The film is set in Cutlers' Grammar School, a boys' school in Sheffield in 1983. Eight boys have recently obtained the school's highest ever A-level scores and are hoping to enter Oxford or Cambridge, taking a seventh-term entrance exam in History. The General Studies teacher, known by his nickname "Hector" (Richard Griffiths) works alongside deputy head and regular History teacher, Mrs. Lintott (Frances de la Tour). The headmaster, Felix (Clive Merrison), hires young contract teacher Irwin (Stephen Campbell Moore) to assist Hector and Mrs Lintott to prepare the boys for the Oxbridge entrance exams. Irwin's style is to put a spin on their historical analysis, and value originality above objective truth. Hector offers some of his students rides home on his motorcycle and fondles his passengers. The boys laugh off their teacher's advances and continue to take turns riding home on the back of his bike. Hector gets in trouble when he is reported by a crossing guard witness. The headmaster orders Hector to retire early, and also that Hector and Irwin share a class.
The boys receive their results and they have all gained Oxbridge places, except for the group's sportsman, Rudge (Russell Tovey). At the end of the term the students prepare to leave school, and Hector is killed while riding with Irwin on his motorcycle. The movie ends with a series of moments involving Hector, leading up to when a photograph of the entire class was taken at Fountains Abbey, a scene from earlier in the film. The photo fills the entire screen, and the closing credits are shown over the photo.
I've left out the gay sex parts with the boys because it is very complicated. This witty film with deadpan humour is a homophobic-free exploration of the joys of teaching and learning, in an atmosphere of adolescent homoeroticism. It was adapted by Alan Bennett from his play of the same name, which won the 2005 Olivier Award for Best New Play and the 2006 Tony Award for Best Play. Directed by Nicholas Hytner, who directed the original stage production at the Royal National Theatre in London, it features the original cast of the play. The students are played by: Samuel Anderson, Samuel Barnett, Dominic Cooper, James Corden, Sacha Dhawan, Andrew Knott, Jamie Parker, and Russell Tovey.
