Introducing additional INSET days

Be clear on when you can introduce extra INSET days for teachers, and what you should consider before doing so.

Last reviewed on 21 March 2024
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Contents
  1. Your school type affects the number of INSET days
  2. Only 5 compulsory INSET days under the STPCD
  3. How to navigate an additional INSET day

Your school type affects the number of INSET days

Maintained schools

You can set up to 5 compulsory INSET days during a working year – this is set out in the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) (section 51.2).

See the second section of this article for more details on this.

Academies

You can decide how many INSET days to set during the year. Academies aren't subject to the regulations that govern the school day and year.

Forbes Solicitors advised us that, while academies could swap a teaching day for an additional INSET day, you should carefully consider this on a case-by-case basis, and in line with teachers' contracts.

For example, if you have any teaching staff employed under the terms of the STPCD, you cannot set additional INSET days that would increase their working days beyond the 195 mandated. See the section below for more detail.

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