Christina Milano, Hartley High's young new English and history teacher, has difficulties gaining control of her first class until a brawl in the schoolyard gives her the opportunity to win the respect of her students. New student Jodie Cooper catches the eye of Nick Poulos.

The banning of Jodie's incendiary rap song sparks a freedom-of-speech revolt among the students. Nick, Rose and Jodie lead their fellow students in a strike and Deloraine counters with the threat of suspensions for all those involved. The dispute is amicably settled with everyone getting their demands met — except for Con who doesn't get the soccer team he wanted, he does however get Danielle and Steve back together in time for Valentine's Day.

Christina gets approval for a school soccer team by volunteering to be its coach. Con borrows an amplifier from his uncle to allow Jodie to make a demo tape of her songs. Danielle creates some controversy when she asks to try out for the new soccer team. Rumours about Nick and Jodie's relationship make their way through the school.

Nick spends the night with Jodie, causing his parents to worry about his absence. Southgate helps Rivers deal with the cops when they want to question him about a stolen car. Chaka worries about her presence in the stolen vehicle being revealed to the police.

After leaving home following an argument with his father, Nick moves in with Jodie and begins looking for a job so that he can drop out of school. A record company executive takes an interest in Jodie and offers her a job with a rock band in Melbourne. Christina reproaches Marco for his constant unannounced and inconsiderate drop-ins, reminding him that she lives with Yola, not him.

The burden of her family responsibilities cause Chaka to behave erratically at school but attract the attention of her friends who rally to support her. Marco presses Christina to set a wedding date.

Low morale threatens to destroy the school's poorly performing soccer team until Christina seeks help from George, a former professional player, who is reluctant to become involved. Hartley's new debating team, composed of Rose, Con, and Chaka, debate another school on the merits of Australia becoming a republic.

George, Nick, and Effie are devastated by Ireni's sudden and tragic death. Steve's disclosure to Nick of information regarding his mother's car accident leads Nick down a path that ends with him assaulting a police officer.

Con tries to get new uniforms for the soccer team in time for their last match while his mother arranges for a woman to help out at the Poulos' home. Steve is forced to miss rugby training to sit an exam, a decision that upsets Southgate and threatens Steve's spot on the team.

Nick hits Jodie after she confesses to a romantic fling in Melbourne. Christina's future with Marco is thrown into doubt when he announces a promotion that will take him to Perth. A new drama teacher arrives at Hartley and quickly attracts the attentions of his female students.

Phil confides a secret about his past to Rose, who has a crush on him. Stella quits as the Poulos's housekeeper after getting in an argument with George in which he questions her decision to leave her failed marriage. Steve and Rivers are forced to work together when they are given the task of cleaning up the school yard when Deloraine catches them fighting.

Yola's attempt to advise a pregnant Nicole causes a professional crisis when the girl's condition is revealed. Rose spots Christina and Phil cavorting on the beach. On their first date, Rivers takes Chaka to an expensive restaurant.

After learning about Phil's past relationship with a student, Christina decides they can have no future together and Phil makes the decision to resign. Jodie rallies her fellow students to save the school's music programme. Nick's father invites Jodie to stay at the Poulos home while her rowdy sister is in town.

Verbal and physical harassment over a misconstrued encounter with a young student causes Graham to have doubts about continuing to teach at Hartley. Chaka's father speaks to the students about oppression and violence. Chaka makes the difficult decision about whether to remain at Hartley or move north to Darwin with her family.

Their friends try to get Rose and Jack together for the school dance. Yola and Southgate are locked in a storage cupboard. Con arranges for Jodie to perform at the dance.

Stella's daughter Katerina shows up unexpectedly and starts making life uncomfortable for both Nick and her mother. Rose's father forbids her to continue dating Jack.

Southgate decides to resign after he reacts violently during a confrontation with Katerina. Yola's involvement with a married man bothers Christina. Con heads up the effort to make a video clip for Jodie's latest song.

The head gardener at the nursery where Nick and Danielle are participating in a work experience programme has a heart attack. Con arranges for Jodie and himself to work at a recording studio and lands her a job singing jingles. A lack of attention from their respective partners helps to bring Nick and Dani together.

While trying to earn some extra money, Rivers unknowingly buys some stolen car parts through Con, then refuses to name his supplier when the police charge him.

While serving as acting principal, Southgate institutes a series of strict policy changes as a means of preventing the possible closing of the school. Steve learns of Nick and Danielle's blossoming relationship while on a school trip and lands in hospital after a scuffle with Nick.

A phantom blader plays a cat-and-mouse game with Southgate after the acting principal bans inline skating at Hartley; tensions are palpable among members of the gang. Jack's grades earn him an invitation to attend a selective highschool.

After Rose announces that she is pregnant, she moves in at the Poulos's until her father, who does not want her to keep the baby, allows her to come back home. Stella teaches George to dance when he agrees to accompany her to a party. Jodie's producer tries to move Con out of the way as he makes his move on her.

Con pressures Jodie into entering a televised rising stars ""StarQuest"" contest but then must come up with a new act when she refuses to perform. A bet with Steve drives Rivers to break in to the school to steal an exam. Danielle applies for a job at a gym hoping to please Nick.

Nick's election as class captain puts him in direct conflict with Southgate when he is made to come down on his friends for violations of school policies. Con discovers that the new woman in his life has a child. Sides form up when the issue of installing condom machines in the school bathrooms is raised.

Danielle's first foray into modelling goes awry when the photographer manipulates her into posing nude. Con's relationship with Greta comes to an end.

Hurt by his parents' divorce and their apparent disregard for him, Steve decides to move out and get an apartment with Rivers and Jodie. Christina makes a decision about Mack's invitation to join him in working overseas.

Steve, angry after learning that he was adopted, is caught stealing from his employer and the police are called. Danielle and Jodie fight over Nick. George quits his job at the factory.

Steve wants to keep a stray dog that he befriends but Deloraine and Rivers have other ideas. Stella invites Katerina to go with her to Greece.

George is hurt by Nick and Effie's less than enthusiastic reaction to his announcement about an impending move. New teacher Sam Robinson arrives at Hartley High to fill a staffing vacancy created by Christina's departure. Effie runs away from home and winds up wandering the streets in King's Cross.

A wealthy girl hires Helen to cater a dinner party for her parents. George lends the Bordinos the money Roberto needs for his business. Deloraine suspends Rivers when he sees him harassing Sam.

Roberto and Helen are upset when Rocco, their eldest son, returns to town without contacting them. Lucy offers to help Steve find his birth parents. Southgate agrees to help Nick with his boxing training. Sam tries to get Rivers back in school.

Lucy encourages Steve to continue searching for his birth mother even though contact is prohibited by law. Rivers' father convinces him to return to school. Effie contemplates dating an unpopular classmate. Nick accepts a rematch against Tony.

Rose's pregnancy complicates Hartley's plans to host the prestigious Education Awards. Con confronts his father when he lends Rocco money to help get the Shark Pool up and running rather than paying for the audio engineering programme Con is interested in.

Steve discovers that the person who has been following him is his birth mother. Rocco offers Con a job at the pool hall but then hires Jodie. Rivers' pursuit of Sam continues as he takes it upon himself to fix her motorcycle.

Con is discovered to have drugs in his possession when the police raid a party at the warehouse. Rivers' relationship with Sam moves into dangerous territory. Nick makes his amateur boxing debut against Tony at the Shark Pool and wins by knockout. Con's friends try to prove his innocence.

Sam and Rivers continue their affair despite warnings from Yola and must eventually pay the price when their romance is made public. Nick agrees to let Leo Fine manage him as a professional boxer but he loses Jody when she calls an end to their relationship. Sam is forced to leave her job at Hartley.

Nick refuses to believe that his relationship with Jodie is over. Deloraine's office is trashed and Rivers is quickly picked as the likely suspect.

Nick sets out to win Jodie back before she leaves for the States. To no avail, Roberto tries to get Nick to drop out of his forthcoming professional bout. After his talk with Yola, Rose's father agrees to let Jack be involved in his daughter's life.

With the class dealing with a major loss life seems to be difficult for a new student and a new teacher

The boys basketball team is struggling without a coach so they all turn to Vic who has some reservations about stepping up

The basketball team need to learn the meaning of team work after a shock defeat. And Con's grandmother arrives to live at the Bordino's

Both Vic and Matt face ghosts from their past leaving an uncertainty about their future at Hartley

Matt sets up his uncle on a blind date and makes plans to move out. Danielle contemplates dropping out of school when she is asked to audition as a reporter. Yola questions Joe's commitment to their relationship when he starts spending time with an old girlfriend and her son. Con and Rose get closer as they work on a science project together.

As Southgate and Danielle's mother get close Rivers feels a bit lonely with his birthday approaching and no one seems to remember

Southgate's relationship causes big problems within the Miller household While Deloraine tries to lure Matt back home

Yola has some excellent news for Joe Yet Lucy finds herself in a bad situation involving her mothers fiancée

Jack and Rose rekindle their love and make plans for their future while Yola worries about motherhood Joe runs into trouble at work

Jodie and her sister Karen feud over Matt while Jack and Rose go through some bumps toward their big day

Rivers receives a surprise visitor as well as the Bordino's in the form of Jodie's sister Karen

Southgate encourages the students to join the surf club which is met with some resistance by some of them

Southgate has taken up a new job running his own school which leaves Rivers less than happy and Yola with a big decision to make

The class as well as Deloraine are in shock with the return of Sam Robinson but Rivers might be the last to know

Another face from the past Katerina is back in Australia and moves straight toward Rivers

Steve receives a revelation while visiting his biological mother And Katerina has declared war on Sam

Andrew Bell the new Hartley science teacher arrives and aims to push the students to their academic limits some even past that

Shakespeare is in the air as Rivers gets the chance to direct the classic Romeo and Juliet but with a Rivers twist

The school play causes tensions all around while worry and concern over Roberto's health consume the Bordino's household

A simple science project leads an unenthusiastic Matt from simple school work to corporate cover up

After an unpleasant altercation with the police Matt strongly urges the class to a documentary on police and how they work

Rivers faces making a difficult decision when he learns that his father is back in town. Steve and Danielle get back together while working on his photography exhibit. As Matt and Jodie are breaking up, Con and Katerina begin a relationship.

Jodie's infatuation with singer/songerwriter Tim Beckett is shaken when the self-confessed alcoholic starts drinking again. Katerina convinces Deloraine to let her sell healthier food to the students but her upstart effort is challenged by competition from Con's hot dog stand. Andrew confronts Sam about her past affair with Peter and confesses his own jealousy. Allie feels like she's being shut out by her friends because of her involvement with Matt.

Tim gets Jodie a record deal but Con is left on the outside looking in when the company assigns her a new manager. Katerina pushes herself in preparation for her audition for a national dance company. Steve gets an opportunity to work at a local newspaper but his first assignment goes badly forcing his editor to use his damning pictures of Tim as part of a story on the fallen singer. As his friends fill out their university forms, Matt contemplates what he wants to do with his life. Rivers tries using Katerina to make Sam jealous.

A state-wide teachers strike, Con's parents leaving to attend a wedding, and Katerina's reluctance to be alone with Con all combine to provide the perfect opportunity for a pool party at the Bordino's. Rivers' attempt to liven up the party with a game of Truth or Dare results in hurt feelings, animosity, and conflicts among all those who participate. The gang hurries to clean up before Con's parents make their early return but only so much can be done to cover up the fact that your furniture has been in the pool!

Radio Hartley takes to the airwaves but when Con and Matt broadcast their signal over that of a commercial station to promote Jodie's struggling first single, Deloraine quickly pulls the plug on the fledgling operation. Katerina has difficulty telling Con how she feels about him. Andrew surprises Sam by first purchasing a motorcycle for himself and then proposing to her. Interest in Jodie's song increases as a result of the airplay and plans are made for her to go on a promotional tour. Allie is given the go ahead to move into the warehouse.

A decline in enrolment applications threatens to permanently close the doors of Hartley High unless the additional students can be found. Deloraine suffers has a mild heart attack and is admitted to hospital. Meanwhile, Sam turns down Andrew's proposal and soon finds herself back with Peter and the two run away together. The kids launch a campaign to save school and just when it appears they have failed, Jodie returns and delivers a passionate speech that pushes the campaign over the top.