Head of Pastoral Care in the second half of Series 6 is English teacher, thrice married Adanna Lawal. Adanna is third generation Nigerian. She has studied education after her first degree and there isn't anything she doesn't know about, from philosophers like Althusser to "that non-entity, Ed Balls". "God help us all", as Grantly might say. Adanna never knowingly understates. If there's a problem - it's massive. If there's a wayward child he's crazy bad. If a teacher disagrees with her – (s)he's a total prat. Adanna doesn't make a good enemy but she makes a fantastic friend. And friend she is to the many children in her care – no matter what names she calls them to their faces. They come to like her straight-talking and they know where they are with her. Adanna is determined to be there for everyone and defines her approach to being Head of Pastoral Care as having a truly 360 degree approach – as far as she's concerned, she's there to take care of everyone in the school, pupil, teacher or school secretary.
Nothing shocks her because Adanna's childhood has been nothing short of horrendous. Her own mother hated her and she still can't figure out why. Because of this, there's something of herself she keeps back from adult relationships – she's much happier with children because she over-compensates for the way her mother treated her.
But Adanna is determined to see the best in everyone. It's this warmth that makes her a popular addition to the SMT: warm, passionate and most importantly, approachable. Adanna soon wins over most of the staff room, including Cesca, and a firm friendship grows between the two teachers. When Cesca struggles with her feelings for Jonah Kirby, it is close friend Adanna she wishes she could confide in – but deep down, Cesca knows no one will approve of what she's doing. Cesca gets round this by telling Adanna a half-truth - waxing lyrical about her blossoming romance without actually giving away who the guy in question is. Adanna's trusting nature means she doesn't question too much of what she's being told and when the news about Cesca and Jonah blows up at the end of term, Adanna will be left feeling like a fool. So it is that the end of term finds a wiser, perhaps more cynical Adanna, determined to change her trusting ways – she'll never be taken for a fool again.
Behind the scenes[]
Adanna's actress, Sharlene Whyte, also appeared for three episodes of Series 5 as Alison Yates, the solicitor of Marion and Lindsay James.
Quotes[]
- "Uh, no, no, no way Jose!" (first line)
- "No, I am committed, yeah. To teaching, not educational apartheid."
- "Wayne Bodley makes Kyle Stack look like a feminist."
- Chris: "He runs a modelling agency, Adanna!"
- Adanna: "Yeah, he pays a load of skinny pubescents to fulfil impossible male fantasies. It's gender stereotyping of the highest order, and I don't want it in my show." (about Dan)
- Chris: "Mmm, Cinderfella, sounds ominous."
- Adanna: "It will be an uplifting tale about a young lad with bad grades who finds success."
- "Spot on, Tom. Cesca thought the whole "Daddy's had a heart attack" would be the perfect cover-up."
- "Yeah, I'm on it." (final line)