It's a lot like that here but exceptions are made. The majority have to be funded privately or sponsored at Primary and Secondary level.
One of the big issues here is how third level education is paid for. By third level, I mean college, university or apprenticeships.
Primary and Secondary levels are seen to be necessary for the majority so we happily pay with public funds. Those who are capable of faster development are often stuck with that route. By the time third level is being considered seriously, puberty has kicked in and ALL bets are off.
There is disproportionate pressure to put young people through university here. Then there are (for a vast number of them) loans to be repaid once they've started to earn.
I was expected by my dad to go but I didn't like the idea at all. Even though he had been putting money away for it, I was more into getting started working for a wage and doing stuff I liked. That got me into an apprenticeship with a major commercial airline and saved Mum and Dad a small fortune.
I have no regrets. As a consequence, I have a much more "round" education academically, practically and socially*. I'm pretty sure that my parents were glad they let me decide for myself too. They considered me able to take part in family discussions about my future from about age ten.
For this I am eternally grateful. We were leaving the UK at that time. I returned fifteen years later with marketable qualifications and social skills that set me above the pack.
When you are young in the UK, I think a lot of unnecessary emphasis is put on whether to choose a profession, an academic career or a practical one. Indeed the word career seems to get undue attention seeing as how times have moved on and there are few guaranteed "Jobs for Life" these days. It's probably a hangover from our renowned class system. Who cares? The slow demise of the British class system is a good thing!
It's just taking longer than a lot of us would like.
Thanks for sharing your family photos. I think BassChat has a dedicated thread for them somewhere.
*The social aspect is so important for young adults but it is glossed over too often.