t's a fresh new term and dynamic headteacher Vaughan Fitzgerald and his family arrive at Waterloo Road and attempt to fit into their new lives. Darren's world falls apart after a shocking incident at home and George learns never to cross a member of the Barry family. A brand new family arrive at Waterloo Road and immediately shake things up both in and out of the classroom. Dominant and forward-thinking, Vaughan Fitzgerald has all the makings of the dynamic headteacher the school needs, while his confident partner Allie takes the reins of the art department. But their professional veneer just might be tested as their warring children's behaviour threatens to spill out into the classroom. Christine vows to help Darren with his desperate situation at home but neither are prepared for the shocking scene that awaits when they try to confront his mother. George has been bled dry by Carol over the summer and pledges to make a change. He soon finds out why no one messes with a Barry and

Waterloo Road opens its doors to the local community but the message of goodwill falls on deaf ears for some. Rhiannon provides more than a shoulder for Darren to cry on and Justin’s behaviour continues to escalate. Vaughan rolls out his first initiative at the school: the Waterloo Road community hub. The phone is soon ringing off the hook with people who need help and the whole school gets behind the project. All except for Shaznay and Lisa who quickly realise they can use this as an opportunity to help themselves. Darren seeks comfort in Rhiannon’s arms as he mourns the death of his mother but when Maggie gets wind of their night-time antics, she swiftly nips it in the bud. However, she worries that it’s too little too late when Rhiannon grows cagey about how serious they’ve become. Justin’s anger continues to spiral out of control but the person whose attention he craves the most refuses to accept the severity of the situation, leading to the shock resignation of one of the

Students confront the responsibilities of parenthood, with Rhiannon taking to the project like a duck to water. Carol feels the pinch now her hands are no longer in George's pockets. She sees an opportunity to make some cash, but may leave Maggie without a job in the process. Allie reveals how bad Justin's anger issues are to her father. Vaughan decides it's time for his son to face the consequences of his actions.

The students are shocked by the return of Gabriella Wark, and despite her claims that she has turned over a new leaf, she gets a frosty welcome from Kacey, whose hopes of competing in the Commonwealth Games were ended in the accident caused by the trouble-maker. Taking their friend's lead, Lisa and Shaznay mark the returnee out as an easy target. Allie feels uneasy as Vaughan and the boys prepare to visit Olga on her birthday - and with the couple so wrapped up in their own problems, they don't notice Justin and Tiffany are growing closer. Hector finds an ally in Sue - and it soon becomes clear there's a chemistry between them.

Lenny crumbles under the pressure of looming exams. Allie is devastated to find out Vaughan’s secret and Sue tries in vain to keep her distance from Hector. Lenny is desperate to do well in his preliminary exams – but all night study sessions and excessive energy drinks throw his nerves into overdrive and give staff serious concern for his emotional wellbeing. Lisa’s attempts to lead him astray only serve to drive a wedge between them. Allie is determined to move forward in her relationship with Vaughan but is furious to find out that he has been keeping a big secret from her and forces him to make a big decision about his arrangement with his ex-wife. Sue has second thoughts about her fling with Hector but he’s not ready to let her go.

Justin’s attempts to make up for his bad behaviour are thwarted by Vaughan’s lack of trust in him. Kevin shows off his hacking skills and Sonya tries her hand at creative writing, much to the amusement of the rest of the school. Justin’s determined to turn over a new leaf and prove to everyone that he isn’t the bad guy he’s made out to be. Spotting an opportunity to help an impoverished pupil, Justin takes matters into his own hands – but Vaughan’s lack of confidence in his son only leads to more heartache between them. Sonya reveals that she’s planning to enter a writing competition but is devastated to learn the teachers are making fun of her efforts. Kevin is fed up with being mollycoddled and reveals his talent for hacking computers to an impressed Leo.

Kevin and Leo’s hacking lands them in serious trouble. Floyd confronts Justin and Tiffany about their relationship and Sonya puts her friendship with Christine at risk. Kevin sparks a serious security risk when it’s revealed he’s hacked into a multinational data organisation. The school is in lockdown but Kevin sees it as a chance to prove his skills and turns the situation to his favour. Justin and Tiffany’s relationship is uncovered by a shocked Floyd. After he and Justin get into a fight, Tiffany fears he will tell Vaughan and Allie and decides to take matters into her own hands. When Sonya’s story – a thinly veiled reference to Christine’s alcoholic past – gets circulated around the school, it’s a race against time to stop it landing in Christine’s hands.

Despite their parents’ objections, Justin hatches a plan to keep him and Tiffany together. Rhiannon tries her hand at plus size modelling and Hector begs Sue to leave Simon. The Vaughan-Fitzgerald household is in full lockdown following the revelation that Justin and Tiffany have been sleeping together. Justin is furious to find out he’s being sent to boarding school and hatches a plan of his own to keep him and Tiffany together. Rhiannon is horrified to see how thin the models are while visiting Gabriella’s mum on a fashion shoot but wrestles with her own morals when she is invited to join in as a plus size model. Sue is determined to put her affair with Hector behind her and looks forward to a fresh start with Simon in Wales. But when Hector hears of their plans, he makes an impassioned plea for her to stay.

A neglected Leo finds solace in new girl Mandy but soon finds there is more to her than meets the eye. Sue finds herself in hot water when Hector threatens to tell Simon about their affair.

Vaughan goes to the police after Justin punches Allie, and Darren arranges a surprise.

It’s a new term and Waterloo Road is under threat, as the council wants to merge it with Havelock High. But Vaughan is ready for battle, and his plan involves volatile new pupils Kenzie and Scott. Now all he’s got to do is let the staff in on his radical strategy.

It's the start of Waterloo Road's new bike bank scheme, which Vaughan hopes will show the school off to the community. But Scott Fairchild has other ideas and it's Kevin who suffers the consequences. Christine and Lorna fight over who should lead the new PTA.

Vaughan's newly-qualified teachers Marco and Guy start work, but it's not long before Guy recognises Carrie Norton and the school comes down heavily on their relationship. Christine's plan to keep Audrey's smothering at bay backfires on her, while Sonya is forced to reveal a very private secret.

A trip to the coast does not go to plan after Kenzie lets slip about Bonnie two-timing Scott and Justin. More secrets are then revealed and one of the group runs off putting themself in serious danger.

Waterloo Road struggles to live up to rival Havelock High when the PTA comes to visit. Leo’s attachment to his computer game raises serious concern over his state of mind and Sonya frets over her impending test results.

Dale’s hopes of becoming a pro-cycler are left up in the air after the pressure of his mock exams take over. Abdul is surprised after a deeply-buried family secret is revealed. Kenzie finds her relationship with her mother falling apart.

Dale struggles to come to terms with his failure to make the cycling team and looks to find his adrenalin rush elsewhere. Hassan ties himself in knots when Ronnie comes asking questions, leading to a drastic decision. Kenzie finds herself caught between Scott and Justin, but who will win?

Dale's erratic behaviour reaches new heights and it's up to Lenny and Maggie to pick up the pieces. Abdul meets his mum, but it's not as he expected. The school gets a heads-up about a surprise inspection, but will the preparation be enough to save it?

Vaughan is torn between campaigning to stop the merger and Justin's exclusion. Things take an unexpected turn when Kenzie gets involved, while Lorna reveals a buried secret when someone from her past turns up. Sonya discovers something about Guy that sets her own lie onto a different course.

Waterloo Road pulls every last punch in a desperate bid to halt the merger with Havelock High. Despite the absence of Vaughan, the students rally to uncover the council’s real plans and Lorna’s ex-husband shows his true colours. The day of the consultation has arrived and it’s Waterloo Road’s last chance to halt the merger with Havelock High. The council and its supporters are out in force to convince the community and parents that the merger is the best outcome for everyone. With no headmaster steering the ship, the students take matters into their own hands and they soon discover that the council is not being transparent about its real plans. Can the pupils save the school or is it really the end of Waterloo Road? Marco grows suspicious of Lorna’s ex-husband but his meddling leads to a dangerous situation for him and Kenzie. Who will come to the rescue and who will finally win Kenzie’s heart – Scott or Justin?