I've read some Blyton, along with the other Edwardian children's book author whose name I cannot remember now but is in the same vague area. I also read Tom Brown's School Days (wisely skipping the first chapter, per the introduction, to get to the good parts), and to be honest my view of public school life was also colored by watching "If....." which gives it altogether another spin.

Harry Potter is an anomaly in that being sent off to boarding school is an escape from a horrible family situation. Weasley has a support network in the form of family there, and Hermione seems to be just fine without her parents around, but you gotta wonder about all the other poor 7 years olds who had to live far away from home for the first time...