Ofsted are due to visit the school, Dill has an opportunity to go to New York, and Spencer is witness to his father's racist brutality.
Matt learns that his four friends are now couples, Arnie seems to be holding Dill back from her trip abroad, and Evelyn meets a guy who assumes she's at college.
Someone is taking photographs of Adam at the school gates, Mr. Robson is determined to rally his troops for OFSTED and Spencer pushes Anika who knocks her head.
Matt's blind date with Lisa's cousin isn't what he expected. Spencer is left on his own at home. After Dill leaves for New York, Arnie collapses at the airport.
Colin and Kelly are surprised to find Mr. Hankin moonlighting as a stand-up comedian, and Spencer is still on his own at home.
Wayne and Sarah-Jane decide to find Alec, Colin almost gives the game away about Evelyn's age, and Matt has a disaster meeting with another potential girl friend.
Evelyn and Simon's relationship deepens, a complex arrangement of dating starts among the Double Dare Gang, and Arnie collapses at a night club.
Colin gets the TV presenting job, Wayne gets a lead on Alec's location, Spencer makes amends, and Mr. Robson meets an Ofsted Alien, courtesy of Cracker.
Wayne doggedly searches for Alec, Adam's meeting with his father doesn't go well, and the Double Dare Gang decide that "Spring Heeled Jack" must walk the Earth again!
Miss Carver is not seen in a good light when Ofsted visit, Anika and Amy agree to help out Spencer's mess, Evelyn worries that she might be pregnant, and Arnie realizes he has epilepsy.
Adam gives vent to his feelings about Miss Carver in front of an Ofsted inspector, Spencer's house is cleaned, and he repays the kindness, and things finally get too much for Mr. Robson.
Wayne finally meets up with Alec, the school inspection comes to an end, and Spencer's mother returns.
Adam's tackle breaks Franco's leg: Ian fights Adam in retaliation, but Adam's father's intervention is unwelcome. There's a shock for Evelyn when Simon starts teaching at Grange Hill.
Colin gives Amy and Anika a tour of the studios. The Double Dare Gang give up their enforced dating. Katy and the boys make a horrific discovery while camping.
Wayne starts a cardboard collection scheme to help the homeless, Arnie seems to be at the end of his tether, and Mr. Robson is shocked to find Adam's dad is his alcohol counsellor.
Arnie, intent on suicide, gets new hope after giving a lift to a hitchhiker. Spencer's little party comes to an abrupt end when his father makes a reappearance.
Some fund raising events take place, and Mr. Hankin camps out with Wayne and Alec. The Double Dare Gang take the cardboard boxes that Max had earmarked from his dad's hotel.
Dirty tactics are used to gain cardboard boxes, but Wayne discovers that the whole campaign is basically unprofitable and Arnie has an epileptic fit in public.
The staff wear period school costume, Evelyn renews her friendship with Kelly, a new plan for the collected cardboard is hatched and the police call again at the Hargreaves house.
Many loose ends are tied up, as term comes to an end. Linford Christie lights the fund-raising bonfire, the double Dare Gang put on a performance and Mr. Hargreaves turns himself in.