Quee, "My 8 year old London educated son had very little knowledge of the world and of science, at the age of 5. He could spell what he was required to, and not much more."
I don't really recognise your description of your son's London education in my own dcs', in 2 different London schools. It is worth bearing in mind that schools and children are different.
However, I agree about the relative lack of outdoors play, particularly in a London school in an urbanised area, and the reticence about playing in rain. It is partly cultural and due to environmental constraints. I suppose schools have to take into account that parents would not be pleased if their dcs fell ill too often.