Films have the potential to be transformative, dynamic teaching tools for pupil engagement, but also for teacher self-reflection and practice or policy change. Cinema can be a rich source of inspiration for teachers striving to make a lasting impact on their pupils.

Adapting teaching methods, fostering creativity and critical thinking

Innovative teachers question traditional methods and explore new approaches for pupil engagement; they emphasise a supportive and inclusive learning environment, collaborating with colleagues and pupils to create a positive environment.

Despite structural limitations, educators frequently devise inventive fixes within the systematic framework, showcasing the efficacy of personal initiative and fresh ideas. Cinema can provide insight into adapting pedagogical approaches to pupil needs, and can be incorporated into teacher training in workshops that encourage creative lesson planning and differentiated instruction.

The classic Dead Poets Society (USA, 1989) depicts unorthodox teaching methods that question a conservative academic environment, advocating for a pupil-centred approach to education. Educators can draw on the film’s unconventional teaching methods to foster creativity and independent thinking in their own classrooms, including by taking time to get to know their pupils as individuals and adapting the curriculum to their interests.

Portraying the difficulties well as the achievements of unconventional teaching, films can inspire educators to challenge established practices and investigate novel strategies for pupil engagement.

Teacher well-being and professional development.

Education professionals face a complex range of psychosocial hazards in the school environment; the biggest causes of teacher burnout include work overload, lack of support from institutions, poor student behaviour and cultural miscommunication, and pressure for examination results.

Das Lehrerzimmer (The Teachers' Lounge) (Germany, 2023) and Entre les murs (The Class) (France, 2008) are award-winning films that focus on teachers’ own lives, portraying the challenges and rewards of the teaching profession – and sometimes its disappointments. These films underline the importance of ongoing support for teachers’ mental health, including with mentorship and collaborative professional development.

Incorporating inclusive teaching strategies

Cinematic narratives also highlight the significance of creating a welcoming and inclusive school climate, in which educators work together with pupils and colleagues to build a supportive learning community. Ultimately, films can give us a poignant reminder that educators have the power as individuals to have long-lasting effects on the lives of their pupils.

Herr Bachmann und seine Klasse (Mr. Bachmann and His Class) (Germany, 2021) emphasises effective, inclusive approaches to integrating newcomers, and can inspire educators to build supportive learning environments and inclusive curricula in their own classroom environments.

In Entre les murs (France, 2008) and Un métier serieux (A Real Job) (France, 2023), teachers’ efforts to connect with and guide pupils in culturally complex contexts illustrate their ethical responsibilities and the importance of community-specific engagement in (newly) multicultural societies.

Être et Avoir (France, 2002) is a film that highlights the benefits of rural education, emphasising the value of individualised and experiential learning despite mixed-age demographics, and the sense of belonging among students that can emerge in the rural context.

Teacher training initiatives can encourage active participation in community outreach programmes, and prompt discussions between teachers about their ethical and social engagement responsibilities.

Education has transformative potential, and educators play a crucial role in shaping society, in both real life and cinema. Films can highlight the limitations faced by educators, but also portray the freedom to innovate and drive positive change. They can inspire teachers and their students in the classroom, and even become a part of leadership training programmes in initial teacher education.