Getting Rachel to cooperate in The Headmaster isn't just about clicking buttons. It’s a grind. Honestly, if you've been playing for more than a few hours, you know exactly how frustrating those punishment meters can be. You're sitting there with one action point left, the bar is at 17/18, and Rachel is just staring at you. It feels like the game is broken. It isn't. Most players just miss the specific sequence of triggers needed to move her from a standard student to the "Headmaster’s Pet."
Rachel Smart is essentially the "entry-level" character for the game's corruption mechanics. Because she starts off so innocent, her progression is gated behind very specific story flags. You can't just spam spankings and expect her level to go up. You have to break her down through a mix of public embarrassment, private "lessons," and some very specific gym class interactions.
The Early Grinds: Getting to Level 3
The first hurdle is getting her into your office for a private session. You’ve gotta teach classes. Keep an eye out for her falling asleep. When that happens, you nab her for a private punishment. In these early stages, don't sweat the levels too much. Just focus on earning money. You’re going to need that cash for equipment later—specifically the cat ears and the dildos.
One thing that trips people up is the "Public Punishment" vs. "Private Punishment" distinction. To unlock her higher levels, you actually need to catch her napping or ask her a question she can't answer, then choose the public route. This leads to the office scene where she has to take her shirt off. If you don't do this, the "compliment her body" trigger never fires, and you'll be stuck at level 4 forever.
The Gym and the "Shirts vs. Skins" Strategy
The gym is where the real progress happens. You need to head to the Sports Centre on Thursday afternoons. There's a locker in the Headmaster’s area you can click on to start coaching football.
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- Match 1: Just play the game.
- Match 2: You need to influence the outcome so it becomes a "shirts vs. skins" match.
- The Goal: Eventually, you’ll get Rachel to play in the nude.
This isn't just for the visuals. This event is a hard requirement for the locker room scene with Mrs. Newman. If you haven't seen the scene where Rachel and Mrs. Newman are in the showers together, her level won't budge past 7.
Breaking the Level 8 Barrier
This is where 90% of players quit and go looking for a cheat menu. Level 8 is notoriously picky. You’ll find yourself short on Humiliation points every single time. The trick isn't just what you do, it's the order.
You have to cycle her through her clothes. If you just strip her naked immediately, you lose out on the incremental humiliation points from the individual clothing items. Start with the cardigan. Then the skirt. Then go naked. You also need to have purchased the Cat Ears from the shop. If she isn't wearing the ears during the level 8 push, the math literally won't add up to let you finish the bar.
The Winning Combo for Level 8/9
If you're stuck on the meter, try this exact sequence:
- Order her to undress step-by-step.
- Hands above head position.
- Take a photo.
- Body search (this is huge for points).
- Bent over the desk -> Paddle + Ruler.
- Diaper position -> Small Dildo.
Kinda weird? Yeah. But it works. Specifically, for the jump to Level 9, you have to use the "Straddle" position. If you don't see the straddle option, it’s usually because you’re skipping the dialogue too fast. There is a known bug where the "Space" or "Ctrl" keys skip the trigger that unlocks the position during the transition. Slow down. Let the text scroll.
Why Your Quest Log Isn't Updating
Sometimes you do everything right and the game just sits there. Usually, this is because of a conflict with another girl's quest. Rachel’s story is tied closely to Debbie and Alice.
For example, to get Rachel to Level 10 (the "Pet" status), you often need to have progressed Alice’s body search quest. There’s a scene where Rachel follows you while you search Alice. If you haven't done that, Rachel won't trigger her next "Headmaster’s Pet" flag. Similarly, if Debbie is currently "busy" with a different story arc (like the water gun fight or a weekend event), Rachel’s office triggers might be temporarily disabled.
Check your "Order to the Chaos" main quest. If your school Discipline is below 20, or if you haven't hired the Lab Assistant for Miss Chang, certain character levels might be soft-locked. The game is a giant clockwork machine; if one gear isn't turning, the rest won't either.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
To move Rachel forward right now, stop random punishments and do this:
- Check the Shop: Buy the small and medium dildos, the cat ears, and the ointment. You cannot max her without these items in your inventory.
- Fix the Gym: If you haven't played the Thursday football matches, do it now. You need at least three matches to clear the Newman/Rachel shower flag.
- Monitor the Time: Most of Rachel's "spy" triggers happen at night. Visit her room, then the showers. If she's practicing the splits in her room, you're on the right track.
- Slow Down the Clicks: When you start a punishment that should level her up, the game will usually tell you "She is ready to level up" at the start. If you don't see that text, don't waste your AP—go find the story trigger you're missing in the quest log first.
- Use the Save Slots: Before you start a level-up punishment, save. If you end up 1 point short on the bar, you'll need to reload and try a different combination of spanking/searching to hit the threshold.
Once you hit Level 10 and she becomes the Pet, her mechanics change entirely, and she becomes much easier to manage. You'll unlock the ability to assign her roles and use her to influence other students, which is where the real management side of the game kicks in.