Inset days allow teachers to catch up on work (such as marking exams or report cards), train on new technology, or learn new methods of teaching.
[2][3] Inset days are common in Commonwealth countries, predominantly the United Kingdom and Canada, and also Ireland.
In the UK, inset days were introduced in 1988 by Kenneth Baker, then the Secretary of State for Education, as part of a series of reforms that included the introduction of the National Curriculum for England.
[4] The days are determined by the local education authority, although academy and free schools have the freedom to set their own dates.
[8] In Canada, some YMCAs and businesses offer "PA day camps" to help parents make alternative plans.