Waterloo Road

- Season 8

(2012)

Dedicated to Denzil,killed by the drunken lorry driver who put Tariq in a wheelchair,the new school opens though Grantly and several pupils have misgivings about the move. Incumbent staff number strict English teacher Christine Mulgrew,whose sullen son Connor is a new pupil and old school history teacher Audrey McFall. Connor's recalcitrant behaviour,unknown to everybody else,is caused by his mother's fondness for drink. Jade and Drew,supposed half siblings, enrol but it becomes apparent that they are an item who have absconded from a care home. Jade genuinely wants ...

Michael's efforts to call a truce with Gerard Findlay are vitiated when Grantly interrupts their meeting to protest that Gerard's pupils have vandalised his car. Ultimately however the two older men ally as Gerard implies to Grantly that he knows a secret from Michael's past. Tom is more concerned with the disruptive behaviour of Congolese Lula Tsibi at Denzil's memorial ceremony. Her uncle Lionel has told her that she is possessed by a demon and must be exorcised though Tom learns he is playing on Lula's belief that she was responsible for her father's death and gets...

As the feud between Havelock,Gerard Findlay's school,and Waterloo Road continues Findlay posts twenty-five year old press cuttings around the school describing how the young Michael Byrne attacked his father and left him for dead. The two heads confront each other and Findlay slips whilst trying to hit Michael,who later confesses to Sian that he had only been defending his mother against his violent father. Tariq grows more despairing about his handicap and engineers a fight between ex-Havelock pupil Angus Hancock and Phoenix,to create a diversion during which he ...

Imogen Stewart, a hearing-impaired student is embarrassed when her flirtatious mother Sally arrives to take charge of a sponsored rowing marathon to buy Tariq a kayak. Sally gate-crashes Imogen's birthday party ,where she and Angus are found in a state of undress in a bedroom though,when Sally explains her guilt over her view that she caused Imogen's deafness following a bout of meningitis there is some understanding reached. Fort Connor,however,whilst getting close to Imogen,things only get worse as he gets drunk and torches the basement. Whilst he is not caught for ...

The local paper publishes a damning report on Havelock and Findlay's slovenly attitude on the day the school is competing in a quiz and road race with Watrloo Road. Havelock's star athlete Liberty Gordon sold the story and asks ex-Havelock teacher Audrey to get her into Waterloo Road. At the quiz Waterloo Road thrashes Havelock and,though Liberty wins the race,she is seen to be taking drugs - actually her invalid mother's pain-killers as she believes she is arthritic. Findlay is discredited as he was aware of the drugs and after a confrontation with Audrey when he ...

Christine visits a doctor,who tells her she has alcoholic hepatitis. Trying to go cold turkey is too much for her and she lashes out at Phoenix Taylor in class but covers her tracks by claiming she was once attacked by a boy who resembled Phoenix. Janeece puts her work as Lorraine's assistant above her school duties and care of Cheryl,leading to the social services being involved,due to Daniel's concern. Janeece accuses him of betrayal but ultimately sees that he acted for the best. She suggests they become a couple but he is not convinced that it would work and she ...

Maggie tells Grantly the wedding is off after she receives a threatening call from a man called Trevor. Helped by Scout and Phoenix Grantly tracks down Trevor,who claims he is still married to Maggie and wants three thousand pounds to leave them alone. Fortunately the pupils help Grantly organize a trap,forcing Trevor to back off,and the wedding goes ahead. Sian starts dating Ray Keats,who is giving work experience seminars at the school,incurring the jealousy of Madi,who throws herself at him,the pair being caught kissing by Sian,who consequently dumps Ray. However ...

Kai Murray is a single father who lives an austere Freegan life,forbidding his daughter Morag and her little brother the use of mobile phones,television and cinema visits. He regards Lorraine's competition to design a school bench as blatantly commercial and destroys Morag's effort. However Tom helps her make another,which wins but Murray arrives and threatens to take Morag out of the school. Ultimately he proves he is open to compromise and Michael,likewise,pays another visit to his father - who asks him to help him die. When Christine neglects to mark her class's ...

Connor believes his mother's lies about Audrey and,to cheer him up, Kevin burns a book belonging to Audrey's family. However,seeing Christine's glee at Audrey's distress makes Connor realise that she is in the wrong. At a mediation meeting Christine's open hostility to Audrey and Audrey's dignified response also gives Sian cause for doubt over Christine's claims against the older teacher. Lorraine,as a favour to their mother,brings in her sister Sonya as a replacement for Janeece. She is not especially efficient but endears herself to Audrey putting out the fire and ...

It's the end of term and Lorraine considers excluding Phoenix Taylor for his poor results but is persuaded by Michael and the example of Tariq to set up a referral unit for weaker students in the area instead. The Budgens prepare for their honeymoon whilst Kevin asks Daniel to be his foster father and Imogen and Connor intend to run away together though Christine scuppers their plan and lashes out at Imogen. In retaliation Connor shows the other teachers the evidence of her drinking as well as starting another fire,which injures Imogen. However Christine takes the ...

As the new term starts Sian learns that she is to be a prosecution witness against Michael when he stands trial for killing his father. The opening of the referral unit,run by Nikki Boston, presents a problem as the unruly Barry children are enrolled,spawn of a jail-bird and his mouthy wife. Barry,the son,is soon at odds with fellow pupil Jack McAllister as he has had sex with Jack's needy mother and posted photos of it around the school. Barry also steals Nikki's car but she suspects Scout,with whom she has fallen out over a misunderstanding. At least Barry's younger...

Christine brings a reluctant Connor to school though he is too ashamed to face Imogen. The Taylor brothers win two hundred thousand pounds on the lottery,which brings their father Nelson to the school. Phoenix believes he is only there for a hand-out as his company is failing but Harley persuades him that they should invest in Nelson's business and Phoenix leaves to work with his father. Michael and Christine get close after he learns that he will not face court action over his father's death but the feud between Scout and Nikki grows as Nikki sees Scout with her ...

On Connor's birthday he takes Kevin's advice and reconciles with Imogen but does not admit to starting the fire. Imogen is annoyed that Dynasty is considering breast implants to work as a pole dancer in a local club when she herself can have no further plastic surgery. Audrey attempts to block Dynasty's efforts to work at the club,leading to a showdown with Carol,but Dynasty eventually realises that Carol is exploiting her and turns the job down in favour of staying at school. As a result she and Imogen become friends. Things hot up between Christine and Michael ...

Christine is shocked when ex-husband Joe turns up,wanting her to sign a document relinquishing her right to a legacy from his father. She reluctantly lets him see Connor,who,in view of his mother's past lies,wants to go with Joe but it turns out that Connor is not his son as Christine was in fact raped by Joe's father. After being told this Joe leaves without the boy and Connor also finds out as he overhears Christine telling Michael. He also plucks up the courage to tell Imogen the truth about the fire but she is appalled and rejects him. After Lorraine's car is ...

Daniel is annoyed that Kevin went behind his back to enter - and win - a contest to design a robot. Disharmony between the two leads Kevin to log onto Daniel's computer and find that Daniel changed his name from Gareth Dinsdale,following a sex scandal at a care home. Kevin initially believes Daniel to be a paedophile but discovers that he was one of several boys abused by the home's supervisor whilst in care. A contrite Kevin vows he will help Daniel in his court case against his persecutor. Rugby star Austin Healey comes to the school to present Kevin with his prize ...

Connor is put on probation and transferred to the P.R.U. but feelings run high against him and a girl gang,led by Dynasty,set on him,Imogen coming to his rescue after which they finally reconcile. Former pupil Bolton Smilie,now a soldier who has served in Afghanistan,comes to see Tom and is asked to give a speech to the school. He is however very nervous and it is a disaster. In fact he is a deserter,scared by his experiences in Afghanistan,and,when the military police are alerted,he takes Grantly and his class hostage at gunpoint though Grantly defuses the situation ...

Maggie is dismayed to learn that the heavily pregnant Jade Fleming has put her unborn child up for adoption by restaurateurs Sarah and Kaz Winters and over-reacts,lying to Jade that the child's father,the imprisoned Drew,is against the adoption. An angry Jade runs off to the Winters,who return her in time for the P.R.U. presentation,where she delivers an impressive,impromptu rap and indeed the whole presentation goes well,with even Barry Barry behaving himself. Connor admits to Christine he knows she was raped by her father-in-law and this brings them closer,though ...

Connor gives Imogen an engagement ring but she is not keen for them to go public and instead gives him a necklace as a love token. They also contrive to get Christine and Michael back together. Kacey is due to play for the soccer team in a cup final but Michael discovers that mixed teams are nor allowed and orders Tom to pull her from the team. Tom defies him but after Kacey has scored the winning goal tomboy new pupil Zoe - who had previously mistaken her for a boy - kisses her,leading Barry Barry to make an ignorant outburst exposing the deception. However Zoe has ...

Sian calls the Barry family in for a discussion on Kacey's gender issues but with only Dynasty being positive it is a failure. Barry Barry,having broken into Sian's flat and stolen a photo of her kissing Michael,posts it around the school which goads Sian into slapping him. Although the other pupils take her side and claim that they hit him Sian resigns though before she goes she encourages Kacey's mother to be more understanding of her daughter. Christine,annoyed that Michael still appears to have feelings for Sian,is further displeased to find Connor's hidden ...

Final exams loom on the last day of term. Michael has stayed the night with Christine but,to her annoyance,does not want their affair to be public knowledge. Christine decides she needs more time with Connor and organizes a trip to Paris,unaware that the boy is secretly marrying Imogen. Scout's mother Tina is taken ill,having stolen items from the school house which she aimed to sell to finance a flat with her daughter. She dies repentant and Scout,seeing her in a different light,is inspired to sit her exam and do well. Lorraine arranges a meeting with the head of a ...

Returning from holiday with Christine - who is still unaware that she has a daughter-in-law - Michael is annoyed that Lorraine has gone behind his back to appoint Nikki as the new deputy head. After Lorraine has confided monetary problems regarding the school to Nikki the two women become rather more than friends. Grantly,on dialysis but anxious to keep working,is displeased that Maggie has told everybody of his kidney failure but they are sympathetic. He needs a transplant and Maggie is a willing donor but her diabetes causes a problem. Snide Barry Barry is typically...

Lorraine brings in budget cuts which could well mean a depletion in staff. Maggie is angry that,as part of the cuts, she will be forced to tender for the canteen contract,her rival being Usman Haq,whose son is dating Rhiannon. Maggie believes that the Haqs are using Rhiannon in order to find out her strategy for the tender and angry words are exchanged. Granthly however acts as peace-making reconciling Rhiannon and Maggie - who gets the contract whilst the Haqs become her suppliers. Christine and Connor move in with Michael but Connor is frustrated that Imogen is not ...

Thuggish Steve-O Malone,Dynasty's former boyfriend,just out of gaol,arrives at the school and takes over Barry Barry's usury racket. He wants Dynasty to return to Liverpool with him. She is tempted but when she catches him stealing school computers she changes her mind,returning the computers and dumping him in favour of Kevin. However Malone sees them kissing and threatens Kevin to stay away. Lorraine calls a meeting where she proposes cut-backs,with under-subscribed subjects being axed. Audrey's history course seems a likely casualty but Audrey works hard to keep ...

Sonya visits her mother,Alzheimers sufferer Maureen in her care home and is upset when she calls her Lorraine. Things get worse when Ndale tells her the kiss was a one-off and he really loves Audrey (who later accepts his marriage proposal) and her attempt to peddle beauty products to pupils ends in disaster. She gives notice but Audrey - unaware of what happened with Ndale - talks her out of it and ultimately she accepts that she would rather be herself than try to emulate her sister.After Lorraine visits Maureen,who tells her that,although she is confused over ...

Dynasty stays over with Kevin but they get a rude awakening when Malone breaks in and threatens Kevin. To spare her new boyfriend being beaten up Dynasty reluctantly returns to Malone but is very unhappy. Michael pays off Connor's debt but Malone breaks into the house and discovers Connor's marriage certificate . New science teacher - and vegan - Esther Fairclough strikes a chord with Lula as both are into animal rights. However Lula organizes a protest which gets into trouble before Esther tells her that Lorraine has money invested in a local laboratory which does ...

Audrey asks Sonya to help organize her wedding to Ndale - unaware that Ndale has told Sonya he is only marrying Audrey to stay in the country. Lorraine tells Michael she wants drastic budget cuts and to make Waterloo Road a fee-paying school,shocking him when he sees that she intends to take in pupils from private schools. When he protests she replaces him as head with Nikki. Kevin realizes that Malone has put pressure on Dynasty to stay with him by forcing himself on her sexually. He persuades Connor,terrified that Malone will expose his marriage to Imogen,that they ...

Michael approaches the local council to take over and fund the school in the wake of Lorraine's plan to make it fee-paying,a move which causes a mass walk-out by staff. Chaos ensues. Newly-appointed head Nikki opposes Lorraine's view that Lula be suspended for protesting against the Nox pharmaceutical firm whilst Esther plots with Lula to tour the premises and find its weakness. Sarcastic supply teacher George Windsor annoys Lula and Nikki and Michael persuades the strikers to return to work. Sonya sends Audrey an anonymous note to reveal her fling with Ndale but ...

Director of education Robert Bain is impressed when Michael gives him a tour of the school but,as it is not in financial difficulties,refuses council funding. Michael tries to remind Lorraine how the school was successful in giving opportunity to bright pupils,herself included,whose parents could not afford fees but she is adamant in sticking to her plan,alienating staff,including Nikki who resigns as head. Eventually Nikki persuades Lorraine to accept the take-over,by which time Michael decides to leave the school,to applause from the students,and Christine is ...

On Christine's first day as head teacher the obnoxious George Windsor,now a permanent staff member,ruffles feathers whilst Imogen's mother Sally,irate at her daughter's marriage,threatens to take her out of school. Half the sixth form absent themselves as Dynasty challenges her mother's attitude on a live TV discussion programme. Carol tries to whip up feelings against Kevin but when his unpleasant mother Daisy is brought in and it transpires that she threw her ten year old son out to make way for her boyfriend Carol is incensed and hits Daisy. Chaos ensues before ...

As Grantly is released from hospital the school prepares for a charity auction with proceeds going to kidney research. Grantly is reluctant to accept Tom's offer as a donor but changes his mind when Maggie threatens to leave him.Kyle Stack,discharged from a young offender unit,arrives at the school,claiming that he wants to complete his education. Christine and Tom vote to exclude him but Simon wants to give him a chance. Needless to say Barry Barry,believing himself to be a hard man and sensing a rival,picks a fight and Kyle runs away.On the evening of the auction,...