Fifth Formers of St Clare's recap

During the Fifth Form's winter term, Mirabel's forceful campaign to improve games brings her into conflict with Gladys, Jane, and the younger forms. Claudine and Antoinette disrupt a compulsory sports meeting with a false fire alarm, but Jane is wrongly blamed until they confess. Felicity's exhausting music preparation leads to sleepwalking and a near breakdown, forcing her to stop music for at least a year. Alma secretly takes food and Alison's belongings, causing Anne-Marie to be accused before Alma confesses and her medical condition becomes known. Anne-Marie retaliates against Miss Willcox's harsh criticism with a copied poem, then accepts discipline and abandons her pose as a misunderstood genius. Mirabel apologises, reconciles with Gladys, and regains the younger pupils' support. Pam and Hilary earn examination honours, and Pat and Isabel are chosen to become joint head girls after Hilary leaves for India.

Before this winter term, an established group of pupils had progressed together at St Clare's. Pat and Isabel are twins, while Angela and Alison are close companions. Claudine is known for her independent attitude, and Alison has previously shown a tendency to idealise a teacher, including Miss Quentin. Mirabel, Gladys, Carlotta, Bobby, Pam, and Doris Elward are also among the returning pupils whose friendships and disagreements shape life in the Fifth Form.

The winter term brings several changes to the Fifth Form. Claudine's younger sister Antoinette joins the Second Form, while Anne-Marie arrives as an aspiring poet. Felicity moves up with a demanding music examination ahead, and Alma moves down from the Sixth. Mirabel becomes sports captain with Gladys as her deputy and begins imposing an intensive practice programme. New English teacher Miss Willcox attracts the competing admiration of Alison and Anne-Marie. Angela continues to expect personal service from younger pupils, placing Jane between loyalty to her and commitment to lacrosse. When Angela tries to recruit Antoinette, the younger girl pretends to cooperate. Angela calls her Tony and mistakes the misuse of her face cream for an accident. By the end of chapter 7, Antoinette has left toast spread with shoe polish for Angela, Alison, and Anne-Marie.

Angela, Alison, and Anne-Marie eat Antoinette's shoe-polish toast and are humiliated when the story spreads. Alison acknowledges that Angela provoked the incident by misusing younger pupils. Meanwhile, a rejected poetry collection makes Miss Willcox harsh in class. She punishes Pat unfairly, criticises Anne-Marie's derivative poem, and fails to understand how completely music absorbs the overworked Felicity. Mirabel ignores Gladys's warnings about exhausting the school and replaces a dance with a compulsory sports meeting. Claudine and Antoinette secretly defeat the meeting by arranging a false fire alarm. The school evacuates safely, but Mirabel begins an investigation and wrongly fixes on the ill Jane, excluding her from matches despite Gladys's objections. In private, Claudine and Antoinette confirm that Claudine planned the disruption and Antoinette rang the bell.

Jane remains excluded from games and becomes increasingly dependent on Angela. Felicity begins genuinely sleepwalking under the strain of her music work. Anne-Marie, jealous of the attention Felicity receives, imitates eccentric behaviour and plans a false sleepwalking display. A second mystery develops after Claudine hides supplies for the Second Form's midnight feast. Alma discovers the cupboard, secretly takes food, and dilutes the remaining ginger beer. When Claudine secures the key, Alma retaliates by stealing and damaging Alison's belongings. Angela persuades Alison to accuse Anne-Marie, who is innocent. After further harsh criticism from Miss Willcox, Anne-Marie plans to test the teacher with a poem copied from a recognised writer. Alma then warns Mirabel about the feast, but Second Form head girl Katie and the younger pupils decide to proceed. Jane, now feverish and distressed after another quarrel, plans to leave school. As the feast begins, Mam'zelle hears night activity and sets off in pursuit of supposed intruders.

Mam'zelle's search creates a night of confusion. She locks Alma in the food cupboard, feverish Jane in a games cupboard, and Mirabel in a bathroom, while the genuinely sleepwalking Felicity ends up asleep in Mam'zelle's bed. Antoinette exposes Anne-Marie's imitation by throwing water over her. Miss Theobald frees everyone, sends Jane and Felicity for care, rebukes Mirabel, and recognises that Alma was seeking food. A specialist finds Felicity close to a nervous breakdown and orders at least a year without music study. Mirabel's attempt to punish the younger forms for their feast prompts a boycott, and Gladys resigns as vice-captain. Anne-Marie submits a Matthew Arnold poem under her own name; Miss Willcox ridicules it, allowing Anne-Marie to expose the teacher's biased judgment, though Hilary condemns the deception. Alma is finally caught stealing Alison's sweets and admits taking both the other possessions and the feast supplies. Examination results give honours to Pam and Hilary, while Angela, Alma, and Mirabel fail. Claudine and Antoinette confess the fire-bell prank. Jane is cleared, Mirabel apologises, Gladys returns, and Miss Theobald explains that Alma's compulsive hunger is linked to a gland condition requiring treatment.

The winter term's main conflicts are resolved. Mirabel's rigid games campaign collapses after the lower forms boycott her compulsory practice and Gladys resigns, but examination failure and Jane's illness bring a change in her conduct. Once Claudine and Antoinette confess that they caused the false fire alarm, Jane is cleared. Mirabel apologises, Gladys resumes the vice-captaincy, and the younger pupils again support the games programme on more cooperative terms. Alma admits stealing food and Alison's possessions, clearing Anne-Marie, and awaits treatment for the condition associated with her persistent hunger. Felicity is withdrawn from her music examination and must rest from music study for at least a year. Anne-Marie accepts Miss Theobald's reprimand for passing off another poet's work as her own and resolves to write sincerely. Pam and Hilary receive honours, while Angela, Alma, and Mirabel fail their examinations. Hilary will leave after one more term to join her parents in India. Miss Theobald, Miss Cornwallis, and Mam'zelle choose Pat and Isabel to serve as joint head girls for the coming year, and the school welcomes the appointment.

The examination results give honours to Pam and Hilary, while Angela, Alma, and Mirabel fail. Claudine and Antoinette admit responsibility for the false fire alarm, clearing Jane, and Mirabel apologises for excluding her from games. Gladys resumes the vice-captaincy as Mirabel adopts a more cooperative approach and the lower forms renew their support. Alma admits stealing the feast food and Alison's possessions; Anne-Marie is cleared, while Alma awaits treatment for a gland condition connected to her compulsive hunger. Felicity is recovering from severe overwork and must avoid music study for at least a year. Anne-Marie accepts punishment for deceiving Miss Willcox and resolves to write honestly. Hilary remains head girl for one more term before joining her parents in India. Pat and Isabel are appointed joint head girls for the coming year.