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Alison Drew is a school inspector who came to inspect Waterloo Road Comprehensive School in Series 7 Episode 10 amid LEA Director of Education Richard Whitman's attempts to close the school down. She describes herself as an 'independent observer', and tells headteacher Karen Fisher that nothing that she or Richard say or have said would colour her inspection in any way, and that once she gives her report to the LEA, any decision that they come to will come from them.

Alison raises serious concerns about headteacher Karen Fisher's management of the school when her deputy Chris Mead undermines her authority and drives out of school to look for runaway pupil Scout Allen, especially when she learns that Scout and her younger brother Liam stayed overnight at Chris's house after their mother walked out on them, and that Karen did not inform the LEA of their stay with him. Alison tells Karen that Chris will be suspended pending an investigation for this, and phones the LEA to tell them immediately. Richard comes into the school as soon as he hears, and tells Karen that the LEA have no option but to suspend her, and that the school is now under direct Local Authority control. The staff and pupils, however, have other ideas, and soon there is a protest on the school roof. Eleanor Chaudry calls the press in, and Richard's personal vendetta against the school and Karen are exposed.

Alison turns on Richard, and tells Karen that while the school has its fair share of problems, the protest showed that there is real spirit, that the pupils and staff clearly want to be here. Karen presses her on what she will say in her report, and she says that while there is work to be done, the staff and pupils need this place, and so the school stays. Ultimately, however, Karen herself is not so lucky, as come the next term, she has been replaced by Michael Byrne.

Behind the scenes[]

  • Alison is portrayed by Tracy-Ann Oberman, best known for her role as Chrissie Watts in EastEnders.
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