Bernadette and her friend Katrina work together as supervisors at a large supermarket. They are accepted on the management trainee programme on condition that they study to meet the academic requirements, and are delighted that a charity called St Saviours will fund their tuition. Consequently the two women, both in their twenties, find themselves going back to school to study A-levels. Amongst the paperwork is a consent form for corporal punishment - and it is not long before Bernadette fails to hand in homework assignments on time and experiences the feel of a cane on her bottom. School life continues and the girls do well, and to celebrate the end of exams, Bernadette, Katrina and two boys from the upper sixth go out to the pub one lunchtime to celebrate. Unfortunately, too much alcohol is consumed and the four create havoc. They are in big trouble and a furious headmaster decides to punish them with a public caning in front of the entire school.

This volume also includes the following short stories: American Experience; The Golf Tour; Appointment in St Kitts; and Jacqui's Story.