Brigadier Taplow wants to see the new TV he has donated to the school, unaware that it is no longer in a working condi­tion. The staff and students are forced to create their own broadcast, projected into the empty TV case via a giant pen-scope.

Professor Edwards awaits the arrival of Harry Littlewood, son of the British Consul-General to Fernando Po. But when young Harry turns out to be a ‘Harriet’, a deception must be staged, with Pettigrew playing the Consul-General’s wife.

Following a spate of schoolboy pranks, the school governor warns the Head that he must earn the boys’ admiration. Jim decides to be seen saving the school trophies from a dangerous, armed burglar (Pettigrew).

When Jim hears Dr. Sopwith of Melchester is to meet a new prospective parent, the Marchioness of Retford, he ensures that Chiselbury will take on her 13 year old son instead. However the Marchioness insists on a married Headmaster, and a suitable woman cannot be found.

The Headmaster finds himself needing to replace the Lower Third’s outing money, which he has borrowed to purchase a Ph.D. gown and degree. Suddenly hope is offered in the guise of an old schoolboy burglar and a falsified insurance claim.

The school governor is aghast when Wordsworth’s Daffodils is judged the winner of the original poetry competition, and Edwards is sacked. Pettigrew is duly promoted, introducing new ‘progressive education’ policies.

On the last day of term, Jim has written a vindictive damning report. As a result, he falls victim to a campaign of psychological warfare, aimed at persuading him to produce a more favourable assessment.