It’s Great to be Young! 1956

Mr Dingle, John Mills, is a music-loving teacher who believes that letting pupils experience music can enrich their lives. In contrast, the new strict headmaster, Mr Frome, Cecil Parker thinks the old, traditional approach to education should be kept intact and that Dingle’s methods are undermining the children’s schooling.

Dingle’s pupils come up with a plan to raise money by performing for crowds in the street and they try to persuade him to support the idea. When the initial attempt fails, they decide to enlist some younger students to join in, hoping the crowd energy will be enough to persuade the headmaster. The scheme proves surprisingly successful, and with help from one of the pupils’ parents they’re able to buy new musical instruments. The total cost, £200, is to be paid in weekly installments of £2 10s, a debt Dingle personally signs for, symbolizing his commitment to giving the children a chance to explore music.

However, trouble arises when Dingle ends up on the front page of the local newspaper, prompting the headmaster to lock the instruments away. The pupils refuse to be deterred: they manage to recover the instruments from the locked cupboards, rehearse, and return them without drawing attention or causing further trouble.

Dingle also takes on a second job, playing the piano in a nearby pub for £4 a week plus free beer. His double life is soon noticed by a teacher who reports him to Mr Frome, and the headmaster decides to sack him. In response, the students stage a protest, organizing a strike and a sit-in, with support from pupils at other schools who join the demonstration outside.

The conflict reaches a turning point when order is eventually restored: Mr Frome relents, allowing Mr Dingle to return to the classroom. The tale closes on a triumphant note as the group—led by the persevering teacher and his hopeful pupils—celebrates their resolve and teamwork, finishing to the uproarious, hopeful beat of Top of the Form.