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 comprehensive, where his accent and appearance make him an easy target for the school psycho. Seeking to make friends with 'normal' boys he pals up with Jay, Neil and Simon, but none of them 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 at the 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 three friends to Thorpe Park, where he can get in free as he knows the man who clears up the sick. Once on the road, Will, Jay and Neil realize that Simon is a rubbish driver. (Until The Happy Foundation Shows Up)

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.