The Second Form at St Clare's recap

Pat and Isabel O'Sullivan move up into St Clare's second form, where two troubled newcomers reshape the class. Defiant Mirabel plans to leave at half-term, while withdrawn Gladys hides her fear for her seriously ill mother. Gladys's honesty prompts Mirabel to reform, and the form eventually stops retaliating against her. Mirabel's music and Gladys's acting bring both girls acceptance, and their friendship persuades Mirabel to remain at school. The successful class concert confirms their abilities, while resentful Elsie loses her authority and later fails to spoil Carlotta's birthday feast. Gladys also earns a place in a school lacrosse match and scores the equaliser. Alison breaks away from her one-sided attachment to Miss Quentin after learning the teacher's true opinion. At term's end, Gladys's mother survives her operation, Gladys goes home with Mirabel's family, Anna moves to the third form, Hilary is chosen to lead the second, and Elsie is advanced so she can attempt a new beginning in the third form.

Previously: Twins Pat and Isabel O'Sullivan attended St Clare's as part of an established circle of pupils that also included Bobby, Janet, Carlotta, Alison, Doris, and Hilary. Bobby and Janet were close companions, with Bobby already known for her practical jokes. Carlotta came from a circus background and brought unusual skill with horses and acrobatics to school life. Hilary had demonstrated her reliability as head of the first form. Alison, Doris, and the others had likewise become familiar members of the group around the twins. Their shared first-form period is now over, and they are due to move up together. The change places the friends at a new stage of school, where their existing loyalties and habits will carry into a more demanding form.

Pat and Isabel return to St Clare's with their friends and move up from the first form. Anna Johnson and Elsie Fanshawe, both held back, become joint heads in the hope that responsibility will improve them. Two newcomers remain apart from the class: Gladys Hillman rejects friendly approaches for an unknown reason, while Mirabel announces that she will leave at half-term and deliberately disrupts lessons. The form responds with practical jokes, though Hilary objects when Elsie pushes the retaliation toward cruelty. Gladys then tells Mirabel that her own mother is gravely ill in hospital. The encounter makes Mirabel reconsider her conduct, and she quietly resolves to behave better. Her classmates do not know this and continue their campaign. Elsie secretly adds harsher sabotage, causing teachers to disbelieve and punish Mirabel even when she is telling the truth. Mirabel nevertheless refuses an opportunity to report the other girls. Hilary recognises the decency of that choice and persuades the form to stop. When Elsie refuses and falsely blames Anna for her extra tricks, the class withdraws its support from Elsie and accepts Anna as its practical leader. Gladys finally contributes to the group by revealing Mirabel's exceptional musical ability, giving the girls a way to help rather than punish her.

The second form tells Mirabel that the tricks are over and invites her to play at its Red Cross concert. Her piano and violin performances impress the girls, and Anna's calm handling of Elsie confirms Anna as the leader they trust. Miss Theobald initially doubts Mirabel's claim that she has changed, but Anna supports her and wins permission for Mirabel's violin to be sent from home. Mirabel learns why Gladys has been so unhappy and discovers that she can perform several dramatic roles with remarkable skill. Gladys explains that she learned the plays with both parents before her actor father died. Mirabel's first attempt to help is clumsy, but she apologises, encourages Gladys to send hopeful news to her sick mother, and becomes her friend. Gladys agrees to act for the form and to try lacrosse again. A contagious cold sends several girls to sickbay and delays the concert. The postponement gives Gladys a place in the programme but appears to exclude Mirabel, who still intends to leave at half-term. Gladys challenges the pride behind that decision. Mirabel admits that anger at being sent away caused her hostility, recognises that she now wants to stay, and receives Miss Theobald's permission to remain. She and Gladys reconcile as close friends, while Elsie continues to resent Mirabel's new acceptance.

At half-term, Mirabel apologises to her parents for her earlier behaviour and introduces Gladys to her family. Her mother offers to visit Gladys's mother in hospital. Carlotta also returns encouraged by warmer relations with her father and grandmother, and begins arranging a birthday feast. The postponed concert succeeds and raises money for the Red Cross. Mirabel earns encores for her music, Carlotta performs acrobatics, Doris's impersonations delight the audience, and Gladys's acting reveals her as the form's strongest dramatic performer. Miss Quentin plans to cast Gladys in the leading role, though Alison remains deeply attached to the teacher. Elsie refuses to join the concert unless her leadership is restored, and her continued isolation hardens into resentment. Carlotta offers Elsie a place at her midnight feast if she will join the form without hostility, but Elsie rejects the invitation and plans to report the gathering. The girls secretly hold the feast a night early, then stage a false departure the following evening. Elsie summons Miss Jenks with a fabricated claim that the pupils have been kidnapped, only for the teacher to find everyone in bed. After the deception is exposed, Miss Jenks reprimands Elsie and tells her to change. She also requires the form to support any sincere effort. Elsie reluctantly agrees to try, and the others accept a duty to give her that chance.

Gladys proves that her ability extends beyond acting when Miss Wilton moves her from goal into an active lacrosse position. After Hilary falls ill, Belinda selects Gladys for the school match against St Christopher's. An ankle injury does not stop Gladys from scoring the late goal that secures a 1-1 draw. At the same time, news from Mirabel's mother offers cautious hope before the serious operation awaiting Gladys's mother. Miss Quentin announces that she will leave after term and gives Gladys the leading role in the form play. Alison overhears the teacher dismissing her devotion as useful but tiresome and admitting that she overlooked Gladys until the concert. Alison accepts the casting without protest and stops seeking Miss Quentin's approval. During examinations, Mirabel helps Gladys work while privately knowing how weak Gladys's mother is. Miss Theobald decides that Elsie should move to the third form with Anna, giving her a fresh start away from classmates who no longer trust her. Hilary is intended to lead the second form next term. The final uncertainty ends with word that the operation has gone well and Gladys's mother should recover. Mirabel's family receives permission to take Gladys for Christmas so she can make hospital visits. Mirabel remains at St Clare's as her close friend, Anna advances after proving herself as a leader, and Elsie begins her new placement with her reform still to be demonstrated.

Gladys receives confirmation that the operation was successful and her mother is expected to recover. Mirabel's family obtains permission for Gladys to spend Christmas with them, so she can visit her mother in hospital, and Mirabel remains her closest friend and practical supporter. Mirabel herself is settled at St Clare's after abandoning her half-term departure plan. Anna has proved an effective head and moves into the third form. Hilary is intended to take charge of the second form next term. Miss Theobald also advances Elsie to the third form, despite her weaknesses, so she can begin among pupils who do not share the second form's distrust. Anna is expected to protect that fresh start, but Elsie's reform remains uncertain. Alison no longer seeks the approval of Miss Quentin, who is leaving the school, while Gladys has secured the leading role in the form play. Pat, Isabel, Carlotta, Bobby, Janet, Doris, Kathleen, and the other continuing pupils finish the term at St Clare's.