Kiddie Lit

[Kirstini]

Shaun:> The Secret Seven were more organised than the Five - they 
were a formal club. Peter, Janet, Colin, George (this George is 
male), Jack, Barbara, and Pam. Their dog was named Scamper (always 
had to be a dog) and Jack's 'horrid sister' Susie, was sometimes 
involved.> 

Oh yes. Horrid Susie, the most modest and un-selfconscious of EB's 
creation. "We've formed a secret society to rival yours. We're 
calling ourselves "The Famous Five", after the Famous Five books." 
Natch.
All this EB talk got me thinking. EB and Elinor M Brent-Dyer (the 
Chalet School series)were among the most influential kiddie-boarding-
school-story writes of JKR's childhood, weren't they? "Oh Caledonia" 
by Elsbeth Barker(adult lit) is worth reading as a satire on what 
happened to the non-popular, non-sporty girls in the Malory Towers 
(EB) books (Scottish, too!). However, I'm just wondering how much 
influence in this sort of depiction of boarding schools could be 
traced in HP. Have any of the all-knowing FAQ essayists written a 
post or six?  Could you point me to them?
Kirstini