Here they can leave school at 16, they are able to continue onto college until the age of 19 then it's University....
I wouldn't 'let go' completely at 16, because I think they're still babies at that age and the whole hormone eruption thing is going on
Some parents still have detachment issues when their child is 40 years old - I guess each child, each parent, knows when they can start to let the reins out according to the maturity level of their child
(means my boys will be living at home until they're 70!)