Wasted class time

This comment is a genral one not attributed to anyone school because they're all guilty. UK class time is often wasted time. The sheer number of assemblies and the amount of time spent changing for P.E. cuts so far into the school day that work doesn't get done. One school I've been at had 4 assemblies in two days, and it is not uncommon for more time to be spent changing before and after P.E. than at P.E.
Add to that the time spent celebrating religous holidays, regardless of the schools religon and it's a wonder anything gets done. That said planning is a breeze becasue it's all in the book, creativity is a no go zone in British schools.