Havelock High's Head Girl, Liberty is a rising athletic star and carer to her mum Sandra, who has rheumatoid arthritis. Concerned that Gerard's failing management of the school will ruin her university plans, Liberty secretly blows the lid on her head teacher with a damning story in the local paper. Liberty pleads with Audrey for a place at Waterloo Road before Gerard discovers she was behind the newspaper exposé. While Michael believes it would be wrong to poach Havelock's star pupil, Lorraine strongly disagrees. Under pressure, Gerard's bad press threatens to overshadow Havelock's performance in the first inter-school competition against Waterloo Road. Soon afterwards, when Liberty unwittingly reveals she was responsible for the newspaper article, Gerard snaps. Elsewhere, Janeece is excited after being asked to be Lorraine's PA for a day but fails to spot that Cheryl has chicken-pox. When the child-minder sends Cheryl home sick, Janeece leans on Chalky for help but fails to reveal Cheryl's illness -with far-reaching consequences. Meanwhile,Connor snubs Christine, thinking she's just seeking attention - but after a serious fall, he realises that she may have been telling the truth about being ill. Connor questions whether he can cope with two women in his life and pushes Imogen away.

Late for a meeting with Lorraine, Janeece leaves daughter Cheryl home alone. Later, Chalky discovers Cheryl crying, having hurt herself. He rushes her to A&E, but accidentally drops Janeece in it with social services. Janeece's first attempt at being a PA goes well, and Lorraine hints that she's always looking for new people to join her business. Back at school, though, Michael is livid that Janeece was lured away by Lorraine again. As he reprimands her, Janeece dashes off to the hospital without explanation, not realising that social services want to question her. Returning to Waterloo Road, Janeece fumes that Chalky got her into trouble. Fed up with being used - and worried about Cheryl's welfare - Chalky snaps, delivering some much-needed home truths to Janeece. The confrontation is a catalyst for change as Janeece makes some tough decisions about her future at Waterloo Road and her relationship with Chalky.Meanwhile, Rhiannon's bullying of Scout intensifies as she frames her for stealing. Scout feels increasingly isolated as everyone appears to fall for Rhiannon's ruse - including Maggie. Elsewhere, Christine struggles after her doctor reveals that she has alcoholic hepatitis. Fearful another drink could kill her, she immediately stops - but soon suffers overwhelming withdrawal symptoms, witnessed by a full classroom. Also this week, Sian urges Michael to visit his father and make amends, but her pleas fall on deaf ears, forcing Sian to reveal Billy's shocking secret.