Rate team poor for friend in form (9)
I believe the answer is:
classmate
'friend in form' is the definition.
'classmate' can be an answer for 'friend' (classmate is a kind of friend). I am unsure of the 'in form' bit.
'rate team poor' is the wordplay.
'rate' becomes 'class' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'poor' indicates anagramming the letters.
'team' with letters rearranged gives 'mate'.
'class'+'mate'='CLASSMATE'
'for' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for classmate that I've seen before include "School associate" , "one of the others being in form" , "someone from school?" , "Fellow pupil" , "Schoolfellow" .)