Biggsy's challenging school year continues into the spring term. The 50-year-old head of English at a West London boys' secondary school is at a critical point in his career. Jaded with the state education system and nearing professional burnout, he prepares for a change of role in the school.
The new year started badly, with health issues resulting in him being rushed to the local casualty ward. At school, problems abound as the new term starts. He agrees to a risky venture to raise extra funds for essential textbooks; a first-year pupil disappears; a colleague is threatened by a management bully; the school is targeted for business by a drug gang; and there is a tragedy within his department.
At home, he is alarmed by his daughter's decision to become a teacher, the one career against which he has determinedly advised her. Fortunately, Biggsy's wife Myra is there to keep her husband afloat amidst the overwhelming tide of school demands. She and his sixth-form tutor group provide the humor in the novel. Her unfailing support and the admiration of his students enable him to soldier on in his teaching career.