. To apply, you need to take a pre‑test, Harrow’s own admission testadmission testadmission test, and come for an interview with the school’s staff.

Winchester

Winchester is one of the oldest single‑sex boys’ schools in Great Britain. The school’s campus was established in 1382 and has existed in the same location for over 6 centuries. It features many buildings of national importanceof national importanceof national importance. All of them are still in use. The campus covers 100 acres and offers access to formal gardensformal gardens (formal garden)formal gardens and the River Itchen. To apply, you need to take a pre‑test and come for an interview with the school’s staff.

Rugby

Rugby is a co‑educational school that was founded in 1567. It is widely knownwidely knownwidely known as the birthplace of rugby football. The school takes ontakes on (take on) (verb)takes on day and boarding students. Rugby’s campus features a number of libraries, historical buildings, and more than 50 courts and pitches for sports. In 2019, more than 60% of Rugby’s students received As on their A‑levels. To apply, you need to take a pre‑test, an admission test, and come for an interview with the school’s staff.

Westminster

Per its nameper its namePer its name, the school is situated close to the famous Westminster Abbey. The school’s facilitiesfacilities (facility)facilities include a brand new sports centre, science centre, music centre, design studios, and its very own theatre. Westminster’s students consistentlyconsistentlyconsistently achieve top scorestop scores (top score)top scores on their A‑levels which makes Westminster the top‑performingtop performingtop‑performing school in the UK. To apply, you need to take a pre‑test, tests in Math and English, or take the scholarshipscholarshipscholarship exam. In all cases, you also need to come for an interview with the school’s staff.

1 Źródło: Zuzanna Kościuk, licencja: CC BY-SA 3.0.