When his father walks out on his mother and himself, bespectacled, nerdy Will McKenzie is forced to leave his private school and enrol at the local Rudge Park Comprehensive, where his accent and appearance make him an easy target for the school bully. Seeking to make friends with 'normal' lads, Will pals up with Jay, Neil and Simon, but none are exactly winners, as is evidenced when they try to buy alcohol in a pub.

The four bunk off School and get drunk. Simon tells Carli D'amato he loves her by writing it on her drive way in big letters. It ends badly when Simon and Will's parents find out what they've been doing all day.

Simon passes his driving test on first attempt, less on account of his skills than the fact that Tracey, the saucy examiner, finds him cute. As promised, he agrees to take his friends to Thorpe Park, where he can get in free as he knows the man who clears up the sick. Once on the road, the others realise that Simon is a rubbish driver.

To the amazement - and annoyance - of the other three boys, Will wins a Blind Date competition which pairs him off with Charlotte Hinchcliffe, the most desired girl in the school, and he even ends up in bed with her though he keeps his socks on.

The boys call Jay's bluff and agree to go to the Camber Sands meeting of the Caravan Club to see if it really is 'like a massive orgy'. Jay's dad is on hand to give advice on all matters sexual, whether they want it or not, Simon is falsely accused of rape, Will 'skids' and Neil leaves a surprise on Simon's car seat.

It's the end of term and Will has been voted the chairman of the Christmas prom committee, an enviable position indeed.