Universities, unfortunately, set the pace in the UK and they regard exams as being the way to get the candidates they require to keep themselves in business.
Education is irrelevant, really.
It was only when we got to 'A' Level that we went in detail into both European and British history from 1789 to 1922 at that time. To my amazement, when my son was doing 'A'Level history a few years ago, I discovered that his course was about one third of what I did. Kick these university wallahs.