How far should government control their activities? Why are so many teachers and academics reported to be stressed and dispirited? What would a better system look like, and how could we get there from here? Two of the country’s most eloquent critics of recent educational policies join forces to discuss these and other questions. Melissa Benn is a writer and campaigner and author of School Wars; her latest book is Life Lessons: The Case for a National Education Service. Stefan Collini is emeritus professor at Cambridge and author of What Are Universities For?