Oppidans

A King's Scholar is a foundation scholar (elected on the basis of good academic performance and usually qualifying for reduced fees) of one of certain public schools. These include Eton College, The King's School, Canterbury, The King's School, Worcester, Durham School and Westminster School, although at Westminster their name changes depending on whether the current monarch is male or female (under Elizabeth II, they are Queen's Scholars).

At Eton College, a King's Scholar (Colleger) is one who has passed the College Election examination and is awarded a Foundation Scholarship and admitted into a house, College, which is the oldest Eton house and consists solely of King's Scholars. There are, at any one time, around 70 King's Scholars, and they are distinguished by their black gowns. The other boys at the school, more than 1200 of them, are known as Oppidans.

This gown is said to be the basis of the nickname "Tugs", from the Latin "gens togata", i.e. "toga'd people", although this particular slice of Eton argot has been less often heard in recent years.

As there are 70 King's Scholars, and they are in College for five years, about 14 are admitted per year (a "block" in Eton argot), and share most aspects of school life with the Oppidans (boys who have entered Eton via Common Entrance) including lessons and school sport. They eat all their meals in College Hall, which has seen many distinguished diners in its long history including Elizabeth I. One other difference is that Collegers usually play the wall game in the winter term for the full five years, while Oppidans tend to play it only in their last year.

Collegers live in the central area of the school, either overlooking or in close proximity to School Yard, where both Eton College Chapel and Lupton's Tower are situated, as well as the Founder's Statue. The boarding house in which Collegers live includes New Buildings and Chamber. Chamber, the older section, includes rooms which look out onto School Yard, while New Buildings is on the reverse side and contains the majority of the boys' rooms.

A Foundation Scholarship used to provide a full and unconditional waiver of all the school fees. But since the 1960s the scholarship has been increasingly subject to means testing. As of 2009, a scholarship now only guarantees an automatic remission of 10% of the usual fees. Part or all of the remainder may also be waived, dependent on financial circumstances.

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