SHE’S been a doctor, a police commander and a forensic pathologist. Now, Amanda Burton is going into the classroom. She’s the new headteacher at Waterloo Road, when the school drama returns for a new series next month.

Playing a headteacher means she’s following in the family tradition, as her father was a headmaster and she also has two sisters in the profession.

Karen Fisher – described as “an instantly dynamic and ambitious presence”

– is determined to bring her unique vision to the school and make it a safe, vibrant place to learn.

But (as usual with soapy dramas there’s a but) she and her family are wrestling with the aftermath of a recent tragedy. And that can only spell trouble.

This working mother comes equipped with a cheating husband, rebellious daughter and bulimic son to ensure plenty of personal traumas to contend with during her first term at Waterloo Road, as she attempts to keep her home life and school life separate.

“One of the interesting things about the character is she’s very much a mother in the series. Having three children means you see her domestic life and all that goes with that,” explains Burton, who made her name in C4’s Brookside before appearing in the series Peak Practice, The Commander and Silent Witness.

“It has been a very good counterbalance, as you’re not just seeing a woman who’s holding down a responsible job, but running a family too.”

Her appointment to Waterloo Road comes after the departure of former head Rachel Mason. One of Karen’s first jobs is to win over her staff – a situation with which Burton believes many people will be able to identify.

“It’s quite realistic that any new person coming in feels slightly on the back foot, thinking how is this going to be, how are they going to react to me?,” she says.

“She does have to make some sweeping changes on behalf of the local education authority. There are regimes that come into play in the school which not everyone will agree with which, again, I think many teachers will be able to identify with.”

Burton was taught by her father, who was a primary school head. “I went to his school until I was 11. I was the youngest of four daughters and we had all been taught by him,” she says.

“But I didn’t really enjoy my secondary education that much, probably because I am a very physical person and don’t enjoy sitting at a desk all day.

“I just dragged myself through GCSE and A-levels, so it suited me very much to go on to drama school, which was very active.”

That meant leaving her home in Northern Ireland and moving to Manchester.

Waterloo Road is filmed on location in nearby Rochdale and she’s enjoyed the experience of living back in the area.

“It’s the first time I’ve moved to be on a location for a long time and I felt very much like it was a big adventure,” she says.

“I packed my car up and arrived up there with my dog in the back. Everyone has been so welcoming – right across the board, from the actors to the crew.”

Playing a teacher hasn’t convinced her that she should swap acting for the classroom permanently. “I always wanted to be an actress. I would never have changed anything in the past. I have been acting for 32 years now and I feel so lucky to be able to have done exactly what I wanted to do.”

Karen Fisher is more hard pushed to do what she wants and put her ideas into practice in Waterloo Road, not least because of the attitude in the staffroom. Old regulars are joined by a sexy, opinionated Spanish teacher, a principled home school advocate and Karen’s husband, Charlie.

It’s left to ever-loyal deputy head Chris (Will Ash) to keep rebellion to a minimum.

Also joining Karen’s team is former pupil Janeece (played by Chelsee Healey) as school secretary. It’s very much a case of opposites attract as her warm, slightly dizzy approach collides with Karen’s no-nonsense efficiency.

■ Waterloo Road returns to BBC1 on September 1.