"after living/teaching in China and Africa, my early 2000s UK public education just seems unbelievably productive and humane by comparison."

Interesting, I switched from an early 2000s Danish public education to an early 2000s UK public education and my perception of UK education is that it's brutally autocratic. Uniforms, calling teachers "sir", 4 year olds wrote learning at desks, religious instruction, constant oversight on the playground, gender segregation, lineing-up to enter the building,…

The cleverest kid in town and the wild-eyed pyromaniac shouldn't be in the same classroom. It is a disservice to both of them.

The pyromaniac in particular ought to be expelled and sent to a special facility for violent kids. Can you imagine being coworkers with a homeless guy who attacks people and sets fires? That's the kind of environment you are describing as suitable for children.