Being this might make Spooner say "Bunk off? Whatever for?" (7)
I believe the answer is:
workshy
'being this might make spooner say bunk off? whatever for?' is the definition.
The answer and definition are not the same part of speech. However, past participle verbs and adjectives can occasionally define each other.
'being this might make' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'make' could be 'work' (working is a kind of making) and 'work' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'shy' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for workshy that I've seen before include "Avoiding labour, lazy" , "Inclined to laziness" , "Inclined to stay at home?" , "Disinclined to exert oneself - bashful" , "Lazy and idle" .)