Happiest boarding school: Repton, Derbyshire

Repton won Happiest Boarding School at the inaugural Muddy Stilettos Best Schools Awards 2022, and for good reason. All the teachers live in the village, meaning they’re always on hand and won’t miss a thing, and the kids can get on with making the most of those stellar sports facilities and progressive curriculum.

Best-kept secret: Framlingham College, Suffolk 

As public schools go, Framlingham College punches well above its weight on every level. It offers a strong musical, artistic and sporting offering, parents can visit boarders at any time (no strict restrictions here), and – fun fact – it has a breathtaking view of Ed Sheeran’s titular Castle on the Hill, Framingham Castle.

Strong all-rounder prep: Holmewood House Prep, Kent

It might be set in rural Kent, but this Tunbridge Wells prep has all the benefits of a high-flying city school as well as expansive bucolic grounds. With equal levels of success across the arts, academia and sport, this is a quintessential all-rounder of a Prep school, and well worth a look if you’re considering full board, weekly boarding or flexi boarding.

School meals champion: Repton Prep, Derbyshire

Good grub is a must for any great boarding school, and the kitchen at Repton Prep has scooped a couple of awards for its food (a Tatler Silver Spoon and LACA School Chef of the Year finalist), thanks to its mouth-watering menus and creative ways of enticing the children to step out of their comfort zone. Head Chef Marcin Hondurek leads a smiley team who load plates up with freshly-cooked dishes from local suppliers to fuel those ever-expanding brains.

Fantastic facilities: Millfield Prep, Somerset

Riding, swimming, hockey, music, sculpture, acting… the list goes on! Whatever your child is into, they’ll be surrounded by oodles of opportunity thanks to the stellar facilities and coaches offered by this Glastonbury prep. Not sure what they love yet? No hothouse environment here: everyone is given the chance to discover their passion at their own pace.

Gorgeous grounds: Witham Hall, Lincolnshire

How’s this for a room with a view? The gentle honey-coloured stone of the buildings and gravel driveway are surrounded by beautifully tended gardens, and the grounds are home to a veg patch, orchard, wooded area, and a brand new tree house for 2022. Even the second eleven cricket pitch sits within a walled garden! In a word, idyllic.

Cosy boarding houses: Farleigh Prep, Hampshire

Many schools claim to be a home away from home, but Farleigh really hits the mark with its dorm rooms. They are beautifully furnished with heavy, interlined curtains and comfy beds, not to mention brilliant views of the grounds and plenty of room for personalisation. Farleigh also scooped our Best Pastoral Care Award for 2022, so you know kids are comfortable and well taken care of.

Music specialists: King’s Ely, Cambridgeshire

Unsurprisingly for a chorister school, music runs strong at King’s Ely. Pupils move around this lovely cathedral city in happy little gaggles and their music-making fills the quaint streets and elegant cloisters. There are choirs, ensembles and orchestras galore, and over a third of children take individual music or singing lessons on top of the curriculum.

Excellent water sports: Royal Hospital School, Suffolk

From mucking around on the water to high octane competitive sailing, this co-ed boarding and day school overlooking the Stour Estuary is the place to be for anyone with a passion for a life on the ocean wave. There’s a training centre at Alton Water reservoir, a five-minute walk from the school, and all Year 7s are taken through the Stages 1 and 2 of the RYA Youth Sailing Scheme.

Still on the hunt for a boarding school that works for you? Take a look at our Best Schools Guide for reviews across the Muddy counties.