I freely admit it, never instructed in controlled airspace.
As a CAT pilot we always have IFR clearances. I think the last time I accepted SVFR was 7 years ago due to purple airspace in a regional airport.
There is very little in both the PPL air law or the ATPl airlaw about SVFR.
Personally I am not suprised that the OP student doesn't have a clue about SVFR his instructor won't either.
The only pilots that do have a clue about it are ATCO's.