not only is everybody entitled, but they are required to partake of this education, at least through the age of 16.

The kid doesn't have much of a choice, but a parent can take their kid out of school. Ever heard of home schooling?

Yes, but I think what tanstaafl was getting at is that a child is required to be in education until 16 years old. Whether the parent(s) decide to use the public school system, or home schooled, or sent to a private school doesn't matter -- the one option a parent does not legally have is to withdraw their child from all systems of education.