A familiar face returns to the comprehensive in Rochdale. It's former staff member Kim Campbell, who left the school with its Deputy Head Andrew Treneman when he accepted a job offer in Rwanda. Kim's ready to work again as Head of Pastoral Care at Waterloo Road. The staff and students are thrilled to see her but questions are whispered when it becomes clear that the person she has returned with is her baby girl called Grace – not Andrew. So, the big question is: who is the father of Kim's child? Kim can't wait to get to grips with her job but a planned careers day, involving former pupils, is thrown into disarray when glamour model Sarah-Leanne arrives. The pupils lap up Sarah-Leanne's lifestyle, which means Kim finds herself battling with the glamour girl to win the hearts and minds of her celebrity-obsessed students. One person who does find the careers day inspiring is Janeece, although not in the way everyone would have hoped. And Kim's return has a positive effect on pregnant Chlo, who decides she will get a good education and be a working mother. Stepdad Tom is delighted but boyfriend Donte isn't. Elsewhere, there are challenges for Head Teacher Rachel Mason, as she and Deputy Head Eddie Lawson struggle to help student Philip cope with his mother Melissa's departure.
