The Class of 2009 is headed up by the beautiful and mysterious Effy (Kaya Scodelario), returning as the new queen bee; her best friend Pandora (Lisa Backwell) is sweet and kooky and keeps the new gang together.

Twins Katie (Megan Prescott) and Emily (Kathryn Prescott) are pulling in different directions. One wants to shed her identity as a twin and gain social status while the other hangs on, crippled by shyness. Naomi, (Lily Loveless) a beautiful idealist who is passionate, political and principled completes the girls.

The guys are led by the irrepressible and irresponsible Cook (Jack O'Connell - This is England, Eden Lake), the daring and charismatic leader of the gang. His best mates sometimes despair, sometimes struggle to keep up, but are always there for him when he needs them. Freddie (Luke Pasqualino) skateboards, smokes weed and loves his mates. JJ aka Jonah Jeremiah Jones (Ollie Barbieri), is a master illusionist and also their strategist - together they get in, and just about out of numerous scrapes in their scheme to succeed. Finally there's Thomas (Merveille Lukeba) who has travelled from the Congo to set up home for his family, and has to find his feet in strange new surroundings. Together the gang bond as they compete against each another, fight one another, and fall in and out of love and lust.