Headteacher of Waterloo Road Comprehensive, Jack Rimmer, hires Oxbridge graduate Andrew Treneman, hoping he can improve the school's failing status and bring them back from the bottom of the league tables. Meanwhile, colleagues Tom and Lorna tie the knot - but the groom ends up kissing someone who isn't his new wife.
A pupil gives birth at the school, but who is the father? Could it be one of the teachers? Lorna terminates her pregnancy behind her husband's back, against Izzie's advice, but Tom changes his mind, and decides he wants the now-aborted baby. Andrew implements a house system with disastrous consequences.
Izzie's ex-husband, Jimmy, causes chaos at the school when he demands access to their children, and Tom confronts Lorna about her apparent miscarriage. Meanwhile, the pupils set up a scam to gain more points in the new house system, but it isn't long before their scheming plot is uncovered. Jack wonders about the sudden improvement in the grades gained by Steph's French class.
Lorna tries out a sexy new image in a bid to catch Tom's attention, while the Head of the English department, Grantly Budgen, suspects one of his students may be taking drugs and approaches Andrew for help. Chlo takes drastic action to convince everyone, including Donte, she was driving on the night of the crash, and Steph stages a break-in to get rid of the suspicious coursework and avoid losing her job, but doesn't do a very good job of it.
An education inspector pays a visit to Waterloo Road, and brings bad news regarding the future of the school. Jack decides the time has come to finally let Steph go, but his task doesn't quite go to plan when she threatens a dire act of vengence, unless he rethinks his actions. Meanwhile, Tom and Izzie struggle to fight their feelings for each other and things come to a head when they find themselves alone.
The staff organise an open day in a bid to impress the inspectors, but events take a turn for the worse, courtesy of Lewis Seddon, when gay pupil Rory starts a petition against homophobic bullying. Holly wakes from her coma and Chlo rushes to her bedside in the hope of finding out what she remembers from the crash. Andrew asks Jack why Steph hasn't been sacked, while Lorna catches Tom and Izzie snogging together.
Tensions run high as the inspectors make their decision about the future of Waterloo Road, while Chlo's nerves are in pieces as she faces her day in court. Kim speaks to the committee about the terrible incident with Lewis Seddon, but they are less than sympathetic to her which causes her to consider quitting her job, much to Andrew's dismay. Lorna continues to remain heartbroken over Tom and Izzie.
At Waterloo Road, a new term is beginning, and things are looking up. The school is launching its first sixth form, and is receiving some promised money from ex-pupil, Roger Aspinall. Izzie and Tom, who are expecting their first child together, get a shock when Lorna returns, who they thought was in Australia.
Jack is mad with Andrew for accepting the acting headteacher role, and lets him do his worst. Back at the Clarkson-Redpath house, Lorna is still staying, and still causing problems. But worse things are to come. Meanwhile, Kim gets a surprise at the school, when an old enemy returns. One with the name of Lewis Seddon...
Russell Millen, a student teacher, joins the school. Andrew isn't so sure of him after seeing him explode with rage at the pupils, but Kim, as usual, doubts Andrew's views on Russell. Meanwhile, Steph is looking for a home for Maxine. It's seems unlikely that she'll find a place for her to stay, so welcomes Maxine back to her house.
Lorna's struggling to deal with her MS, and when a year group present her with some handmade cards, she gets very emotional and walks out on her class, the school, and her job. Davina, steps in to help in Lorna's absence but Steph doesn't think Davina should be working with kids after her affair with a pupil and tells Jack all about it. Lorna returns and tells everyone that she's leaving Waterloo Road, but wants a weekend away with Izzie first.
In a bid to get the kids eating their five-a-day, Jack launches a healthy eating initiative but when a burger van arrives at the school it threatens to undo all of Jack's good work. Jerry, a wealthy American, has bought Roger Aspinall's business and, therefore, his investment in the new state-of-the-art City Academy. While Jack's just glad they still have a backer Jerry has strong religious beliefs that he's keen to feed into the school. Meanwhile, Andrew Treneman gets offered a permanent job in Rwanda and turns to Kim for advice on whether he should accept the offer or stay at Waterloo Road.
Jed Seddon's burger van is still peddling junk food and drugs to the students and the situation gets worse when pupil Siobhan is rushed to hospital after an overdose. Chlo's sixteenth birthday celebrations turn sour thanks to Lewis who bring drugs to the party and things get even worse when Chlo and Donte announce their engagement which cause Izzie to issue them with an ultimatum. Later Andrew gets annoyed when Jerry uses Lorna's memorial service to preach to the students, and challenges Jerry's beliefs in front of the packed hall.
Waterloo Road and Jack are in the spotlight once more when it breaks to the reporters that Chlo is missing, and Donte steals Lewis' moped in order to look for her. Jack's day worsens with the discovery he's manipulated the school's budget, and he's still trying to win Davina back. It seems nothing can go right for him...
Davina's reputation is at stake when she is accused of racism by Maaka Lacey, a Maori supply teacher with an alternative approach to education. With just her word against an experienced teacher's, will she be able to clear her name? Meanwhile, Earl Kelly's behaviour pushes Tom to breaking point, leading him to question his future as Head of Pastoral Care. Also, Rachel struggles to hide her true feelings when she discovers Melissa and Eddie are a couple. And, an ill-thought out lie from Steph looks like it might just spell the end for Grantly's marriage.
The ongoing feud between Tom and the Kelly family takes new heights as he starts receiving dead birds on his doorstep, and as Eddie takes the initiative to treat everyone to a falconry demonstration. However when two of the birds go missing Tom knows that there is only one person it could have been. Also, Fleur and Grantly are still struggling to overcome the obstacles in their marriage, and it looks as though Steph may be softening up to Dave's charms. Rachel questions Melissa over whether she feels as though she's moving too fast with Eddie. Meanwhile, Rose and Marley Kelly seek to better themselves and overcome to image that comes with their family name, with the help of Rachel and Flick.
Everyone at Waterloo Road is still reeling with grief over to shocking death of Maxine Barlow, especially Rachel who feel's that it's her fault for allowing Earl to attend the school and feels that she should resign with immediate effect. Steph and Janeece are still in shock over losing Maxine, with Steph refusing to reveal her true feelings and Janeece blaming herself. The recent shooting brings forth some new evidence of the school shooting and Rachel set's about getting Denzel released. On a more positive not, seeing how valuable life is Donte's surprises Chlo to a surprise proposition to renew their marriage vows. and he's not the only one full of surprises as Eddie tells Mellissa that he's organised a beach wedding but, can she solve her marital issues before it's too late.
It's the last day of term at Waterloo road and there's revelations all round, for students and teachers alike. After a string of bad luck and upset the Kelly's find themselves in further turmoil when they're evicted from their house, and Denzil tarts a nervous day back at school and with the help of Rachel and Jasmine is diagnosed with possible having dyslexia. Chlo and Donte finally face up to the fact that they can't afford their new lifestyle and decide to ask Tom if they can move back in. Also, Ralph Mellor makes Marley an offer of £5000 with a catch he has to finish with Flick initially, he refuses point blank to accept Ralph's offer however, when he learns of his family's latest predicament he decides to follow through. It's the day of the big fight and Bolton having trouble concentrating and staying focussed so, Rob gives him some supplementary pills and tells Bolton, that's properly means more to him if h wins this fight. Although, things take a wrong turn when Davina discovers the pills and alerts Jasmine, and hen things take a turns for the worse at the match she lets the official know of the pills. Later, after talking to Rachel Rob's suspended pending further enquiry into his teaching and training methods. Philip is also having a hard day with he pending wedding of Melissa and Eddie dawning he can no longer keep her secret and reveals all to Rachel, not only is Melissa still married to his dad but she was never divorced from her first marriage. Hearing the news Rachel feels hurt and betrayed and confronts Melissa and gets her to reveal all of the details of the sordid affair to Eddie, upset at the revelation Melissa say's that she'll turn herself in but, Eddie has to make a choice over who he really wants her or Rachel.
It's the start of a new term at Waterloo Road, and the school welcomes back Kim Campbell as the new 'Head of Pastoral Care' however, when Kim arrives with a new baby but no Andrew the rumour mill stats to roll. First on her agenda is to organise a careers day but, things go into turmoil when a Jordan-esque glamour model, named Sarah-Leanne arrives and causes a whole load of trouble. Also, Rachel, Eddie and Philip are all trying to get back to normal after Melissa's departure but when Kim wrongly accuses Phillip of sexual assault on a visitor it's clear it's not going to be easy. And the career's day inspires both Janeece and Chlo on their goals for the future and, when Chlo reveals he wish to go to university to better herself Tom's thrilled but Donte is not as enthusiastic.
Kim’s day starts badly when the uncle of her baby, Grace, shows up at the school threatening to expose a secret about his niece. Kim struggles to keep her personal life from impacting on her job as she tries to get rid of him. Desperate, she turns to Steph, who is immediately suspicious. With Kim’s eye off the ball, Karla Bentham becomes the victim of Michaela White’s scheme to make money, and another type of bullying. It’s a race against time for Kim to recover Karla before her own situation is exposed.
With Rachel on a course, Eddie's at the helm but soon finds out it's not going to be an easy ride - a community of travellers have pitched up next to the school and the kids are to be enrolled at Waterloo Road. Tensions soon mount between the pupils and the travellers. Eddie thinks he has the answer and arranges a football match, but things soon get dirty on the pitch and the simmering tensions of the day bubble over. Before he knows it, Eddie has a riot on his hands.
Matt's choir are practicing hard, now that Rachel wants a performance that evening. Matt is left deflated when it transpires most of the members were blackmailed to attend and the race is on to re-group and recruit willing members in time for their showcase. Meanwhile, a stack of STI leaflets that Kim has been distributing to her sex education class fall into the wrong hands. Kim is dragged before Rachel and Eddie to explain but she’s too consumed with worry as she’s found out the Home Office has hired a private investigator to track her and Grace
Determined to reunite the girl’s football team, Tom persuades his old friend Captain Andy Rigby to run an army day at the school, using team building techniques to whip the girls into shape. However, the day descends into a shambolic mess when one pupil sees the opportunity for a personal act of revenge. Elsewhere, Davina is delighted to finally qualify as a teacher, and things seem perfect when Rachel offers her a job at Waterloo Road, but her day starts to unravel when she discovers that money has gone missing from her and Tom's joint account.
Waterloo Road’s latest supply teacher, Jem Allen is proving popular with staff and students alike but her upbeat attitude and glamorous lifestyle are enough to get right up Grantly’s nose. Forced together on a school trip, their antagonism builds to a life-threatening climax. Back at school with the exams in full swing, Chlo realises how much the future she wants will be restricted by motherhood. She is forced to make the hardest decision of her life, with devastating consequences for Donte.
Steph’s return to Waterloo Road starts badly when a pupil leads a class revolt and Rachel blames the problem on her poor teaching skills. The day takes a dramatic turn when Steph discovers the same pupil in a life-threatening situation, but can her actions redeem herself in Rachel’s eyes? Meanwhile Donte is struggling with Chlo’s decision to put their baby up for adoption so that she can pursue her dream of going to university. A concerned Kim mediates. She urges Chlo to involve Donte and ask Tom for advice, but Chlo seems determined to proceed no matter what.
Bitter battle lines are drawn between Chlo and Donte as they wrangle over their baby’s future, but when Chlo goes into a complicated premature labour, Donte finds himself at risk of losing his baby and his wife. Meanwhile, a Home Office official turns up at the school to tell a shocked Eddie and Rachel that Kim has taken Grace from Rwanda against her father's wishes. The officials paint her as little more than a criminal who paid another woman for her baby. What follows sees Kim’s world come crashing down around her.
Still reeling from losing Grace, Kim struggles to hold it together as organiser of a fundraising day at the school. But will a surprise visit from her ex, Andrew Treneman bring the support she needs or just raise more questions about Kim’s conduct in Rwanda? Meanwhile Rose Kelly and Candice Smilie prepare a menu for the relief day using their knock-off meat. It’s past its sell-by-date but they’ve given it a once-over and taken off the labels so that no-one is any the wiser. However, when a mystery illness strikes the school, the dodgy dealings in the canteen come under suspicion.
Waterloo Road is in the final of North West Schools Choir of the Year competition, but things take a bad turn when it becomes apparent that Flick stole the lyrics for the song. Rachel decides to save the reputation of the school and withdraws them from the competition. Matt’s gutted and can’t bear for all their hard work and effort to go to waste. Can he and Steph pull out the stops and re-write another song in time to still take part? Back at the school, a loved-up Eddie is totally gob smacked to find Melissa waiting for him. He’s in for a further shock when she reveals that she’s pregnant.
It's all change at Waterloo Road. The school has been merged with local private school John Fosters after it was forced to close when wealthy parents could no longer afford the fees. As a result around a hundred new pupils are enrolled at Waterloo Road and neither the "posh" John Fosters pupils nor the "scuzzy" Waterloo Road kids are happy about it.
The governors arrive, keen to gauge the merger's impact, but Rachel does not realise that Max is planning to do what he can to get them to fire her. The children excitedly prepare for the Waterloo Road Has Talent contest, while Grantly is disappointed to discover no one has planned to celebrate his 25th anniversary as a teacher. Classroom drama, starring Tom Chambers and Eva Pope
Ruby struggles with her personal problems but refuses to take medication to help her cope. To make matters worse, she must take the Year 10 class on a trip to a farm, where Josh suffers a serious accident, and she finally confesses to Rachel how her worries are affecting her work. Elsewhere, Chris and Kim's mentoring scheme causes trouble for everyone. Starring Elizabeth Berrington and Eva Pope
An overweight pupil causes problems with his bad attitude, while Kim and Chris argue over Michaela when he refuses to accept her on his advanced university preparation scheme. Ruby feels snubbed when Rachel hires a new chef to lead the school's healthy eating campaign - and the successful applicant turns out to be a welcome face from the headteacher's past. Drama, starring Angela Griffin, William Ash and Eva Pope, with Steven Waddingham
Lauren's birthmark is revealed to the whole school, so she takes drastic action to get rid of it, and Ruby wins a few Brownie points with Rachel by organising a clothes-swapping event - only to abuse her trust by stealing some of the best goods to sell for herself online. Adam makes changes at the canteen, much to the annoyance of Rose, and Grantly feigns depression in a bid to get out of supervising a school trip. With a guest appearance by one-time Brookside star John McArdle
Chris is pushed to breaking point when he ends up with Finn as a teaching assistant on work experience day. Meanwhile, Rachel is not impressed with Adam when she learns he has been to a gig with the sixth formers, and Sam and Bolton become closer when they end up in trouble. Drama, starring Jack McMullen and William Ash
New boy Finn's disruptive behaviour continues at Waterloo Road and he persuades Josh and Amy to join him in smoking a legal high. For Amy, it's a far-from-pleasant experience and Josh has further side-effects when he starts hallucinating in class. Tom, worried about his son's behaviour, questions Josh who "fesses" up – believing that his dad would be cool about it as they are more like friends than father and son. However, Josh is stunned and humiliated by Tom's angry reaction and, in retaliation, he spikes Tom's lunch with the drug.
Jo learns Ros, one of her brightest students, has developed a crush on her, and informs Rachel about it. However, when the pupil publicly retaliates, Rachel is forced to suspend her colleague. Elsewhere, Adam is allowed to set up a new takeaway scheme to promote healthy eating, but has to pick up the pieces when Ruby is evicted from her place by Steph. Drama, starring Sarah Jane Potts
A trip to an art gallery takes Kim to the edge when the pupils deface a valuable painting and she is rushed to hospital suffering from what she thinks are practice contractions. Elsewhere, Philip's efforts to inspire Ros end up in a row about sexism and Steph's relationship with Ollie hits the rocks. Drama, starring Angela Griffin
Amy and Finn are kept apart following the ill-fated trip to the art gallery, causing Amy to play up in Ruby's class. The teacher's emotional state finally catches up with her when Rachel and Adam announce their engagement, and she locks herself in her office, only for the truth about her drug addiction to come out
Amy's relationship with Finn takes a terrifying turn when he suggests a radical proposal to ensure they stay together. Meanwhile, as Rachel and Adam prepare to walk down the aisle, trouble at the school puts the bride's attendance at the ceremony in jeopardy. Starring Jack McMullen and Eva Pope. Last in the series
New headmistress Karen Fisher sets out to revolutionise the school but faces tough challenges, beginning with two home-schooled pupils who are struggling to adapt to the mainstream education system. Elsewhere, Chris discovers that the girl he slept with is one of his pupils - and Karen's daughter. Starring Amanda Burton, William Ash, Linzey Cocker and Wil Johnson
Karen's husband Charlie joins the team as a supply teacher, but finds himself in hot water when his son Harry discovers a suspicious text message on his phone. Ruby talks to John about their parenting options after learning about her infertility, and a jealous Jess sabotages Chris's friendship with the head teacher by publishing a scathing article in the school magazine. Drama, starring Ian Puleston-Davies and Linzey Cocker
A new sexual health initiative causes uproar among parents, pupils and staff. Ronan and his girlfriend Sarah argue over whether she should take the morning-after pill, Jess and Vicki fall out, and Lauren shifts her romantic attention to Josh. Elsewhere, Charlie confesses his affair to Karen and hopes she will give their marriage another chance. Drama, starring Ian Puleston Davies and Amanda Burton
Josh vents his own frustrations on a new gay student, and gets involved in a fight with Finn following the spread of malicious gossip around the school. A celebration at the Fisher household divides the family as Charlie reveals his true feelings, and Vicki blackmails Chris to improve her grades. Drama, starring William Rush, Jack McMullen and Amanda Burton
Marcus interferes in Ronan's private life after catching him selling DVDs at school, but his well-meant efforts only complicate things further for the boy and his father. Tom is worried that Josh cannot defend himself when he sees Finn picking on him and urges him to take up self-defence lessons, while Ruby and Janeece call a truce. Drama, starring Wil Johnson and Ben-Ryan Davies
Francesca's honest approach in her drugs-awareness class backfires when Sam asks her for money to buy some, but the pupil's dealings leave her facing exclusion from the school. Harry's suffering increases, but he strikes up a friendship with Ruth, who encourages him to fight back against his tormentor, while Grantly's personal problems come to the surface and Ruby wonders what has gone wrong with her marriage. Drama, starring Karen David and Holly Kenny
Vicki cannot balance living in a hostel and visiting her sick father at hospital with her schoolwork, and resorts to blackmailing Chris to improve her grades. Grantly struggles to cope with his wife's illness but refuses to take her into care, and Janeece has doubts about her decision to give her baby to Ruby and John. Drama, starring Rebecca Ryan, William Ash and Philip Martin Brown
Chris's plan to install CCTV in the school backfires when Jonah discovers compromising footage. Ruby gets in touch with Steph to see if she can persuade Grantly to sort out his domestic problems, and Janeece takes drastic action when Ruby refuses to give her back baby Poppy. Drama, starring William Ash and Lucien Laviscount
Grantly's home life unravels when he finally puts Fleur in a home, but he has to take drastic measures when he learns the economic cost of care. His situation at school also reaches breaking point as Ruth discovers that he has been teaching the wrong syllabus to his A-level class. Elsewhere, a mysterious figure appears in the school and begins to spy on Karen. Drama, starring Philip Martin Brown and Anna Jobarteh
In response to the boys' poor exam grades, Karen and Chris introduce a new single sex teaching initiative, much to the disdain of staff and pupils. Especially unimpressed is the formidable new Head of Pastoral Care, Adanna Lawal, who rallies the rest of the staffroom into action against the segregation. However, the scheme gets off to a bad start as the boys’ lessons quickly descend into chaos, a situation that is made even worse by the arrival of disruptive new student Kyle Stack, who wreaks havoc the moment he steps in the door. Elsewhere, Bex Fisher’s first day back at Waterloo Road gets off to a rocky start when she is beset with anxiety following an unexpected phone call - leading Jess to suspect her sister is hiding something. Finally arriving at school, Bex becomes embroiled in an allegation of sexual assault involving Kyle, leaving Karen and her staff in a muddled attempt to unravel the truth before Kyle exacts a vicious revenge.
Year ten pupil Billie Taylor is convinced that her own mother is trying to steal her newborn daughter from her, so Janeece offers to help. The staff are shocked by Grantly's dishevelled appearance, and decide he needs more assistance at home. Cesca begins tutoring Jonah in one-on-one Spanish lessons.
Nate and Josh's burgeoning romance hits a rough spot when Nate's homophobic dad finds out about their relationship, and Tom is forced to bear the brunt of his anger. Elsewhere, Hodge continues to hound Bex and Karen tries to discover what her oldest daughter is hiding. Cesca continues to blur the professional and personal boundaries between her and Jonah.
When Ruby witnesses Martin Dowling and Kyle Stack taunting new Polish caretaker Lukas Wisniewski about his right to work in the country, she controversially takes the side of the pupils. Keen to clamp down on this behaviour, Chris discovers that the normally intelligent Martin is emulating his father's right-ring views to gain approval. Lukas is pushed to the brink when Martin and Kyle step up their hate campaign, leaving Ruby condemned by the school and questioning her own views. Meanwhile, Ronan's scheme to sell exam papers to the other pupils looks set to be a success, especially since Janeece can't prove that he has stolen the original copy from her office. However, Janeece proves to be more resourceful than first thought and hatches a clever plan to thwart him. Elsewhere, Cesca's relationship with Jonah spirals further out of control as she desperately uses Tom as a decoy to cover up her feelings. And Bex's attempt to forget about her problems with a shopping trip is short-lived when an ever-determined Hodge arrives on the scene, leading to a dramatic showdown.
Harry's cry for attention veers out of control when he steals Karen's mobile phone and uses it to send the staff incendiary emails. Karen and Chris have their hands full with the boy-only business initiative, especially when Sambuca Kelly returns to Waterloo Road and leads the girls in gate-crashing the event. Elsewhere, Tom struggles to readjust during his first day back.
The truth about why Bex ran away is finally revealed when year 11 pupil Wayne Bodley stumbles upon compromising footage of her on the internet. Tom's recovery is tested as he is forced to deal with the fallout and try to correct Wayne's attitude towards women. Elsewhere, Sam and Finn's mutual antagonism develops in an unexpected way.
Finn and Ronan's party in an abandoned mill is the talk of the school, but the boys' bragging ends up alienating the only two girls they want to show up: Vicki MacDonald and Sambuca Kelly. Jonah considers leaving school if it means he can be with Cesca earlier, not realising that Cesca has discovered she is pregnant. Later, at the party, events escalate out of control, and it is up to Tom to save the day.
The school is gripped in fashion show fever and Ronan's good-looking mentor, Dan, is brought in to judge the competition - much to Adanna's dismay. Ronan's attempts to bolster Vicki's flagging self-confidence through the fashion show take an unexpected turn. Elsewhere Cesca and Jonah make a decision that will change their lives forever.
The day of the Waterloo Road pantomime has finally arrived, but when Finn gets Kyle purposefully kicked off the cast, Sam begins to doubt their relationship - he is not the boy she thought he was. Meanwhile, Denzil learns his lesson when his latest stunt ends in tragedy. Elsewhere, Jonah sneaks out of school to meet Cesca and they rush to Gretna Green, but will the police catch the couple before they reach the church?
It is the first day back at school, and returning head teacher Karen Fisher has plenty to contend with when the new site manager, Rob Scotcher, discovers an abandoned baby on the premises. New staff members Eleanor Chaudry and Daniel Chalk adapt differently to life at Waterloo Road. Elsewhere, Rob's son Aiden makes a memorable first impression on Jess and Vicki.
A shy and effeminate year 12 pupil is branded a 'perv' when he is caught poring over a lingerie magazine - but the truth is far more complicated than Chris imagines. Rose and Sambuca learn that her seizures are being caused by a brain tumour, and Vicki is disappointed that Jess and Aiden appear to be growing even closer.
New girl Evie Prior shows up at the school but something about her story doesn't quite add up. She is soon upsetting the rest of her classmates and causing problems for Karen. Evie attempts to empathise with Finn, who's devastated by girlfriend Sam's terminal illness. The school ends up being forced to deal with the fallout when the truth about Evie is revealed. Eleanor and Daniel have their appraisals as Karen sits in on their classes and finds room for improvement for both teachers.
It's launch day for Karen's new community café and she's invited the Director of Education along, as the popular school drama continues. But with Daniel Chalk in charge, will the café be ready in time? Twins Shona and Rhona are acting up in class, because they're caught in the middle of a bitter custody battle between their mum and gran. As the court makes its decision, the twins' gran takes matters into her own hands, with a stunt that could jeopardise the café launch. Meanwhile, Rob's estranged wife, Naomi, wants to play happy families and warns Karen off her man in a bid to keep him to herself. And Vicki finally sees Aiden's true colours, and is forced to reveal their infidelity to Jess and Ronan.
Sam is keen to find the father she's never known before she dies, and secretly enlists the help of Lauren and Finn on a quest to Blackpool, as the popular school drama continues. But when she most needs someone to rely on, will Sam be disappointed? After a run of bad publicity, Karen is keen to promote a positive image of Waterloo Road and hires PR woman Linda Wickes to put a positive spin on things. Will Karen recognise her school after Linda's given it a makeover? And when Richard Whitman, the Director of Education, arrives unannounced, he makes no secret of his disapproval of both the PR launch and Karen's professionalism. Meanwhile, Aiden and Vicki are left out in the cold and Ronan and Jess aren't in the mood to forgive. A fight between Aiden and Ronan is the final straw for Rob, as the rift between father and son deepens
It is the day of Sambuca's memorial service, and everyone struggles with their grief. Vicki discovers she is pregnant with Aiden's child, and leaves Aiden reeling - just as Jess drops a bombshell of her own. Karen realises that her attempts to impress Richard Whitman are futile; his desire to close Waterloo Road has become a personal crusade.
You do wonder what it takes for a teacher to be sacked from Waterloo Road. Having drugs in your pocket doesn't do it (step forward Chris Mead); neither does sleeping with a pupil (Chris again); and an inability to keep order in class doesn't count - every teacher is guilty of that. But now it seems you're safe even if, like Eleanor Chaudry, you've been feeding confidential information to the Director of Education, who's keen to shut the place down. While Karen Fisher (Amanda Burton) battles to save the school, her deputy forgets his promise to be "professional from now on", Vicki has a distressing experience and - gasp - Chalky stands up to Eleanor.
The school faces an independent inspection and it is revealed Chris allowed a pupil to spend the night at his house. Both Karen's job and the school's future are on the line, and as the staff rally round, Jess tells Eleanor if she wants to save Waterloo Road she needs to take action. Meanwhile, the prospect of being taken into care causes Scout to run away - with Chris, the police and a drug dealer in pursuit. Last in the series.
New 'super head' Michael Byrne faces a baptism of fire when he discovers that pupils Phoenix and Harley Taylor have been concealing a dead body. Meanwhile, Grantly spearheads the staff's resistance to Michael's reforms, while Tom finds himself the underdog in his bid for deputy head. Elsewhere, new girl Trudi Saddiqui makes a memorable first impression on Finn Sharkey.
Jez and Sian Diamond plan a dinner party so that they can try to get to know their colleagues better but the unexpected arrival of Jez's estranged children, Madi and Zack throws everything up into the air. Michael's A-level recruitment drive sees him at loggerheads with Grantly. Scout's enthusiasm for the guitar touches Matt. Vicki ends up being inspired to retake her A-level sciences, but after Ronan throws a surprise house-warming party it highlights the differences between them.
Michael continues his mission to shake up the school by appointing his old student friend Linda Radleigh as Head of English. However, the newcomer soon has her hands full keeping an eye on Emily, who sneaks out of school to see her sister on the day she is released from prison. Meanwhile, Chalky's crush on Janeece prompts him to join Jez's lunchtime fitness club and Michael tries to get closer to Sian over a late-night drink. Sarah Hadland (Miranda) joins the cast
Vicki suffers a black eye in an accident, prompting Sian to suspect Ronan of hitting his girlfriend. Jez enlists ex-pro Ken Watling to prepare for the school's first rugby match - only for the new coach to insist on dropping Zack from the team - and Phoenix is over the moon when Nelson buys him a moped for his birthday. Michael and Linda's relationship takes an interesting turn after she makes him an indecent proposal
Scout is pleased after Mia, a mid-twenties MS sufferer, offers her the position as a live-in carer. Matt organises a special orchestra project but is not pleased after Michael insists that Tariq is included. Michael attempts to keep his distance from Linda. He is concerned though when Sian accepts Linda's help to input the grades. Linda ends up confessing to Sian about their tryst. Michael finds his world being rocked even further by the sudden arrival of Wayne.
Bad boy Tariq Siddiqui's efforts to turn over a new leaf are short-lived when he discovers that his sister is secretly dating Finn Sharkey. Elsewhere, Michael desperately tries to cover his tracks over the Wayne Johnson incident, and Phoenix's secretive behaviour makes Scout question their relationship.
Tom is put under pressure by Linda's new teaching assistant, Greg, only to discover that Greg has his own secret agenda. Jez's romantic endeavours force Sian to question her affair with Michael, and Vicki's jealousy over Madi pushes her relationship with Ronan to the brink. Elsewhere, Michael is convinced that he has a stalker when his office is broken into.
Michael's paranoia spirals when he discovers the identity of his secret tormentor, and new year 12 pupil Freddie Jackson's life is endangered when Michael fails to read his admission file. A jealous Linda stirs trouble by letting slip that she knows of Sian and Michael's affair, and Emily's rebellious streak threatens to land Scout back in foster care.
Waterloo Road welcomes Viv O'Donnell, local radio DJ superstar, who has arrived to host her live radio show at the school. Everyone's excited about having a masterclass in radio journalism from a chat show supremo; everyone, that is, except her daughter Andi, a loner in Scout and Emily's class, who shies away from her mum's limelight. Sian and Michael wake up late, having spent the night together in a hotel. Jez, meanwhile, is trying to move past his suspicions but he steals Sian's car keys to check her GPS, only to discover that she has lied about her whereabouts and had really been at a hotel. He confronts Sian, who breaks down with guilt and confesses to the affair. Trudi gets a raw deal from Finn when it accidentally comes out that her dad has marriage plans for her with a family friend. And Tariq comes to Chalky's aid when he burns his surprise dinner for Linda.
The last day of term starts badly for Michael when he finds a threatening note on the dashboard of his car. Meanwhile, Jez's unexpected arrival during the staff briefing scuppers any hope that the prize-giving will be the focus of the day. Grantly informs a rattled Michael that Jez will be making a formal complaint to the governors about his affair with Sian and matters come to a head when Jez pulls Madi and Zack out of class to take them to Ireland. As they drive off, Wayne slips in to school with revenge on his mind and Michael finally gets a chance to confront his stalker. Elsewhere, Em tries desperately to prevent Scout from moving away with her foster parents and Ronan and Vicki say goodbye to Waterloo Road and each other.
While Tom is overseeing the selection process for a new head of English, his relationship with Josh is plunged into crisis by Josh's spiralling drug problem. Elsewhere, Grantly is at a loss when he mislays a large sum of money meant for Fleur's nursing home fees, and it is touch and go for Matt's baby daughter, Martha.
On the day of the fun run Jez's life starts to unravel as his star athlete, Mercedes, makes a huge error of judgement and Sian admits her true feelings about their relationship. Elsewhere, relationships are tense as Trudi makes a decision about Finn, and Grantly returns to work barely a week after the loss of his wife.
On the day of Scout's wedding to asylum-seeking pupil Danilo, doubts begin to emerge as she discovers not everyone's motives are as innocent as hers. Elsewhere, the gang violence increases, leading Michael to install extra security measures. Grantly and Maggie take their relationship to the next level.
As the new Waterloo Road school opens in Scotland headteacher Michael Byrne has his work cut out dealing with a couple of runaway teens and a burgeoning rivalry with a local headmaster. On the run from a foster home, teenager Jade shares a squat with her controlling boyfriend Drew but dreams of a better life. She announces that she’s going to school at Waterloo Road and despite his fear the authorities will find out about them, Drew is persuaded to enroll too. Michael and Sian arrive at the new Waterloo Road. The local press reaction to the school has been largely positive, except one story reporting discontent from Gerard Findlay, headmaster of rival school Havelock High, who claims Waterloo Road are stealing his pupils. The school is buzzing as Jade and Drew arrive. Despite not being registered at Waterloo Road Drew uses his charisma to win Lorraine over – but it’s not long before Tom sees an angry side to the new boy. When Michael offers Jade, but not Drew, accommodation in the school house, Drew reacts angrily, forcing his girlfriend to reveal a secret which will have far-reaching consequences for the pair. In the staffroom, new teachers Christine Mulgrew and Audrey McFall introduce themselves to Waterloo Road’s familiar faces. Not everyone is enthusiastic about the new school and Tom bemoans Michael’s regime. But English teacher Christine doesn’t seem keen to be drawn into any staff discussions, keeping herself to herself. It’s only when Grantly suggests the teaching team go for a drink after school that Christine’s interest is spiked. Elsewhere, Tariq struggles to adjust to his new life as a paraplegic and Rhiannon starts a bullying campaign against Scout.
Troublemaker Lula’s home life spills into school as Tom attempts to uncover the root of her disruptive behaviour; a desperate Connor tries to out Christine’s drinking; Josh helps Tariq face up to his disabilities; and Grantly deals with a spate of graffiti at the school house.Lula Tsibi’s homelife is far from happy. Distressed following another heated argument with her over-bearing Uncle Lionel, Lulu runs to the sanctuary of her school but her behaviour irks the other pupils and gives the teachers cause for concern. Matters come to a head at Denzil’s commemorative ceremony when Lula lashes out at Imogen and Sian. Far from being apologetic, Lula makes some unsettling comments about death. And later, she has a run in with Tariq, hurtfully suggesting his disability is a punishment from God. Tom speaks to Lula’s uncle Lionel. But when Lula hears this she tells Tom her uncle plans to perform an exorcism on her believing she’s possessed. Terrified, she begs Tom to help her. Elsewhere Connor bugs his mother to lay off the alcohol but is met with Christine’s usual hostility. Playing up in class, Connor attempts to shame Christine but it backfires and he’s humiliated in front of his classmates. Concerned, Imogen tells Connor he can’t look after his mother forever – advice which spurs Connor to take drastic action. Grantly is furious when his car is vandalised by Havelock kids but Michael wants to keep the peace and not involve the police. But while Michael attempts to build bridges with rival headteacher Gerard Findlay, Grantly can’t help but rock the boat. Also this week, Josh tries to convince Tariq life is worth living, but Tariq isn’t interested and Sian receives an unexpected visitor at the gates of Waterloo Road.
Tariq is struggling to accept his disability, which gives cause for concern. When encouraged to join in a fight against pupils of rival school, Havelock High, Tariq rejects the offer, claiming that life is too short. He is further unsettled when he finds out that his friends will attend his kayaking trials, so tries to get Phoenix and Gus to arrange a fight against the rival pupils. It is then a race against time for Tom and Michael when Tariq's true intentions are revealed. Also, rival headmaster, Gerard Findlay is determined to discredit Michael by posting an old article about Michael's past all over the school, but is caught by Grantly.
It's Imogen's birthday, At school, Imogen is horrified to discover that her fitness guru mum is helping with Tariq's rowing fundraiser. Jealousy rears its ugly head when Christine witnesses a closeness between Connor and Imogen. Worried that Connor might be confiding in Imogen about her drinking habit, Christine snaps at her son. But Connor retaliates - he'll make his mother's life a misery if she doesn't back off. Later, at Imogen's party in the school house, a tipsy Sally turns up uninvited. Sensing Imogen's shame, Connor asks Sally to leave. Feeling protected, Imogen reveals her hidden secret to Connor… Also this week, rival headmaster Gerard makes false claims against Michael, while Sian reaches out to Michael's estranged father Billy.
Havelock High's Head Girl, Liberty is a rising athletic star and carer to her mum Sandra, who has rheumatoid arthritis. Concerned that Gerard's failing management of the school will ruin her university plans, Liberty secretly blows the lid on her head teacher with a damning story in the local paper. Liberty pleads with Audrey for a place at Waterloo Road before Gerard discovers she was behind the newspaper exposé. While Michael believes it would be wrong to poach Havelock's star pupil, Lorraine strongly disagrees. Under pressure, Gerard's bad press threatens to overshadow Havelock's performance in the first inter-school competition against Waterloo Road. Soon afterwards, when Liberty unwittingly reveals she was responsible for the newspaper article, Gerard snaps. Elsewhere, Janeece is excited after being asked to be Lorraine's PA for a day but fails to spot that Cheryl has chicken-pox. When the child-minder sends Cheryl home sick, Janeece leans on Chalky for help but fails to reveal Cheryl's illness -with far-reaching consequences. Meanwhile,Connor snubs Christine, thinking she's just seeking attention - but after a serious fall, he realises that she may have been telling the truth about being ill. Connor questions whether he can cope with two women in his life and pushes Imogen away.
Late for a meeting with Lorraine, Janeece leaves daughter Cheryl home alone. Later, Chalky discovers Cheryl crying, having hurt herself. He rushes her to A&E, but accidentally drops Janeece in it with social services. Janeece's first attempt at being a PA goes well, and Lorraine hints that she's always looking for new people to join her business. Back at school, though, Michael is livid that Janeece was lured away by Lorraine again. As he reprimands her, Janeece dashes off to the hospital without explanation, not realising that social services want to question her. Returning to Waterloo Road, Janeece fumes that Chalky got her into trouble. Fed up with being used - and worried about Cheryl's welfare - Chalky snaps, delivering some much-needed home truths to Janeece. The confrontation is a catalyst for change as Janeece makes some tough decisions about her future at Waterloo Road and her relationship with Chalky.Meanwhile, Rhiannon's bullying of Scout intensifies as she frames her for stealing. Scout feels increasingly isolated as everyone appears to fall for Rhiannon's ruse - including Maggie. Elsewhere, Christine struggles after her doctor reveals that she has alcoholic hepatitis. Fearful another drink could kill her, she immediately stops - but soon suffers overwhelming withdrawal symptoms, witnessed by a full classroom. Also this week, Sian urges Michael to visit his father and make amends, but her pleas fall on deaf ears, forcing Sian to reveal Billy's shocking secret.
Maggie calls off the wedding to Grantly, saying they're to busy to get hitched. However, when Scout has suspiciouns something is amiss after hearing Maggie making a secret phone call, Along with Phoenix, she tells Grantly that she thinks there's another man. Their suspicions are confirmed when Grantly confronts Trevor - Maggie's estranged husband. Grantly discovers Maggie is being blackmailed by Trevor, who she never divorced. With their wedding day in Jeopardy, Grantly Hatches a plan to make Maggie his bride, with assistance from Scout and Phoenix. Elsewhere, At The School Gates, Sian arrives to be confronted by Madi, who questions of her whereabout's overnight, Keen to keep her love life quiet, Sian steers the conversation away by noting Madi's belongings dumped - her mum has thrown her out. Later, Madi is drawn by Ray, a good looking businessman who is leading Lorraine's work experience classes. She Sets her sights on Ray, Unaware he is dating Sian. Upset by a phone call from Home, Madi turns to Ray for comfort but misreads his intentions and tries to kiss him. When Ray doesn't recipotate, she is humiliated and vengeful, Madi Posts a rumour on a social networking site that he kissed her, but her lies impact on her friends. Meanwhile, Josh faces his future after Waterloo Road but worries of Tom's reaction.
Quiet student,Morag decides to take participate in Lorraine's bench design competition. She confides in her little brother that, if she wins, their estranged mum might find out and get in touch with them. When Tom turns up to collect Morag's bench design, her father Kai can't resist the opportunity to preach about his Freeganist, anti-money beliefs. But his moral high-ground becomes shaky when he learns the competition carries a substantial cash prize for the winner.Enraged at his daughter's deception, Kai forces Morag to destroy her handcrafted bench. Horrified, Tom decides to take matters into his own hands and secretly helps Morag design another bench, resulting in a clash of beliefs between Kai and Lorraine. Meanwhile,Connor attempts to help Christine by marking her late coursework, but this backfires as he gives everyone a top grade. Suspicious, Audrey confronts Christine about the irregular grades, forcing the English teacher to cover her tracks. Now considering Audrey as the enemy within, Christine lodges a false complaint of bullying against her to Michael.Later, when Connor finds his mother is drinking again, he finds a potentially lethal outlet for his frustrations. Elsewhere, new boy Kevin turns up at Waterloo Road and quickly draws attention to himself, not least from Chalky who suspects the schoolboy is more intelligent than he's letting on. Also this week, Madi tries to persuade Sian to let her spread her wings and leave school, while Billy has a surprising request for Michael to consider.
Waking from a nightmare, Rhiannon heads to the bathroom where she takes out a small tin. But before she can open it, she's disturbed by rival Scout. Later at school, Rhiannon finds a quiet spot and takes out the tin again, revealing her self-harming kit.Rhiannon's disruptive behaviour in school is noted by Audrey, who excludes her from class. Believing she's compensating for her weight issues by acting the class clown, Audrey urges Rhiannon to join the lunchtime power-walking club. However, when Rhiannon lags behind the others, Audrey asks Scout to look after her enemy. The two girls bicker, but soon start to joke around together. The moment is short-lived, though, as Scout notices blood on Rhiannon's t-shirt. Making Scout promise not to tell anyone, Rhiannon confesses that she cuts herself because it makes her feel better. Meanwhile, as Christine and Audrey's bullying case reaches a climax, they agree to mediation. But when Audrey admits some of her actions could be misconstrued, Christine seizes the opportunity to push the case further. Elsewhere, new boy Kevin takes drastic action to gain credibility with Connor, which threatens his future at Waterloo Road, Sian is horrified to discover that Billy has asked Michael to end his life.
It’s the last day of term but not everyone is in good spirits. Back on the booze, Christine blames work pressures and doesn’t even try to hide her alcoholism from Connor. But unbeknownst to Christine, Connor is secretly plotting with Imogen to run away together. However, Connor and Imogen’s plans to move into the empty schoolhouse during the holidays are threatened after Christine overhears Scout and Pheonix talking. Frustrated by Waterloo Road’s poor academic improvements, Lorraine announces some harsh business decisions for the school. To her, the solution is simple - get rid of poor performers like Phoenix.Michael is horrified and instead urges Lorraine to reconsider. And when he discovers Tariq has been accepted for the national Para-canoe team, it’s proof to Lorraine that Waterloo Road can reverse the fortunes of problematic pupils. Sussing out Kevin is deliberately downplaying his academic abilities, Chalky confronts him. But it’s not long before the unlikely pair realise they’ve got more than just a head for maths in common, leading Kevin to suggest that Chalky fosters him. Later, at Tariq’s leaving party, the celebrations are cut short when danger comes calling. Frustrated by his mother’s interference in his life, Connor takes drastic action, with explosive consequences for the school and girlfriend Imogen. Michael’s own family dramas come to a head when he agrees to help his father, Billy, end his life. But not everyone sympathises with his decision which ultimately puts his future at Waterloo Road in jeopardy.
The new school term starts with the opening of Michael's new Pupil Referral Unit and the return of no-nonsense teacher Nikki Boston. But the positive mood changes with the arrival of the Barry family - a hell-raising criminal clan lead by matriarch Carol Barry, lone parent to Waterloo Road's newest pupils - bad boy Barry and daughters Dynasty and Kacey. Carol assures Michael that her brood will behave, but it's not long before sparks fly when Barry goads fellow pupil Jack MacAlister into a fight. Tom intervenes and discovers the reason behind their hostility - Barry is sleeping with Jack's mum Olivia. When challenged, Barry promises Tom that he'll keep his relationship with Olivia discreet for Jack's sake, but the troublemaker has no intention of honouring his word and sets about humiliating Jack in front of the school, screening a steamy video of him with Olivia. Michael gives Barry a stern warning - put an end to his bad behaviour or he'll be excluded from Waterloo Road. And if Barry won't listen to his teacher's words of warning, his mother Carol isn't so easy to ignore, arriving at school to literally slap her son into shape. Meanwhile, Scout raises Nikki's hackles with her disrespectful attitude to being in the PRU. Later, when her car goes missing, Nikki suspects Scout is responsible - an accusation the schoolgirl denies. But Nikki doesn't believe Scout and the battle lines are drawn. Elsewhere, the new term also brings uncertainty for head teacher Michael. On bail awaiting trial, accused of assisting his father's death, opinions in the staffroom are divided, casting doubt on Michael's leadership. Also, scarred in last term's fire, Imogen blames Christine for ruining her life and driving a wedge between her and Connor, little realising the truth. Finally, Chalky learns that he is going to be Kevin's foster parent.
It’s all about the money this week when Phoenix and Harley win the lottery, but their good fortune is overshadowed by the arrival of their father, Nelson. Nikki is forced to question her actions towards Scout, and Michael finds a friend in Christine when he gets news about his court case.All Phoenix and Harley want to do is spend, spend, spend, but Nelson’s arrival casts a shadow and causes division. Phoenix reckons Nelson’s only interested in their winnings and feels vindicated when their father reveals his business is in financial trouble. Angry at his father’s deception, Phoenix wants nothing to do with Nelson, but Harley, and then Lorraine, suggest it might be a good idea to invest some of their lottery win into the family business. But, Phoenix has one condition – he wants an apprenticeship in the firm. With the blessing of his brother Harley and the school, Phoenix prepares to bid an emotional farewell to Waterloo Road. Elsewhere, Nikki suspects Scout has stolen her car and handbag and sets about punishing the pupil. However, Scout discovers Barry is the real culprit and threatens to expose him, but master manipulator Barry suggests another course of action to wronged Scout.
Imogen challenges Dynasty over her plan to get a boob job, but can Imogen face her own image issues? Elsewhere, Nikki's antagonism with Scout builds when she accuses her of stealing Lorraine's car, and romance is in the air for Christine and Michael.
Christine's world is turned upside down by the arrival of her estranged husband. As the lies she has been telling for years start to unravel, they threaten to destroy her relationship with Connor. Elsewhere, Nikki is forced to reassess her view of Scout, and Connor wrestles with telling the truth to Imogen.
Former pupil Bolton Smilie causes a stir when he turns up in his army uniform to see Tom, but will Tom discover his real motivation for coming back before it is too late? Meanwhile, the Barrys' treatment of Connor leads Imogen to realise she still has feelings for him.
Dynasty’s world is turned upside down with the arrival of her criminal ex-boyfriend, Steve-O Malone, who wants a new start with her – trouble is, she has eyes for someone else; Maggie is forced to return to work after Lorraine lacks compassion; and while Audrey fights to keep her job, Tom makes a life-changing decision of his own.
Desperate to rid themselves of Steve-O, Kevin and Connor enlist the help of Barry with a dramatic, but dangerous, plan; Sonya gets involved in love rival Audrey’s wedding – much to Ndale’s horror; and Michael clashes with Lorraine, forcing him to make a decision which will change Waterloo Road forever.
The school is still in mourning following Tom Clarkson's death as the new term starts. Audrey finds herself out of her depth after she suspects new pupils, Lenny and Lisa, are being neglected. New teacher, Sue Spark, feels the pressure on her first day. Simon has a secret he is keeping from the rest of his colleagues.
The pupils and staff attempt to come to terms with the loss of Grantly. Nikki has a really difficult decision to make after her estranged daughter shows up at the school. Kacey is excited about going to America and decides to try and take matters into her own hands after Carol refuses to let her go.
t's a fresh new term and dynamic headteacher Vaughan Fitzgerald and his family arrive at Waterloo Road and attempt to fit into their new lives. Darren's world falls apart after a shocking incident at home and George learns never to cross a member of the Barry family. A brand new family arrive at Waterloo Road and immediately shake things up both in and out of the classroom. Dominant and forward-thinking, Vaughan Fitzgerald has all the makings of the dynamic headteacher the school needs, while his confident partner Allie takes the reins of the art department. But their professional veneer just might be tested as their warring children's behaviour threatens to spill out into the classroom. Christine vows to help Darren with his desperate situation at home but neither are prepared for the shocking scene that awaits when they try to confront his mother. George has been bled dry by Carol over the summer and pledges to make a change. He soon finds out why no one messes with a Barry and gets away with it.
Waterloo Road opens its doors to the local community but the message of goodwill falls on deaf ears for some. Rhiannon provides more than a shoulder for Darren to cry on and Justin’s behaviour continues to escalate. Vaughan rolls out his first initiative at the school: the Waterloo Road community hub. The phone is soon ringing off the hook with people who need help and the whole school gets behind the project. All except for Shaznay and Lisa who quickly realise they can use this as an opportunity to help themselves. Darren seeks comfort in Rhiannon’s arms as he mourns the death of his mother but when Maggie gets wind of their night-time antics, she swiftly nips it in the bud. However, she worries that it’s too little too late when Rhiannon grows cagey about how serious they’ve become. Justin’s anger continues to spiral out of control but the person whose attention he craves the most refuses to accept the severity of the situation, leading to the shock resignation of one of the teachers.
Students confront the responsibilities of parenthood, with Rhiannon taking to the project like a duck to water. Carol feels the pinch now her hands are no longer in George's pockets. She sees an opportunity to make some cash, but may leave Maggie without a job in the process. Allie reveals how bad Justin's anger issues are to her father. Vaughan decides it's time for his son to face the consequences of his actions.
The students are shocked by the return of Gabriella Wark, and despite her claims that she has turned over a new leaf, she gets a frosty welcome from Kacey, whose hopes of competing in the Commonwealth Games were ended in the accident caused by the trouble-maker. Taking their friend's lead, Lisa and Shaznay mark the returnee out as an easy target. Allie feels uneasy as Vaughan and the boys prepare to visit Olga on her birthday - and with the couple so wrapped up in their own problems, they don't notice Justin and Tiffany are growing closer. Hector finds an ally in Sue - and it soon becomes clear there's a chemistry between them.
Lenny crumbles under the pressure of looming exams. Allie is devastated to find out Vaughan’s secret and Sue tries in vain to keep her distance from Hector. Lenny is desperate to do well in his preliminary exams – but all night study sessions and excessive energy drinks throw his nerves into overdrive and give staff serious concern for his emotional wellbeing. Lisa’s attempts to lead him astray only serve to drive a wedge between them. Allie is determined to move forward in her relationship with Vaughan but is furious to find out that he has been keeping a big secret from her and forces him to make a big decision about his arrangement with his ex-wife. Sue has second thoughts about her fling with Hector but he’s not ready to let her go.
Justin’s attempts to make up for his bad behaviour are thwarted by Vaughan’s lack of trust in him. Kevin shows off his hacking skills and Sonya tries her hand at creative writing, much to the amusement of the rest of the school. Justin’s determined to turn over a new leaf and prove to everyone that he isn’t the bad guy he’s made out to be. Spotting an opportunity to help an impoverished pupil, Justin takes matters into his own hands – but Vaughan’s lack of confidence in his son only leads to more heartache between them. Sonya reveals that she’s planning to enter a writing competition but is devastated to learn the teachers are making fun of her efforts. Kevin is fed up with being mollycoddled and reveals his talent for hacking computers to an impressed Leo.
Kevin and Leo’s hacking lands them in serious trouble. Floyd confronts Justin and Tiffany about their relationship and Sonya puts her friendship with Christine at risk. Kevin sparks a serious security risk when it’s revealed he’s hacked into a multinational data organisation. The school is in lockdown but Kevin sees it as a chance to prove his skills and turns the situation to his favour. Justin and Tiffany’s relationship is uncovered by a shocked Floyd. After he and Justin get into a fight, Tiffany fears he will tell Vaughan and Allie and decides to take matters into her own hands. When Sonya’s story – a thinly veiled reference to Christine’s alcoholic past – gets circulated around the school, it’s a race against time to stop it landing in Christine’s hands.
Despite their parents’ objections, Justin hatches a plan to keep him and Tiffany together. Rhiannon tries her hand at plus size modelling and Hector begs Sue to leave Simon. The Vaughan-Fitzgerald household is in full lockdown following the revelation that Justin and Tiffany have been sleeping together. Justin is furious to find out he’s being sent to boarding school and hatches a plan of his own to keep him and Tiffany together. Rhiannon is horrified to see how thin the models are while visiting Gabriella’s mum on a fashion shoot but wrestles with her own morals when she is invited to join in as a plus size model. Sue is determined to put her affair with Hector behind her and looks forward to a fresh start with Simon in Wales. But when Hector hears of their plans, he makes an impassioned plea for her to stay.
Waterloo Road pulls every last punch in a desperate bid to halt the merger with Havelock High. Despite the absence of Vaughan, the students rally to uncover the council’s real plans and Lorna’s ex-husband shows his true colours. The day of the consultation has arrived and it’s Waterloo Road’s last chance to halt the merger with Havelock High. The council and its supporters are out in force to convince the community and parents that the merger is the best outcome for everyone. With no headmaster steering the ship, the students take matters into their own hands and they soon discover that the council is not being transparent about its real plans. Can the pupils save the school or is it really the end of Waterloo Road? Marco grows suspicious of Lorna’s ex-husband but his meddling leads to a dangerous situation for him and Kenzie. Who will come to the rescue and who will finally win Kenzie’s heart – Scott or Justin?