Cal Bowman is one of the secondary characters in Sex Education, portrayed by Dua Saleh.
They are a new student at Moordale Secondary and a bold, artistic character who spends season 3 trying to be authentic to themself despite the changes around them, as well as developing a connection with Jackson. Because of their original personality, they have a tense relationship with Hope, the new principle of their school. Eventually, Cal, alongside Jackson and Viv, manage to kick her out of Moordale, ruining her plans of creating a sex-free campus. However, despite that, Cal and other students are forced to look for a new school, as after the open day the investors have pulled all of their funding from the school, which causes the closure of Moordale Secondary. Furthermore, things between Cal and Jackson are done, as Jackson often still perceives Cal as a girl. However, the two decide to remain friends.
In season 4, Cal's been taking testosterone for some time, which makes them horny all the time. They also start attending Cavendish College, where they befriend Aisha Green, one of the most popular girls at the school, with whom they later develop a romantic bond. Cal also struggles with their mother, who doesn't fully understand her child's identity, but is trying her best to get it. Cal's also starting to have low-self esteem and lack of self-acceptance due to not liking the way their body feels. Worse yet, despite Cal doing their best, Jackson starts ignoring them as he's still struggling with his feelings for them. This leads to Cal going missing, but thankfully, Eric and Jackson find them, showing them that they matter a lot to all of them. Eventually, Cal's getting better and what's more, a door is opening for them and Jackson to improve their relationship.
Early Life[]
Cal originally comes from America, but they moved from there with their mom as a teenager and came out as non-binary when they were 14. Cal’s family moved to Moordale in 2019 (two years prior to season 3 storyline).
Throughout the Series[]
Season 3[]
They are introduced as a straight-forward but kind person, who remained slightly mysterious. Cal finds discomfort in the growing rules and guidelines set by Hope. They are among the group called into the office alongside Maeve, Lily, and Ola. They're seen to be artistic, and expressive as well as having a knack for skateboarding and for vaping and smoking.
Cal is out about being non-binary, and is vocal about using they/them pronouns, as seen with their first interaction with Jackson and Vivienne. They struggle fitting in because of their non-binary identity.
Season 4[]
Cal's been taking testosterone for some time now and also starts attending a new school. They're a bit on edge on Jackson, who starts ignoring them, still having feelings for them. Cal also starts attending Art classes, during which they meet Aisha, with whom they kind of start dating. Cal starts to lack of self-acceptance and push their mother away.
Unable to bear this anymore, Cal disappears and everyone starts looking for them. Eventually, they are found by Eric and Jackson, and reconclies with the latter, thereby redeveloping a bond with him.
Relationships[]
Romances[]
Aisha Green (hook-up)[]
Cal and Aisha meet in Art classes they have together. Their relationship becomes deeper after a party they are at, during which Cal think Aisha wants to kiss them. They also start to develop feelings for one another and Aisha asks Cal out. After a date, the two share a kiss. After Cal goes missing and Jackson finds them, which leads to their reconcil, Cal's starting to have feelings for Jackson again, which calls into question their and Aisha's relationship.
Jackson Marchetti (close friend; kissed; in love with)[]
- Main article: Cal and Jackson
Jackson is Cal's close friend. Cal and Jackson meet on campus as Jackson wonders if he should participate in defacing the school and therefore "removing" the history to it. The two originally pursue a more casual friendship but Jackson develops feelings for them and is teased for it. The two get high together and bond over about their experiences with anxiety and worries for the future. Over the course of the series, they grow closer together.
Cal and Jackson kissed, and they considered starting a relationship, but Jackson didn't feel that he identified as queer, and Cal felt that they couldn't be in a relationship with someone who saw them as female.
With time, Jackson started ignoring and being a extremely mean towards Cal, as he couldn't get over them. When Cal goes missing, Jackson's worried about them and is helping the rest of the students to find them. He eventually finds them in the place the two were hanging out in episode 3.3, and takes them home. Jackson's still caring a lot about Cal, and they're also not over them. It's possible that after season 4 finale, the two were able to fix things and make things work between them.
Family[]
Nicky Bowman (mother)[]
Cal has good relationship with their mother, but is not talking to her much and sometimes is pushing their mother away. That's why Nicky feels lost and doesn't know what's happening in Cal's life. Eventually, after Jackson and Eric find Cal, they apologize to their mother and have an emotional talk with their mother.
Friends[]
Roman (friend)[]
Roman is Cal's friend, whom they met via Aisha. Cal is asking Roman about his top surgery, as he's the only person who had it that they know.
Eric Effiong (friend)[]
Despite going to the same school earlier, Eric and Cal met while attending Cavendish, thanks to mutual friends. The two were going to parties together and were supporting one another. Eric is also the one who finds Cal after they go missing.
Vivienne Odusanya (friend)[]
At first, Viv didn't like Cal, or maybe even perceived them as her rival, as Viv was jealous of the friendship they developed with Jackson. Cal didn't like Viv either. They saw that Viv was sucking up to Hope, which annoyed them. During the school trip to France, Viv seems to be jealous of Jackson, because he spends all the time with Cal. Despite that, in season 3 finale Viv and Cal finally get along well. They organize 'The Thing' against Hope, finally becoming friends.
Layla (friend)[]
Layla is Cal's friend, but they're complete opposites. When Cal's bold about their values and principles, Layla is more timid and shy. The difference between them is visible before the SRE class, when Layla and Cal don't know which line they should join, the boys or the girls. Then, Hope suggests them joining the girls one; their division is based on whether a person has a penis or a vagina, not a sex or gender. This upsets Cal, whereas Layla doesn't want to cause any trouble and decides to join the girls class. After kicking Hope out of Moordale Secondary, Layla apologizes to Cal for not speaking up for themselves. Layla also asks Cal for help with binder. Cal agrees and later Layla comes to Cal's, where they test the binder.
Rivals[]
Hope Haddon (enemy)[]
The two clearly hated each other. Cal felt discriminated by Hope, who didn't seem to understand that Cal is non-binary, not a girl, and Cal disliked the changes Hope was managing at Moordale Secondary; once they called one of Hope's ideas as bullshit, talking directly to her. When Cal developed a deep connection with Jackson, who was perceived by Hope as her ally; Hope wants to make Jackson stop hanging out with them. Later, noticing that it is not possible, because of hanging out with Cal, Hope starts to perceive Jackson as an enemy.
Hope also publicly shamed Cal for not abiding by the new rules and called them a slovenly troublemaker. After that, Cal had to wear a shame-sign, which was supposed to make them feel uncomofortable and humiliated.
With time, Viv also realizes the nefarious side of Hope's management of the school, and secretly records her as Hope clearly shows her disdain for the students and their concerns. Viv sends the recording to Cal, Jackson and other students, and takes part in the open school show which clearly states the students' pride regarding talking about sex, which was organized by Viv and Jackson. During the open day, Hope, noticing that Cal still isn't abiding by the rules, decides to lock them in one of the classrooms, not wanting them to ruin the school reputation in front of the press. Eventually, Cal gets out of the classroom and falls down onto the stage during the show, saying hi to Hope and showing her their middle fingers.
Thanks to Cal, Jackson and Viv's plan, students finally get rid of Hope, who loses her position and gets kicked out of Moordale Secondary.
Personality[]
Cal is known to be witty, kind and bold about their beliefs and values. They are a bit unknown at first but develop as more of a wild card, speaking out about their beliefs.
Appearances[]
| Episodes | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Total | |
| Three | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 8 | |
| Four | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 8 | |
| Total | 16 | |||||||||
| Books | ||||||||||
| Sex Education: The Road Trip | Sex Education: A Guide to Life | |||||||||
| - | M | |||||||||
| ✔ = Appeared | M = Mentioned | |||||||||
| - = Did not appear | P = Pictured | |||||||||
Memorable Quotes[]
Trivia[]
- Cal rides a skateboard.
- Cal's an Aries.
Gallery[]
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Sex Education Wiki has a collection of images and media related to Cal Bowman. |
Promotional Images[]
Episodic[]
References[]
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