We currently live in Scotland and upon reading your response I wanted to do a little research and find out the legalities. It appears that it is nowhere near as strict as I thought. I don't know where I have got this misconception from but I guess it is just drummed into you from a young age, that your kids must attend school. Oh no have I turned into a sheeple? Lol.

My kid has just finished his first year of primary and I think the best thing he has accomplished is his social confidence. He has really come out of his shell and actually loves going to school to see his friends. Most of the other parents are worried about their reading and writing levels and why they haven't brought the next level reading material home yet. I think my son has learnt to read more in the summer holidays watching and navigating YouTube videos, on the rainy days of course, than he has in the whole of his first year at primary.

His extra curricular activities definitely teach him a significant amount, but now we have started with school I don't know if I could take him out because of his fondness towards it (actually towards spending time with his friends).

Now that you have enlightened me my opinion may change when he reaches secondary school level because in my opinion that is when you are taught things that are less than useless in everyday life.

Why are we taught trigonometry but not taught how to grow our own crops, or find water (in Scotland this one isn't too difficult, lol) or make a fire?

My wife was talking about an alternative private high school she read about in the Highlands where they actually teach you useful life skills. I wonder why there can't be more state schools like this?