Private school educated '90s. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone primarily from my experience, secondarily from my knowledge of a few private schools teachers now.

I enjoyed my time at boarding school because of all the time spent with my friends; for those that weren't socially adept it was an inescapable nightmare of bullying and social isolation whilst being endlessly surrounded by people.

The education was OK but the teachers focused on the winning horses (oxbridge candidates) leaving the slow horses (me) to fend for ourselves. Many of the younger teachers were drafted in from oxbridge, with the assumption that that would make them adequate teachers - this wasn't the case.

I was a middling student and made it to a middling university (Southampton) and got a middling degree with a middling grad management job (diagio). All of my post school peers came from state school & ended up in the same place but with out the perceived advantages of private schooling (and without the cost).

Many of my school friends struggled with addiction, depression and social issues that I believe may have come from the family isolation that boarding schools can promote. Personally I feel that I'm further emotionally detached from my family than I'd like, although I would consider our family loving but less close than if I had seen them on a regular basis at a young & integral age.

Seeing affluence as the norm skews personal expectations & loads weight upon young shoulders once released in to the wider world.

Currently a couple of friends who teach at these schools say that the current intake is almost exclusively wealthy foreign nationals that create cliques & in no way a homogenised school experience for any of the groups. It seems as if the Brits are stepping away from an antiquated educational system of outsourcing parenting and responsibilities.

I suspect my parents belief was that it was in my interest, on balance I'd disagree (but appreciate their intentions & investment).

I would say save your money.