(Un)educated: My Life as a Teacher, and Why You Should Never Become One

by Francis Foster

The class weren't laughing with me, they were laughing at me and there is no lonelier place for a comedian or teacher to be in. The lesson was over and everyone knew it. I looked down and realised that my flies were undone. Welcome to teaching.

Welcome to the reality of what it's really like to be a teacher - the pure, unvarnished truth of what it means to stand in front of a group of thirty kids and try and get them to do some work. It's not the inspirational vision you see in government ads, it's breaking up fights between warring East End grandmas, six-year-olds streaking naked through exam rooms or prepubescent sociopaths annihilating lessons week after week.

In brutal, hilarious and gory detail, teacher-turned-comedian Francis Foster lifts the lids on the indignities and humiliations he experienced as a supply teacher in some of the most atrocious schools around the country. But so much more than a teacher's memoir, Classroom Confidential shines a light on the problems in the UK education system in uncompromising fashion, exposing how the most vulnerable children in society are being failed. And if you're not listening? Well, it's not only your own time you're wasting.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Autobiography, Humor, Comedy

320 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 16, 2027

Reviews

[Jordyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Annoying. As a teacher there were lots of things I was able to nod in agreement with, particularly in terms of the training experience and dealing with behaviour, but most of the book was very frustrating because it’s written in a way that suggests the author has identified the definitive things that are wrong with teaching (without any credible research backing any of it, so it is entirely his own observation as far as I can tell) and made sweeping negative generalisations to every state school and teacher in the UK, but without any indication of what the solutions might be. It is essentially your moany school colleague who will find fault with everything, but given a platform by a publisher. There are loads of things wrong with the education system, but I found the all-knowing stance of the author incredibly irritating considering he has no more credible experience than any other teacher who’s been to a handful of schools and had a handful of standard stressful teaching experiences. Any of us could have written this book

(Storms back in) and another thing - the ‘and why you should never become one’ part of the title is never addressed past the fact that schools are stretched to breaking point dealing with challenging kids, largely because covid lockdowns did irreparable damage to children’s wellbeing. Okay sooo…the way to deal with that is for no one else to enter the profession so that kids have even fewer outlets/ positive role models than you say they already do? Sounds like a great plan

[Leticia Souza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big fan of Francis work in Triggernometry, this book follows the same easy and authentic narrative that he brings to the podcast.
A very sad and tough reality of someone that is trying to do his best and follow a mission-driven career, but unfortunately with the challenges of public system, gets stuck into the never ending suffering that the current UK education system brings to its staff.
My main take away is that the education system is a reflection of the overall problems we see in the UK and across Europe: lack of discipline and control hidden as the 'freedom' for the previously 'oppressed'.
I would have never read a book on education if it wasn't made by Francis. I hope he will eventually get back to education in some capacity. His heart is in the right place and he understands deeply the problems and potential solutions for it.

[Gannon Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know Francis from JRE and wow that was not what I was expecting. This book was very emotional. I thought it was just going to be stories about how adolescents suck, but that was a roller coaster. Bravo

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good read. Having listened to a lot of the Triggernometry podcast, I was keen to learn more about Francis Foster's time as a teacher. His less-than-PC thoughts and internal retorts about kids' behaviour were often laugh out loud funny. The part that hit the hardest was towards the end of the book where Francis talks about the expiration of a teaching career. As a teacher myself who was diagnosed with PTSD from classroom aggression and violence, I can say he is spot on accurate! It's no longer a job that you can do for a lifetime and stay mentally and physically well. It's true and heartbreaking - I'm still holding on by my fingertips because I love it so much. Society doesn't realise just how bad it has got in schools. That needs to change! A book like this one can help open eyes. Definitely worth a read for so many reasons.

[Harriet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good insight into life as a teacher - the highs and lows - although the last third felt a little grandiose.

[CatCo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Light on the contents

I expected a lot more anecdotes and insights into the failings of our education system. The reviewer who wrote 'This book is to school teachers what 'This is Going to Hurt' is to NHS doctors' must have read just the opening chapter.

[Ben · Rating 2 out of 5]

Basically just a series of the author's teaching anecdotes. Some of it was funny but the rest just came across slightly blamey and moany. Not sure what I was expecting. 2 stars for the bits that were actually quite funny.

[Sandra Mendonça · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up expecting to laugh until I cried — the synopsis promised humour, and there is some. But this book turned out to be something far better than funny.

What Francis Foster actually delivers is sincerity. He makes you stop and think about something we rarely question: we constantly praise private schools and criticise public ones, but we never stop to consider how different the playing field is. Private schools can be selective — strict with grades, strict with behaviour. Public schools don't have that luxury. Yet we expect their teachers to do wonders: teaching, educating and inspiring often rebellious young kids, with nothing but words and sheer determination.

This book made me look at the teaching system, the teachers, and the students differently.

Yes, the story wanders — about as much as the author's ADHD — but that's part of its charm. Because underneath all of it, you can feel that this was written by someone who genuinely loved what he did and, more importantly, cared deeply about the future of his students.

He was a good teacher. And this is a good book.

[faye✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raw, honest, and most importantly, hilarious, this memoir has gotten me out of a really tough reading slump. It’s engaging, funny, and, most importantly, enlightening. As someone who’s never worked in education or teaching, this memoir really opened my eyes to the struggles that teachers face.

Some of the stories were real tear-jerkers, whilst others had me laughing out loud. The pacing and tangential writing style made the book incredibly easy to digest and, for me, kept my attention throughout.

I wouldn’t say it’s put me off the profession as a whole, but the book has definitely made an impression on me. I can imagine those who work in the education sector thoroughly enjoying this, although I’d say it’s a must-read regardless of your occupation.

An absolute 5 stars. ⭐️

[Anne · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

This is a good account of what teaching is like, and it doesn't apply to UK schools only. It reminded me a bit of Frank McCourt's sequels to Angela's ashes. There are many truths in here, but the language is a bit too rude sometimes. Furthermore, it'd have been interesting to have a look at the author's life outside the classroom. What I really didn't like was the part where lockdown was blamed: classes nowadays are mayhem thanks to parents who always justify their children and allow them to be on the Internet without supervision, not because of "the disastrous policy decision to lock schools down for months". Teachers are not leaving because of Covid's aftermath, they are leaving because they are blamed for something they have no responsibility for: misbehaviour with zero consequences.

[Ari Chand · Rating 1 out of 5]

This makes the book feel somewhat navel-gazing and it ultimately struggles to deliver on the promise of its subtitle. The author’s experiences are undoubtedly interesting, and there are moments of genuine insight, humour and frustration. The question of why you should never become a teacher is never really addressed in any sustained or convincing way. Instead, the book moves from one teaching experience to another, offering anecdotes and personal reflections without providing much broader context about the profession, the education system, or the structural reasons teaching might be a particularly bad career choice. Sub-par.

[andy cobbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book funny and sad in both measures

Interesting insightful book funny and you will cringe as you may recognise how much of little shit you really where lol, I've got a new found admiration for teachers and yes the last part is definitely hitting home all the lost children from COVID lockdown are now the 2million plus young adults out of work think about that for a moment. Because I have.

[Louie Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. It felt a lot like this is going to hurt by Adam Kay but from a teaching perspective. This took me back to my own experience as a teacher and leaving the profession.

It is told through a mix of hilarious, candid and tragic stories, but in a very easy and palatable way.

Highly recommend

[Kailea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found parts to be a bit crass, but overall I enjoyed the book. Learning about how the education system differs in the UK and so many of the horrible experiences he went through, was very interesting to me. Despite all the issues, his passion for the kids was apparent, and his explanation for leaving the industry was well stated.

[Glenda Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could really relate to this book. I was a teacher for 20 years although not in tough schools the authors memories of his PGCE course was very much like my own. Excellent book thoroughly recommend .

[GH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely. So so funny and a palette cleanser against my other reads. He does a great job of highlighting the challenges faced by teachers and the educational system and isn't afraid to poke fun at the people who deserve it. He self narrates the audiobook and his accent is just a delightful bonus

[Kelly Fraser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful and funny

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and bittersweet insight into the lives of teachers in the UK. This is why I hate when people tell me to become a teacher. They are underpaid and overworked.

[Mollie Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

[Alice Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish I could give this more than 5 stars. This is brutally honest, moving but also hilarious. I cried and laughed. Amazing.

[Edward · Rating 2.25 out of 5]

Overuse of the word 'demented'

[Mel Ives · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious!!