Parents' Guide to

Bad Education

By Martin Brown, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

British high school comedy thrives on inappropriateness.

TV Netflix Comedy 2012
Bad Education Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

  • Bad Education TV Show: Mr. Wickers (Jack Whitehall) and Miss Gulliver (Sarah Solemani) catch up at the pidgeonholes
  • Bad Education TV Show: The students teaching Wickers
  • Bad Education TV Show: A parent-teacher conference

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 6 parent reviews

Footking0
Footking0 Parent of 15-year-old
December 12, 2022
age 15+

A Surprisingly Deep Show

I thought the first Season/Series was ok as it had some jokes about racial stereotyping that were a bit objectionable and the characters were a bit one-dimensional in the first series. The second and third series improve massively as they tone down the race jokes and make the characters much more relatable and likeable. The Third series really ties the whole series together and the last two episodes really makes you appreciate the character growth and how the series really contrasts the simple cartoonish personalities in the first series with the complicated and incredible characters they grow into. I especially grew to like the Chinese student Jing as in the first series she was merely a stereotype and the butt of jokes. By the end of the show, she has really grown to be a lovely role model and realistic role model. There are some bad role models but as long as you explain to your child what is wrong about those examples. Overall this is a great teenage and adult comedy that grows on you from a crude comedy to a deeply emotional series that will stay with you by the end. Am looking forward to the reboot series and reunion episode coming up.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Louanne
Louanne Adult
October 29, 2020
age 11+

Not that bad

Csm where you at, this program has the odd sexual reference and a bit of bad language I would let my 11 year old child watch this. How could you rate this program a 17+.
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

BAD EDUCATION is an edgy British comedy about Alfie Wickers (Jack Whitehall), a high school teacher who is absolutely terrible at his job. His headmaster and peers are taken in by his boyish charm, while his students want to keep him around for the easy A. Instead of learning about history, they help Mr. Wickers in his seemingly endless pursuit of a date with fellow teacher, Miss Gulliver (Sarah Solemani), who keeps him at arm's length.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6):
Kids say (6):

Television as a medium has proven itself capable of just about anything, and yet almost every "edgy" comedy from the past two decades is pretty much the same. Bad Education starts with a decent premise -- a teacher who's more immature than his students -- but then just lazily hits the same marks as every post-Family Guy offense-fest that's had so much as a three-episode run. Unfortunately, that includes racial stereotypes, gender stereotypes, inappropriate behavior with students, jokes about statutory rape, jokes about Nazis, jokes about "slave labor," and jokes about disabilities. The performers are charming and naturally funny enough that sometimes the jokes land, and the show can at times be fun to watch, but for the most part, Bad Education is working off of lesson plans that haven't been updated in 20 years.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about teachers. What do we know about Mr. Wickers? What do you think he likes about being a teacher? Is there anything that makes him a good teacher?

  • How does the school compare to your experience at school? Are the classes anything like regular classes? Do any of the teachers or administrators act like your teachers or administrators? Do the students remind you of your fellow students?

  • What do you think is the impetus behind Mr. Wickers' decision to become a teacher? Is any sort of backstory offered?

TV Details

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