Abbey Grove is rocked by the news that deputy headmistress Miss Pickwell is dead and Alfie is left particularly on edge when her sleeping note clearly lays the finger of blame on him after one of his class's pranks pushes her over the edge. Haunted by guilt, will Alfie be able to put her unquiet spirit at rest with the perfect memorial service? With Pickwell gone, headmaster Mr Fraser decides to advertise for her position with less-than-successful results, which may mean Miss Gulliver is offered the role full-time. But will the power change her?.
Alfie is the worst teacher ever to grace the British education system, and a bigger kid than his students.
Despite his obvious shortcomings, Alfie's position at the school is stable thanks to Fraser, the school's headmaster, who tragically longs to be as cool as Alfie. He's the teacher who just wants to be everyone's 'best mate' and is prone to massive and very public mishaps.
There's also Miss Gulliver, the school biology teacher and the apple of Alfie's eye. She cares deeply about the school and the students.
Deputy headmistress Pickwell is less easy-going. She is an 'old school' teacher and can't stand her younger colleagues. She's a disciplinarian who wants Creationism put back on the syllabus and would prefer a school without children at all!