Waterloo Road star Shauna Shim has weighed in on her character Val Walker’s quasi-exit in the latest episode.
In scenes aired earlier this week (October 1), music teacher Val passionately sides with student Noel, a gifted musician who has a hard time with the most academic aspects of school.
Val is ready to quit when headteacher Steve Savage (Jason Manford) threatens to kick Noel off the A Level course, though she later reconsiders when they reach an agreement.
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“For Val, she has a history within the music industry, and also her journey to becoming a teacher isn’t as academic as the rest,” Shim told Digital Spy and other press about her character connecting to Noel.
“It’s more based on her practical history of having been within the music industry. So she definitely feels like there isn’t just one way to get a job done.
“Academia, as important as it is, isn’t the only way to get into any profession, and particularly when it comes to the arts.”
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Val doesn’t understand Steve’s decision, ending up questioning not just how the education system works, but also her role as a teacher.
“It just doesn’t make sense to her that someone like Noel could be threatened with not being on a course when he is one of the most gifted people in the room, just because he doesn’t get the academia,” Shim said.
“He might not be able to perform well under exam conditions, but give him a guitar, give him an instrument, and he’s very organic with it.
“She’s so passionate about her students, and they are the thing that moves her. Working with them and seeing them discover themselves, that’s the thing that makes her feel alive and lights her up.
“And if she can’t do that because those talented individuals are being pulled out of subjects because their academic grades aren’t great… she definitely starts to feel like, ‘What’s the point?'”
At the end of the episode, Val and Steve compromise at the Battle of the Band, with the headteacher suggesting allowances be made for struggling students.
Waterloo Road airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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