When his parents separate, nerdy, upper class Will McKenzie is forced to leave his private school and enroll 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 Simon Cooper and imposes himself on him and his friends, sex-obsessed Jay Cartright and dim-witted Neil Sutherland. but none of them are exactly winners. The lads go to the local pub. But when they have trouble getting served, Will ends up alienating the entire school.

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)

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.

As the only person to have volunteered for the job, Will is elected Chairman of the Organization Party for the end of term Christmas bash and ropes the other three boys into being his assistants. Simon, needless to say, is keen to use the opportunity to declare his public love for Carli D'Amato, which proves to be anything but a good idea.