Let girls into the Eton all- boys’ club
EDUCATION Secretary Gavin Williamson is pressing Eton to allow girls, admitting it would be “a great step forward”.
Mr Williamson, who went to Raincliffe Comprehensive School in Scarborough, told BBC Radio 4’ s Today programme: “I would be very much in favour of Eton taking girls.
“I think that would be a good step forward.”
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said single- sex schools were an important part of the education system but the Government would support Eton if it decided to change.
Diverse
He added: “We have said consistently single- sex schools are an important of our diverse education system and it is right that parents have the opportunity to make decisions about the type of school that their children attend.
“If Eton were to become a mixed- sex school we would obviously support that decision but it is a matter for Eton as an independent school to set their own admission criteria.”
Boris Johnson, David Cameron, Harold Macmillan and William Gladstone are among the 20 prime ministers to have attended the school.
Commons Leader Mr Rees- Mogg, who also went to Eton, in Windsor, told MPs: “Much though I might like my own daughter to go there, I think it works very well as it is, thank you very much.”
Eton was founded in 1440 by Henry VI to teach poor youths Latin.
The college’s celebrated old boys include Princes William and Harry, Bear Grylls, Hugh Fearnley- Whittingstall, Hugh Laurie and Archbishop of Canterbury
Justin Welby.
The £ 42,501- a- year school is one of just four boys- only boarding schools remaining in the UK, along with Harrow, Radley and Winchester. The remaining public schools, Rugby, Charterhouse, Westminster and Shrewsbury have all become co- educational over the last 50 years.