meh, boarding is pretty good once you get your own room and also don't have to go to roll call in the morning. I have been boarding for 4 years now, and to be honest it isn't half bad. Just make sure that the food is okay, or check that you can get some good food down the street or something.
Not too sure, but in a few schools the younger years are pretty bad, but it seems to all be changing. which school do you think you would be going to???