Describes a well-behaved, hard-working, poor, white, working class British boy trying to achieve academically in an inner-city boys' comprehensive school while simultaneously maintaining his standing within the male peer group culture, discussing possibilities of bringing together white working-class masculinities with educational success in inner-city, working-class schooling. Suggests that this story unsettles dominant versions of white, working-class masculinities. (Contains references.) (SM)