I wonder exactly where Lizzie tried to go to school and send a daughter. I say this because I had similar experiences to Don Firth... many good teachers, and a few bad ones. When my son entered school, we found the same thing.
I also know a woman whose mother remarried and moved to Ireland. As a treat, each of her kids got to spend a Summer with grandma, and the oldest daughter decided to spend a whole year there and enroll in high school--- she lasted one semester! She couldn't take the apathy, behavior problems and generally low standards.
   Now, I would not even begin to assert that this is indicative of what one might find in the UK... but I'm sure there must be problem areas, just as there are in some areas of the US.