"I feel that this control of parents, this almost Compulsory Schooling has become like something out of Russia, where parents are being taken to court and criminalised if they do not comply with the State's wishes..and it is deeply worrying."

I think that's called the rule of law. If you don't like it - change the law. Or perhaps run for the school board - or whatever it's called in England.

This is also a form of education for kids. They get to learn that there are laws that need to be obeyed. And if you DON'T like the law then there are ways to change them. And if you aren't willing to do that then you'll just be looked at as a whiner.