At the age of eleven, England's schoolchildren are among the most literate and numerate in the world. By sixteen, many quit education, disillusioned and under-prepared for adult life.
Evidence suggests that their disenchantment begins with the transition to secondary school. Critics lay the blame on too much national testing.
Over the past ten years, they argue, the education system has become increasingly obsessed with performance targets. The government claims it's tackling the issue head on with a range of bold initiatives.
A panel of experts discuss if any of the initiatives will work while testing and league tables are still in place, and if fewer tests and exams would mean lower standards.
