St Trinian's, the infamous school for 'young ladies', is facing a financial crisis. The new Education Minister (Colin Firth) is an old flame of the headmistress (Rupert Everett) but is determined to bring discipline and order to the anarchic school. A motley crew of teachers, and ruthless pupils join forces to steal the famous painting "Girl With A Pearl Earring" from the National Gallery. But can their combined cunning, girlish wiles and total lack of shame win the day before the authorities close them down for good?

Modern-day reworking of the classic Ealing comedy of the 1950s. Faced with dire financial problems, St.Trinian's, the school for 'young ladies', has to somehow find the extra cash needed, or face closure from the bank. If that wasn't enough, Headmistress Camilla Fritton's (Rupert Everett) old flame Geoffrey Thwaites (Colin Firth) is now Education Minister, and he's not too impressed with the ethos of 'self-empowerment' (anarchy) practised at the school. But faced with the loss of their school, the usually ferocious St Trinian's girls decide to put aside their differences and work together to raise the cash the only way they know - by pulling off the heist of the century.