Michael Byrne is an award-winning, dynamic, media-friendly 'Super Head' teacher (formerly science teacher) who has earned himself a fearless and high profile reputation in the media after famously surviving a vicious stabbing attack by a student. Rather than turning his back on teaching, he's dedicated his life to successfully improving failing schools through a promise to never let the past stand in his way.
Like many of Waterloo Road's pupils, Michael grew up on a rough council estate, raised by a single mum struggling to provide the right levels of emotional and material support. He quickly fell into a life of truancy and gang-fighting. Facing a future of unemployment and crime, it wasn't until he was challenged to aim higher by one particularly inspiring and persistent teacher that he finally decided to turn his life around. It's exactly this kind of inspiration that Michael has spent the rest of his life trying to provide at the schools he's worked at and gives him the belief that every pupil has the potential to achieve regardless of their background. Michael went directly into teacher training from university and with a head for heights, gained his first role as headteacher by the time he was thirty-two.
But his success doesn't come without hard work, with Michael often working a 16 hour day. Like most workaholics, he needs to let off steam and as hard as Michael works, he plays; often drinking late into the night. Despite being a self-confessed commitment-phobe, this doesn't stop women being drawn by Michael's powerful charisma; as far as Michael's concerned, let them get too close and they'll try to change him. Michael finally embarked upon a relationship with colleague Christine Mulgrew but he didn't find the courage to commit and broke up with Christine on the same day he resigned as head. He did, however, recommend Christine as his successor, despite her inexperience in headship.
Timeline
Childhood
Michael grew up on a rough council estate, his father Billy was abusive towards him and his mother Katherine. During this period, Michael attacked his father in self-defence and left him in a coma, later confessing to Sian Diamond in that he felt no remorse for what he did and that it didn't make him a monster.
During his adolescence Michael had fallen into a life of truancy and gang-fighting. Facing a future of unemployment and crime, it wasn't until he was challenged to aim higher by one particularly inspiring and persistent teacher that he finally decided to turn his life around.
Adulthood/Teaching career
And he began working hard, eventually aspiring to become a teacher. It was during his time in teacher training that he met Linda Radleigh. After completing his training, Michael taught science for a time and by the time he was 32, gained his first headteacher post.
During his time as a headteacher, Michael met Sian Diamond and engaged in a short-lived romance with her, before her relationship and eventual marriage to Jez. Following this time, Michael was stabbed by one of his then-pupils, Wayne Johnson. He is then presumably offered the headship at Waterloo Road after Karen Fisher was fired.
Series 7
Upon his arrival in Episode 11, Michael began making big changes to the school, hiring Sian as the new science teacher following Christopher Mead's departure, and also hiring Jez as the new PE Teacher. Michael would also headhunt former music teacher Matt Wilding to spearhead his new drive on music and drama. Byrne also took on a new intake of students including Tariq Siddiqui, who made himself well known on his first day by breaking into and then joyriding in Ronan Burley's new car. Michael also helped Phoenix and Harley Taylor after their only carer, their nan, passed away, managing to reunite them with their father. On the same day, he attends the trial of the pupil who stabbed him, disappointed to discover that he was found not guilty. Outside of court, he vows to Wayne that he'll pay for what he did, later confronting him and attempting to get a confession at the episode's conclusion.
In Series 7 Episode 12, whilst continuing to help Harley and Phoenix with their father, Michael organises an initiative to get more students signed onto A Level courses in the school. He is displeased with the arrival of Jez's kids Zack and Madi especially when the latter assaults Sian and sprays graffiti over the science block. Michael also wasn’t pleased about the English department's takeup of students on A-Level courses with Tom sharing that sentiment due to Grantly being the acting head of department. Michael later on witnesses Grantly telling students that there's a test to sign up and so to Grantly's frustration, which he then clarifies to the students and delivers an inspiring speech about how English changed his life and how one decent teacher got him reading which made him the man he is today.
In Series 7 Episode 13, Michael brings in Linda as the new Head of English which displeases Grantly, eventually resulting in him leading a walkout amongst the staff which eventually ends when Michael agrees to put the classroom doors back but does not give Grantly the head of department post seeing as he trusted Linda more.
In Series 7 Episode 14, with his returning feelings for Sian, he continues to put down Jez's efforts on the Waterloo Road rugby team, later berating Jeremy for cheating during the match, asking Jeremy to give him one good reason why Michael shouldn't sack him, revealing to Linda and Sian that Jez cheated. He was also unhappy about Jez not consulting him on bringing in Ken Watling to help out with the Rugby training.
Alongside that, Michael has to once more contend with Phoenix Taylor, who rides his scooter into school. After his anger at being sent home, Phoenix instead goes to see his Dad and works with him on the building site. Michael discovers this and attempts to convince Phoenix's Dad to let him come back to school which later happens after Nelson sees how capable he is with mathematics.
After the day ends Michael shares a kiss with Linda, it is later implied they spent the night together.
In Series 7 Episode 15, Michael wants to have Tariq join the school orchestra much to Matt's annoyance. Tariq eventually proves everyone wrong at the parents evening where he plays a recorded track of Tariq's rapping which impresses Matt in the end who later comments that Chalky is a "bona fide music producer".
Afterwards, Michael shares a moment with Sian but later is confronted by Wayne, the pupil who stabbed him. He was angry as his girlfriend kicked him out and now blames Michael for his homelessness, Michael does threaten to call the police but Wayne counters by threatening to tell the police about Michael attempting to elicit a confession from him after the trial. The confrontation eventually spills out onto the streets with Wayne commenting that he and Michael would be seeing a lot of each other, only for him to get hit by a van shortly after. Unbeknownst to Michael however, Phoenix Taylor was nearby and had caught the incident on video.
Michael's affair with Sian continues with Jez eventually discovering this in Series 7 Episode 19, punching Michael afterwards. In Series 7 Episode 20 which takes place on the last day of term, Michael finds a threatening note on the window of his car and after what has happened with his affair with Sian and his run-in with Wayne, he doesn't suspect who may have left it. Grantly later informs him that Jez plans to leave an official complaint about Michael referring to his affair with Sian.
Shortly after, Wayne sneaks into the school and holds Sian hostage, Michael does show up and eventually Wayne breaks down confessing to Michael that he stabbed him as he thought Michael had given up on him. After his relationship with Sian comes to and end Michael discovers that Linda was his stalker and afterwards tells her to look for a new job. At the end of the episode, Michael is run over by Linda, who tells him they could have been good together and this was the end.
When returning for the next term, Jez is the prime suspect for Michael's hit-and-run, but Chalky begins to suspect that Linda may be behind it. Michael eventually figures out that Linda was behind his hit-and-run and she is arrested.
By the end of the next term, the school is going to be closed down and students have to find places at alternative schools. When Michael discovers that a lot of his students have not attained these places, and talks to Lorraine about taking a handful of pupils with them during their move to Scotland. Lorraine wishes to reopen the school in Scotland, and advanced on Michael to take the role of headteacher after he taught her whilst she was still in school. The students and teachers who are making the move are gathered together and go to see the new school. They stop to take a photo by the sign at the England-Scotland border, when an out of control lorry driven by a drunk driver crashes into them, killing Denzil Kelly and leaving Tariq Siddiqui paralysed and wheelchair-bound.
Series 8
On the first day at the new school, Michael discovers that a pair of runaways have tried to enrol at the school. He offers Jade accommodation at the school house, but not her boyfriend Drew. Drew is rather protective over Jade, so furiously rejects Michael's offer. After Michael makes plans to keep Jade and Drew separated and Drew finds out, he steals a cleaver from the school kitchens and makes his way to Michael's office where he threatens Michael and threatens to hurt himself. Michael is able to defuse the situation and Drew is arrested and taken to a psychiatric hospital.
One of Waterloo Road's rival schools, Havelock High, have been struggling with the amount of pupils they have since the opening of the school in Scotland. The headteacher Gerard Findlay causes some problems with Michael, and he attempts to make peace with him. This means that when Grantly's car is graffitied by local Havelock kids, Michael urges him not to confront their headteacher. The headteacher finds out about Michael's past and sets about tacking up newspaper articles of it around the school. Lorraine is horrified as the story could have dire consequences for the school, portraying the headteacher as violent after he attacked his own father. Sian pursues the matter and discovers that Michael's father used to beat both him and his mum, and so he attacked him in self-defence.
After hearing what had happened, Sian makes contact with Michael's father, Billy. She attempts to get the two to contact each other, but is unsuccessful at first, as Michael refuses and is angered by her contacting his father. Meanwhile, Findlay is spreading false rumours that Michael had assaulted him.
As a sign of good will, Havelock and Waterloo Road hold an inter-school competition. Havelock's star pupil, Liberty, reveals that it was her that leaked bad information about the school and pleads with Audrey for a place at Waterloo Road. Michael does not agree that this would be a good idea, considering the bad spirits that they have experienced with the school.
Sian still continues to have regular contact with Michael's father, Billy, and discovers that he may only have a short amount of time left to live. He urges her not to tell Michael about his condition, wanting him to visit out of forgiveness and not out of pity. After Michael yet again refuses to visit his father, Sian blurts out the news of his condition in a final attempt to try and make peace between the two before it is too late.
After dealing with Morag's family issues, Michael decides to finally confront his own. Whilst visiting his father, he is requested to help his father commit suicide as he no longer wants to live in this pain. Sian is disgusted by this plea, and even more so when she discovers that Michael is seriously considering doing it.
Lorraine has started to steal Michael's secretary, Janeece, causing problems at home and at her Waterloo Road job. Janeece decides to quit Waterloo Road, and so Lorraine hires Sonya to be his new secretary, revealing that they are in fact sisters.
At the end of the term, Michael decides to help his father with his pleas; he helps him open a bottle of lethal medication which will end Billy's life. Not everyone agrees with his decision, especially Sian who had started to consider herself close with Billy. Michael's future as a headteacher is jeopardised due to this.
When he returns to school for the next term, it is revealed that he is on bail and awaiting trial for the death of his father. Not all of the teachers agree with his decision and it casts doubt on Michael's leadership qualities, one of the teachers that do support him, however, is Christine. He confides in her about his court case and the pair of them start to become closer. Also during this term, with Lorraine's backing Waterloo Road opens its brand new Pupil Referral Unit and Michael brings Nikki Boston in as the head of the unit.
He and Christine start to become even closer, and he asks her out on a date. However, when her ex-husband Joe comes to the school to see Connor, Michael doesn't listen to her pleas for help. He doesn't want their relationship to be known within the school, and so Christine turns to vodka. After being drunk in school, Sian advises Michael that he should fire Christine and not let his personal feelings for her get in the way. When he goes to speak to Christine, he discovers that the reason she went so off the wall was because Joe wasn't actually Connor's father and that Connor was conceived after she was raped by Joe's father.
Imogen learns the truth that Connor was the one that started the fire in school that left her face scarred, Christine had been the one to take the blame for him. She threatens Connor to tell Michael, otherwise she will tell him herself and not see him as a decent person. Christine begs Michael to find a way to make it so that Connor isn't charged with arson.
Michael and Christine's relationship hit crossroads when he overhears Connor discussing with his friends that he had found a pregnancy test in his bathroom. He talks to Christine about it, who tells him that it was a false alarm, but judging by his reaction he isn't ready for commitment. Connor and Imogen set it upon themselves to get Michael and Christine to meet up at a date.
During a conflict with Sian, Barry breaks into her house and steals personal photos of her and Michael from when they were together, as well as a pair of her knickers. Barry produces the knickers in her class, pretending that he and Sian were together the night before. He throws the knickers in her face and she slaps him, leading Michael to feel conflicted about whether or not he should dismiss her. She later chooses to resign after the incident with Barry.
In Series 8 Episode 26 Lorraine Donnegan decides to close the Pupil Referral Unit. Michael argued with her because the closure of the PRU would severely affect the school's reputation. She wouldn't change her mind and so he resigns. He is replaced as head by Nikki Boston for one day. After Nikki's dramatic first day is over, she quits and Lorraine offers him his job back. However on his first day back, it is discovered that Michael tried to get the LEA to take over Waterloo Road behind Lorraine's back. After a few arguments and minor skirmishes in the staff room, Michael and Lorraine resolve their differences, and agree to the LEA takeover together. They both leave Waterloo Road and Michael tells her "another school" is next for him.
Following his departure, Christine Mulgrew becomes Headteacher of Waterloo Road following Michael's recommendation of her being a suitable replacement as Acting Headteacher. Alongside this, Michael also lined up Simon Lowsley as the new Deputy Head alongside Tom as part of his exit deal.
Trivia
- Upon his arrival at Waterloo Road, Michael is the first male headteacher at the school since Jack Rimmer.
- Michael is the only male headteacher at Waterloo Road to not have children.
- Michael is the second longest serving head behind Rachel Mason, having served as head for 2/3 of Series 7 and almost the entire run of Series 8.
- Michael was the first headteacher of the new Waterloo Road in Scotland.
- Michael was the only headteacher to run the school in both Rochdale and Greenock.
- He was the final Rochdale Headteacher.
Quotes
- "You'll have enough on your plate. Refreshments I can do myself." (first line)
- "It's not about knocking them into shape. We have to inspire them to want to learn. Teachers are the cornerstone of any school. I've never yet met a failing pupil, only failing teachers."
- "Can we lose all the pink fluff? This is an office, not Paris Hilton's boudoir."
- "Look, Linda, I wanna be clear. What happened on Friday was a one-off, between two consenting adults. But we crossed a line. Never to be repeated. Alright?"
- "Good afternoon, everyone. Sorry I'm late. You all know how much I hate it when you're late, how I won't tolerate the flimsy, lame excuses...so why should you tolerate mine? I was late for this because I was clearing up one of my own mistakes - one of many I've made this term. Too often I've leapt to the wrong conclusions, put my own ideas and needs before the best interests of this school, its students...and its staff. And for doing this, I want you all to know that I am truly sorry. But today should be about giving credit where it's due, so I want to devote the rest of this time to giving credit to the staff. Most of what this place is, does, and achieves is down to them. They deserve not only our thanks but our utmost respect. The rest of the credit should really go to you. This is your school, you make it what it is. And me? I'm honoured to be a part of it. Thank you all for giving me the opportunity, enjoy the rest of your day."
- "Get out. Take your gossiping, your backstabbing, and your pathetic attempts to gain favour with you."
- "Daniel phoned. I gather we have a potential gang problem."
- "I'm sorry, Lorraine, you're wasting your breath. This school needs me, now more than ever."
- "Look. Me - headteacher. You - hands-off sponsor. Remember?"
- "Jade's being fitted for a new PE kit, so unless you'd like to try one on...?"
- "That's you to a T, isn't it? Care more about your ploughman's than your pupils."
- "What's he doing out there on his own? TARIQ!"
- "My father deserved everything he got. That man beat my mother like clockwork. Shoes not polished enough, the belt. Dinner too hot, dinner too cold, the back of his hand. D'you want me to go on?"
- "You know something, I really should nevera come back here. Too many ghosts."
- "I buried you a long time ago, Dad."
- "Anything else you wanna share with me, Lorraine? We're uh, moving the school to Latin America? Or hosting the Commonwealth Games?"
- Michael: "I would rather there was no school at all, than one that reinforces inequality and denies a fair and equal chance to the children and families out there, Lorraine, that we are trying to serve. I'd sooner see it close than let it damage this community."
- Lorraine: "In which case you have a problem. So what are you gonna do?"
- Michael: "What can I do? I'm faced with a woman who's turned her back on all of her principles."
- Lorraine: "Answer me. What are you gonna do?"
- Michael: "Only one thing I can do."
- Lorraine: "Say it then. Tell me."
- Michael: "I resign."
- Lorraine: "And I accept your resignation."
- "Yeah, but you're not being counted, Tom, you're standing out here and the kids are in there being taught by strangers! Y'know, I woke up this morning and I realised something, OK? You all have a distinct advantage over me. You still have the privilege of coming here every day and teaching these kids. Now...to me, walking out is an abuse of that privilege. You should all be ashamed of yourselves."
- "No, no, Lorraine, there's only ever been one proper job for me - running a place like that."
- "No, I'm alright. Bye, Lorraine." (final line)