This week, the Secret Teacher shares their thoughts on in-service days, and why for many in education the mere mention can be enough to set eyes rolling.
In-service days can very occasionally be quite good.
It’s like one of those classic rock bands who are constantly churning out albums. Occasionally you get a good song, but more often than not it’s like the recent Rolling Stones album.
I hate them.
More often than not you get put onto these really patronising, pointless school initiative Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses. I’ve been to one or two that have been really special and helpful, but they are the exceptions.
I remember one of the first in-service days I attended when I was a student. This guy stood in front of all the teachers in the school with an empty cup in one hand and an open can of Coke in the other, and he said: “did you know that students have a lot on their mind?”
“You might just be thinking about your subject, but imagine this… It’s a difficult morning. Maths (pours Coke into cup). Geography (pours more Coke). English. Lost a pencil. Fell out with a pal…”
By this point he’s making a mess and there’s Coke all over the floor.
