'this almost Compulsory Schooling has become like something out of Russia?'

I guess your attitude to 'Edukashon' or learning didn't seem to equip you with much actual understanding.

1870 Elementary Education Act (The Forster Act) introduced COMPULSORY universal education for children aged 5-13 but left enforcement of attendance to school boards.

1880 Education Act (The Mundella Act) tightened up school attendance laws.

1891 Education Act elementary education to be provided free.

1917 Lewis Report proposed school leaving age of 14 with no exemptions, followed by attendance for at least 8 hours a week or 320 hours a year at day continuation classes up to age 18.
1918 Education Act (The Fisher Act) implemented recommendations of 1917 Lewis Report. Wide-ranging act extending education provision. School leaving age to be raised to 14 and all young workers to be given right of access to day release education (not immediately implemented - the leaving age was eventually raised by the 1921 Act).
ETC....

As Wesley said
'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.'