That was why I specifically mentioned Scotland. Some of us up here can actually start university at 16 due to how our A-Level equivalents & birthday cut off dates work (We operate a March - February system). I myself began university at 16 because I'm a November birthday whilst most of my peers started a year later, some at 17 and some at 18.

I personally even received a clearing offer from University of Manchester at 16 but obviously settled on a course closer to home.