04/11/2026
Some of the early Carry On films are sometimes overlooked — but Carry On Teacher (1959) quietly delivered everything fans would come to love about the series.
Released just a year after Carry On Sergeant and Carry On Nurse, this third film in the series helped shape the classic Carry On formula — a strong ensemble cast, cheeky humour, and characters you couldn’t help but enjoy watching.
This time, the setting moved to Maudlin Street Secondary Modern School, where acting headmaster William Wakefield, played by Ted Ray in his only Carry On appearance, is considering leaving for a new job. When the pupils discover his plans, they decide to sabotage an important school inspection — simply because they don’t want him to go.
It’s a simple storyline, but it works brilliantly, especially with such a strong cast.
Carry On regulars Kenneth Connor, Charles Hawtrey, Kenneth Williams and Hattie Jacques all appear, alongside Leslie Phillips and Joan Sims, who were still early in their Carry On careers at the time. There are also appearances from a young Richard O’Sullivan and Larry Dann as pupils, adding to the charm of the film.
Like many of the early Carry On films, the humour is a mix of slapstick, misunderstandings and perfectly timed one-liners. But what makes Carry On Teacher stand out is the warmth running through it — particularly the relationship between the headmaster and the pupils, which gives the film a surprisingly touching ending.
There’s also a great behind-the-scenes moment during filming. Charles Hawtrey’s mother accidentally dropped cigarette ash into her handbag and set it on fire. Joan Sims spotted it and shouted, “Charlie, Charlie, your mother’s bag is on fire!” Hawtrey calmly poured his tea into the bag, snapped it shut — and carried on chatting as if nothing had happened.
Filmed at Pinewood Studios with exterior shots at Drayton Green Primary School in Ealing, the film was released in September 1959 and performed well at the British box office, helping cement the Carry On series as a growing success.
It may not always be the first Carry On film people mention — but for fans, Carry On Teacher remains a charming early entry that helped set the tone for everything that followed.
Who was a fan of this one?
