David Puttnam is a respected film producer known for his work on acclaimed movies. He might have produced films that have received critical acclaim and won awards.
Without any doubt at all, teacher quality is the fundamental differentiator. Not just, incidentally, of education, but I would argue, probably the biggest single differentiator of success for the nations of the 21st Century.
There is no education system in the world - none at all - that's better than its average teacher.