It blew me away. It reminded me so much of Stalky and Co. I've been hunting down the book for years.
There is a lovely depth to the characters, that their often shallow exteriors conceal from first glance. Hickey's organisation is superb and when it fails, like Doc's experiments, it fails spectacularly. The masters are cunning, but unable to read between the lines, even when handed the evidence. Perhaps, it lacks some of the poignancy of Stalky, but it retains the levity of an Enid Blyton tale while making sure you know that these lads will be a force to be reckoned with in later life.
All round good laugh.
T.