Unfortunately no matter what the school teaches the children (or indeed what the school is like itself), this will not stop little turds like the ones you experienced. Schools can only do so much when it comes to getting the children to actually adopt and practice the values they are taught - and if those values are also not taught, practices and appreciated in the home then you have children who may 'toe the line' when in view of teachers, but once they are out of sight they carry on like that.
so true Trilian, my sister is a secondary school teacher and she has told me some interesting stories !

as for the school up the street from me i have sadly heard only negative stories and my DP said to me in his words " She won't be going there over my dead body ".

It's the parents of the children i blame for their bad manner, and that's were it begins ... i wasn't bought up that way and neither will my DD !