Waterloo Road (series 9)

Audrey is concerned when former Havelock High pupils Lenny and Lisa Brown enroll at Waterloo Road, and when Christine dismisses her worries she attempts to take matters into her own hands. Nikki tries to help Kacey, who is struggling to deal with Tom's death. Sue Spark joins the school as a Science teacher, and Simon harbours a secret.^[4]

Rhiannon sends saucy pictures of herself to Darren and they end up being sent to mobile phones around the school. George finds out Princess is leaving him. And Audrey discovers Lisa and Lenny are trying to scam money out of her.

Grantly returns to teaching but only gets as far as the school gates before admitting to Maggie he is having second thoughts. Christine eases him back in by asking him to help out with the national school poetry competition, but things soon fall apart when his temper gets the better of him and he accuses Harley of plagiarism. The day of Kacey's first big fight arrives and she is already dreaming of Commonwealth Games glory. Barry, however, has a different idea up his sleeve as he starts taking bets against his sister winning. Sue is struggling to cope with her classes and turns to tranquillisers. After this he realises the mistake he's made and routes for the poem. He gives it to Harley to read on stage, but, while Harley reads it Grantly dies.

When her estranged daughter turns up, Nikki faces a tough decision. Christine and Simon's relationship is strained further when the school's sponsored clean goes awry. Meanwhile Carol Barry is not happy about Kacey's Application to boxing school.

The day of the interviews for the headship arrives, although Christine worries the odds are stacked against her as Simon clearly has Bain's support and Imogen's mother is also on the panel. However, Simon is also feeling extra pressure from his father-in-law, just as he is getting cold feet about marrying Sue. When he is asked to sort things out for a bullied pupil, he clashes with Christine over how best to deal with the problem. Meanwhile, Nikki is shocked to discover someone has stolen Kacey's boxing fund, jeopardising her hopes of training in the USA - and when the identity of the thief comes to light, the news threatens to split the Barry family for good.

When blonde bombshell Gabriella Wark explodes on the scene, she immediately causes problems for staff and pupils. With her sights firmly set on hot new PE teacher Hector, this is one girl who won't blend into the school furniture. Meanwhile, newlywed Simon's brand new Resilience Education scheme kicks off the new term with a bang and a disagreement with Christine. you also learn that Nikki Boston is seeing Vix Spark, Sue's sister, and new PE teacher, Mr Reid has his eyes set firmly on Nikki.

When Dynasty embarrasses her in front of hunky Hector, Gabriella declares war and begins to sabotage Dynasty's friendships and schoolwork. Imogen and Rhiannon join Gabriella for a night out, but it doesn't take long for them to find themselves in trouble. Later, a knight in tarnished armour makes a shock return and quickly captures Gabriella's wandering eye...

Kevin is a bag of nerves as his university bursary interview looms, despite the legendary Chalky arriving to lend his support. Kevin's anxiety gets the better of him and he and Dynasty bicker over their very different ideas about the future. Before they can reconcile, Kevin suddenly collapses and is rushed to hospital, sending shockwaves rippling through the school. Meanwhile, full of regret, Nikki frantically tries to cover up her one night stand with Hector, but when a vindictive Gabriella finds out, she sets out to destroy Nikki's relationship with Vix. Elsewhere, Lula is overjoyed to be offered a university placement, but her excitement is short-lived when her family is threatened with deportation.

Dynasty sets off for a police interview, but her hopes are dashed when her family's criminal background is revealed. She is soon distracted by Barry's cagey behaviour and is shocked to uncover the truth behind his new job. To prove she is not cut from the same cloth, Dynasty is forced to make a weighty decision that will change the Barrys' lives once and for all. Meanwhile, Darren is in serious trouble when he is discovered with indecent images on his phone yet again. Determined to get to the root of Darren's behaviour, Christine makes an unannounced visit to his home, but is left appalled and shaken by what she finds.

Christine wakes up with a horrific hangover. In a massive error of judgement, she gets into her car while still under the influence and drives to school. From that moment on, Christine's day descends from bad to worse until she must make a terrible choice on her future at Waterloo Road: Resign or face the music Meanwhile, Kacey Barry returns from the US to a hero's welcome, but a jealous Gabriella is fuming that all attention is no longer on her. Determined to get even, Gabriella unleashes her vindictive side, but it's Kevin who bears the brunt of her anger.

A sober Christine deals with the repercussions of her drink-driving offence. Kacey is selected for the Commonwealth Games but Gabriella soon puts an end to her happiness. Nikki's future at Waterloo Road is suddenly thrown into uncertainty. Connor returns to support a vulnerable Christine amid the fallout of her drink-driving incident. Though she vows to make amends, both the school and the Education Board are divided on her future at Waterloo Road, and Simon is made Acting Head by Robert Bain. Kacey and Gabriella's feud escalates and turns nasty as Gabriella causes an accident that leaves Kacey's boxing dreams in tatters. Nikki's career is called into question when a student makes an accusation against her. Vix reaches out to her in support, but will there be time for them to reconcile before Vix leaves for good?