In the first years it seems like all the students do is follow instructions. I have a scene in my mind where Snape gave the students instructions on the blackboard which makes them hard to read later on in the lesson.

HP6 shows that the potions are at best inaccurate if not intentionally misleading. The linked questions seems to come to the conclusion that some recipes leave room for interpretation and tweaking, but I think the students were previously taught to

... follow [the teachers] instructions to the letter.

It doesn't look like the students are learning much from just following instructions in an error-prone environment and being punished for making mistakes. Nobody can remember the recipes they learned and inventing own potions doesn't sound safe.

In HP2, the trio manages to brew Polyjuicepotion, which is considered highly advanced without having an extensive potions education, so apparently the class is not required to perform the craft.

So what is the point of potions class?

In the first years it seems like all the students do is follow instructions. I have a scene in my mind where Snape gave the students instructions on the blackboard which makes them hard to read later on in the lesson.

HP6 shows that the potions are at best inaccurate if not intentionally misleading. The linked questions seems to come to the conclusion that some recipes leave room for interpretation and tweaking, but I think the students were previously taught to

... follow [the teachers] instructions to the letter.

It doesn't look like the students are learning much from just following instructions in an error-prone environment and being punished for making mistakes. Nobody can remember the recipes they learned and inventing own potions doesn't sound safe.

In HP2, the trio manages to brew Polyjuicepotion, which is considered highly advanced without having an extensive potions education, so apparently the class is not required to perform the craft.

So what is the point of potions class?