The pupils of Maudlin Street Secondary Modern School have grown unsurprisingly fond of their cane-disliking acting headmaster, Mr Wakefield. They are therefore outraged to discover that, rather than take up the post full time the following term, he has hopes to be appointed head of a brand new school in the country, near his own childhood home.

Resolving to curtail his ambitions - and spare their own backsides! - the student body spies the perfect opportunity when they discover a Ministry inspector is to spend the last week of term at the school, accompanied by radical child psychologist Alastair Grigg, observing and researching for his next book. Surely if everything goes awry, the inspector's report will ensure Wakefield can't be promoted anywhere...