She first appeared in the 7th episode of Series 3 and left at the end Series 5. Rachel was the longest serving Headteacher, appearing in 52 episodes. Her sister Melissa Ryan worked as head of the adult educational course at the school in Series 4.
Rachel was one of the most caring and compassionate teachers at Waterloo Road and a very popular headteacher. She believed in helping the children at school with any problem they may be facing.
She refused to exclude any child as Rachel believes any child can be helped. Although warm and caring, Rachel was no pushover and didn't shy away from disciplining children who step out of line. She prefered to use her powers of persuasion to win people round.
Rachel was a motherly figure to the children and cares for each one of them regardless of their background or academic abilities. Rachel becomes headteacher of Waterloo Road following the resignation of Jack Rimmer. Initially appointed by the LEA as an Associate Headteacher, Rachel soon decides to remain at the school permanently, in the role as Headteacher. One of her first acts in office is to defuse an ongoing situation between two recently split couples: Donte and Chlo Charles , and Brett Aspinall and Mika Grainger.
Chlo had slept with Brett, the boyfriend of her sister Mika, and had since run away. Mika manages to steal a bottle of vodka and ends up vomiting on Rachel. She has a dark past, that is partially revealed at the end of Series 3 Episode 10 through a newspaper clipping about a vice crackdown , that she is desperate to keep a secret from the students and staff. It's a period of her life she's so ashamed of, she'd rather change her identity than carry on living with the same name.
