That's definitely the case. It was the early 80's. Calculus in high school was still not widespread. We took it at 7 in the morning, before the regular school day, from the physics teacher who was delighted to finally teach calculus for the first time ever. He basically followed a mainstream college curriculum in class.

But the subsequent college course followed the same pattern, and I don't think it was atypical for the time. It took a couple tries to drive it into my skull, but I did end up majoring in math.

Turning math into a series of multiple choice questions that are answered by cranking through memorized algorithms... don't get me started.

UK does not use MCQ, but the emphasis on age 16 and age 18 exams in Maths is definitely cranking out the working. Some problem solving, but not so much proof.

Your experience is a really good illustration of the first phase of what I think is a common 'pattern' or 'process' in education reform.

Phase 1: An exceptional teacher decides to do something and a group of highly motivated students (also self-selected students) responds well. Results are good.

Phase 2: This activity is highlighted as 'good practice' and showcased in conferences by head teacher/managers

Phase 3: Managers in other institutions say 'we must do this' and impose the outer form of the activity on staff who are not perhaps thinking of that and students who are not self-selecting.

Phase 4: Results not so good in copying institutions. Staff blamed. Much mumbling.

Knowledge is situated and good teachers will modify things to suit their students in their particular institution.