Waterloo Road
Producer interview – Sue de Beauvoir
What is in store for series two?
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"Well, hopefully, it's bigger and even better than the first series. We've built on the foundations of the first, evolving the characters and moving them on in new storylines to create an exciting, fast-paced series with high production values.
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"The teachers – and, in particular, the senior management team of Jack, Andrew and Kim – will have to cope with the trials and tribulations of a new Chair of Governors who has plans to turn the school into a City Academy.
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"Jack's job will also be hanging in the balance as he faces his interview for permanent headship. But, with a sexy new secretary, he'll find it hard to keep his mind on the job! We'll also see a lot more of the English Department's love triangle of Tom, Izzie and Lorna – not to give too much away, but things will get pretty cosy between them.
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"As always, real educational issues are at the very heart of the drama and our characters will be dealing with ubiquitous problems such as understaffing, lack of resources, healthy eating, internal and external politics, as well as issues relevant to young people such as bullying, peer pressure, drugs and underage sex – even school phobia!"
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Will we see any differences in this series, compared to series one?
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"The school has undergone some fine-tuning this series. Waterloo Road was saved at the end of the previous series and this has given the school a real boost, both to morale and financially.
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"The pupils all now wear a proper uniform and there is a more respectful relationship between the staff and pupils – well, most of them. There is also some new technology in the school, for example we now have proper interactive whiteboards.
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"The cast and crew needed several training sessions to familiarise themselves [with them], as it's important that they look like they're well used to handling the equipment. I think, as a result, the lessons now have a more contemporary feel.
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"We've also added a lot of warmth to the school with the artwork in the different classrooms and corridors. But we've deliberately kept a lot of the tattiness around the school because a freshly painted wall looks far too gleaming on screen. So, after we decorate, we get a team from the art department to dress down the walls to make them look older again!
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"In terms of the stories, I think some of the subjects we've tackled this series give it a grittier feel, and we've also shot it in a very naturalistic way to add to the overall feeling of reality."
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Tell us about the new sixth form.
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"The school's new sixth form is the result of the closure of a neighbouring school in the area and is being funded by Roger Aspinall.
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"Jack is thrilled that the school is in a position to offer A-levels for the first time, as it could give the school a much-needed boost in the league tables. Some of the teachers are less keen, as they struggle with the A-level syllabus for the first time.
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"Of course, no sixth form is complete without a sixth form common room and our design department have done a fantastic job making the new area look really impressive.
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"Most of our classrooms are deliberately made to look rather tired and tatty, but the common room, by contrast, has to look brand-new, so it's the best room in the building.
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"In fact, it's fast become a great favourite amongst the cast and crew and is almost always being used either as a green room for the actors or a quiet, comfy place for the crew to work or read scripts!"
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Can you tell us more about the sets you have now built on site?
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"We had various empty areas in the school, such as the school gym, which we rarely used for filming, so this series we've built sets for some of the characters' houses on site, which saves a lot of travel time and money.
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"So now, within our gym, we have Tom and Izzie's full house and, in another empty area of the school, we have Brett's den and a spare bedroom that we dress as different houses, depending on the storyline. It's much easier than taking an entire crew off site to someone's house.
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"As the school we use is very small, we often double up on classrooms, too. The art department just strip the rooms and dress them differently, depending on whose class it is."
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Waterloo Road is hoping to become an Academy, what will this mean?
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"Well, if it were to happen, realistically the school would eventually close and open up as a new school. Funding would be increased and there would be state-of-the-art facilities, new buildings and a new site, so we'd be filming in a very different, fully resourced school.
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"However, the downside to this is that whoever is financing the Academy has greater control of the curriculum and, therefore, the ethos of the school."
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Which characters are behind the school becoming an Academy and who is against it?
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"The Academy is a contentious issue among the staff and they all have differing opinions. Jack, picturing the new facilities and the calibre of pupil it will attract, is all in favour, but Kim is fiercely opposed, feeling that no one should be able to implement their own beliefs and agendas on a school in exchange for a fat cheque.
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"Andrew thinks that it is great news for the school, though he may come to privately agree with some of Kim's reservations. And Grantly makes a point of hating any change, so it doesn't go down well with him."
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Do you think Waterloo Road is realistic?
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"Yes, it's very important to us that the show is a realistic reflection of a struggling comprehensive and we do a lot of research on an ongoing basis to ensure this, as well as having help from a number of educational and professional advisors.
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"We also work closely with support groups and charities relating to the stories we tackle, to make the show as realistic as possible.
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"We also make every effort to ensure that the school looks as much like a real school as possible. For example, all the pictures on our walls were painted by a real art classes at Springhill High School, a local school which has been amazing in helping us out, so a huge thanks to them."
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What is your favourite storyline this series?
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"I have enjoyed the introduction of Roger Aspinall as a storyline as it has really ramped up the tension for Jack and it's been great finding out exactly where all his money is coming from.
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"It's also allowed us to introduce Davina, who's been working for Roger, and, in turn, the storyline between her and Brett... So Roger's arrival has prompted a whole host of new characters and stories!"
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Does Waterloo Road remind you of your own school days?
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"My own memories of school are good. I attended a well-funded school with excellent teachers and track record. Waterloo Road brought memories flooding back. When you hear the stampede every day down the corridors for lunch, it's not hard to believe we all might have regressed a bit. It sparked flashbacks for all of us."
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What were the Waterloo Road school dinners like?
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"Fabulous – we have the best location caterers and my favourite dish was seared tuna with salsa sauce."
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What was the funniest moment on set?
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"There were so many but one particularly memorable one was when we had to dress lots of the crew up in school uniform when some supporting artist children didn't turn up... "
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You are a successful television producer, but could you teach?
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"I'm full of admiration for teachers and I think they do an amazing job – but no, I know I couldn't do it!"
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