11:42am Monday 6th September 2010
By Nafeesa Shan
AN East Lancashire teenager has been mixing with some of the country's most elite students after completing a scholarship to Eton.
Alex Hampson, 18, from Rawtenstall, has just come back to the area after completing his A-levels at the Windsor college.
The former Alder Grange Community and Technology School pupil, said studying at Eton was a culture shock .
He said: “I found the first term at Eton very challenging. It was nothing like I expected it to be. I had to learn how to manage my work load as, on a typical day, I would be in lessons from 8.30am until 6pm. Then I’d have three hours of homework each night on top of that.
“Getting used to ‘Eton language’ was tricky too – it took me a while to get into the habit of saying ‘divs’ instead of lessons and calling teachers ‘beaks’.
“That wasn’t the only challenge I faced, as I also had to get used to having my photograph taken by tourists when I was walking around the town. Mind you, I was dressed in our formal uniform of tails – and I’m sure it’s not something people see too often.”
Alex gained three A grades in Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry and the coveted A* in Maths and is going on to study medicine.
He won the place at Eton through a Kings Scholarship, which were founded by Henry VI in 1440. There are 130 places a year and reduced term fees apply.
Alex said: “I think most people think Eton is full of aspiring David Camerons and Boris Johnsons, but it isn’t like that at all. I was sharing a block with people from all over the world, who all had different backgrounds. Everyone is really accepting, and don’t judge each other.
“I have learnt so much from my time there, the amount of opportunities it presented was amazing, and it has given me a clear idea of what I want to do in future.”
Alex will now be attending Barts Medical School in London in September, after spending the summer helping out at Alder Grange with their new Sixth Form preparations, before it opens at the end of the year.
Alex added: “The main reason I applied for a scholarship at Eton was because Alder Grange didn’t have a sixth form at the time and there were no other schools or colleges in the area that I wanted to go to.
“But I will never forget my time at Eton – the people I met and the friends I was able to make.”
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