"There was one advantage, and only one that I know of, in Mr. Creakle's severity. He found my placard in his way when he came up or down behind the form on which I sat, and wanted to make a cut at me in passing; for this reason it was soon taken off, and I saw it no more. "

I should be grateful if one of our UK members would tell me what "form" means in this context. Does it perhaps refer to a bench or row of seats? I remember having seen "second form" or "third form" apparently reflecting students grouped by the number of years they have been enrolled.

Yes, the form is the bench. In small schools each bench would hold all the pupils at one level, and so as schools got bigger and there were separate rooms for each level, they were called first form, second form, and so on. First year, second year and so on is the more common expression these days -- or was when I was at school.

Bingley