Thing is, although we do seem a bit 'lame' compared to some places like America, Canada, Scandinavia, and places around the Alps, what people need to remember is that we don't get a massive amount of this kind of weather. A couple of people I know passed their driving test 4 and 5 years ago, and 3 months ago (early December,) was the first time they had ever driven in snow.
It's all right for people say 'other countries who get snow half the year must be laughing at us,' (as some have said,) but the fact we don't get it THAT often, is the reason why we struggle when we DO get it.
Doesn't help either, that some people (who travel daily to work,) work 20-30 miles from their workplace, and some people travel double that. In addition, some children and teachers often live anything from 5 to 15 miles away from the school, as many cannot get into their school of choice... So many kids and teachers are not close enough to risk travelling in and not being able to get back. And gone are the days when people worked close enough to where they live, to be able to walk in to work.
Also, compensation claims are rife these days, so some schools prefer to shut, as they don't want some entitled snowflake parents suing them because little Tyrone sprained his wrist when he slipped over chucking a snowball at his mate!
So yeah it DOES seem like a bit of a fuss about nothing in some ways, but at the same time, this is a nasty-ass snap of winter. VERY chilly, and also non stop bloomin' powdery arctic snow!