First episode of Series 13.
Synopsis[]
Kim rolls out a fresh initiative that causes fireworks for staff and pupils alike, and two worlds collide when Tonya forms an unlikely bond with new boy Schuey.
Kim decides to tackle truancy with a new life skills initiative, starting with letters to parents of the most persistent offenders, employing a carrot and stick approach. The carrot being the promise of a free bus to Waterloo Road on the first day of the new term, and the stick highlighting that truancy is a criminal offence with a potential £2000 fine.
Tonya is spotted shoplifting at the local off-licence, but an intervention by new pupil Schuey results in them getting away. Pursued by the shopkeeper, they make it onto the school bus, but when the driver refuses to drive until the kids sit down, Schuey pushes him out and commandeers the bus.
When Dean bumps into his cousins Schuey and Portia, despite the shared rebellious streak, it seems that they have little in common. In the meantime, aided and abetted by Noel, Dean creates a fake profile for Coral on social media and proceeds to 'catfish' Neil with it.
Samia, Val and much of the school is still reeling from the death of Danny. Kai proposes the retirement of Danny's basketball shirt number, with many signing the framed top. With the frame damaged by the unruly new pupils, Lindon takes the shirt for reframing, but fails to notice it getting stolen by Stace. Confronted by Samia and a cohort of Danny's friends, the rival groups trade insults before the all too predictable partisan punch-up, during which Tonya lands a right hook on the loud-mouthed Schuey, resulting in a bloodied nose.
Schuey accuses Donte of being his assailant. Feeling neglected, Tonya joins forces with Schuey in an attempt at making Donte's life difficult. Having blocked a toilet to get him out of the way, they enter his office and steal a bracelet belonging to Izzy. When the police arrive, having identified her as the shoplifter, Donte defends Tonya like he would one of his own children, leading to a crisis of conscience, particularly when Tonya realises that the bracelet originally belonged to Izzy's late mother Chlo.
Cast[]
Staff[]
- Angela Griffin as Kim Campbell
- James Baxter as Joe Casey
- Jo Coffey as Wendy Whitwell
- Neil Fitzmaurice as Neil Guthrie
- Vincent Jerome as Lindon King
- Rachel Leskovac as Coral Walker
- Kym Marsh as Nicky Walters
- Katherine Pearce as Amy Spratt
- Shauna Shim as Valerie Chambers
- Adam Thomas as Donte Charles
- Ryan Clayton as Mike Rutherford
- Barrie Greenwood as Rolf Higgins
Students[]
- Zak Sutcliffe as Schuey Weever (First appearance)
- Summer Bird as Tonya Walters
- Scarlett Thomas as Izzy Charles
- Noah Valentine as Preston Walters
- Priyasasha Kumari as Samia Choudhry
- Tillie Amartey as Stace Neville (First appearance)
- Teddy Wallwork as Declan Harding (First appearance)
- Maisey Robinson as Portia Weever (First appearance)
- Aabay-Noor Ali as Mog Richardson (First appearance)
- Adam Ali as Kai Sharif
- Liam Scholes as Noel McManus
- Francesco Piacentini-Smith as Dean Weever
- Thapelo Ray as Dwayne Jackson
- Alicia Forde as Kelly Jo Rafferty
- Chiamaka Ulebor as Shola Aku
- Zanele Nyoni as Jess Clarke (First appearance)
Others[]
- Jamie Glover as Andrew Treneman
- Teddy Thomas as Tommy Charles
- Moey Hassan as Roger the Shopkeeper (One-off appearance)
- David Nellist as Clive the Driver (One-off appearance)
