Twilights rather than Inset days

[Passportto]

This year our term dates were set so we were back on 2 Jan. No-one wanted that, not even as an inset day, so we agreed we'd run twilight training sessions most Tuesdays for 1.5 hours during the autumn term (because by coincidence all our p-r staff work on a Tuesday). Staff could choose which sessions they wanted and there were a wide variety of topics.

Full-time staff to do three sessions, part-time 2 sessions.

OMG, the drama it caused. Ft is 6.5 hours for aday so they were getting 2 "free hours". Part-time hours vary quite a lot, but it wasn't really feasible to say OK Anne you need to do 87 minutes and Joan you need 182 to get the same benefit. All the part-timers would have worked less then their full inset day but some would have got more "free time" than others.

We have the same situation in 2019 and will probably work an inset day on 2 Jan to save the aggravation, unless there's a better way?

The head tried to do a nice thing for staff and boy did it backfire.

I hated twilights, it was a pain arranging childcare and meant I had 2 evening meetings those weeks (usual staff meeting and twilight) giving me less time to prep. Also my concentration levels after a full days teaching weren't as good so I didn't get as much out of them.

I hate twilights. I find actual INSET days much more productive and I am more likely to be able to catch up with fellow staff members about this and that.

Staying on after school, plus the marking etc, is a right pain.

Twilights are VERY popular in my school- we have no insets and all twilights. We vote for it every year!

Gosh it sounds like your head has been incredibly nice!!
Our school has twilights that are 3.30 to 6.30 and 2 = a day.
We have no choice, just get handed a sheet with the dates on it. Childcare is a nightmare to get after 6pm too!!
If your staff make too much fuss they'll find themselves stuck working those unpopular days in future.

if you cant please everyone, do what is easiest. inset day it is.

Sometimes you can give people too much choice! I think your HT was too nice.
I've worked PT for years, under several different HTs and at more than one school. You just can't start getting too 'pickerty' about % of INSET you attend, it's ridiculous. Turn it on it's head and think that you are getting more training than you are entitled to!

I know that is easier when the training is useful - which is isn't always as we all know, but it sounds like staff were given choices of what to go to! That is a luxury most staff don't get.