School term and holiday dates

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These are the recommended school terms and holiday dates for nursery, primary and secondary schools. Non-community schools have the autonomy to determine their own term dates.

The School Admissions Team will continue to consult on and determine recommended dates, as outlined below, but schools are now able to vary these dates as they see fit. You are advised to contact your child’s school directly to confirm their term dates.

Determined school term and holiday dates 2026 to 2027

Autumn term

Wednesday 2 September to Friday 23 October 2026 (38 days)

  • School holiday: Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October

Monday 2 November to Friday 18 December 2026 (35 days)

  • School holiday: Monday 21 December to Friday 1 January
Spring term

Monday 4 January to Friday 12& February 2027 (30 days)

  • School holiday: Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February

Monday 22 February to Thursday 25 March 2027 (24 days)

  • School holiday: Friday 26 March to Friday 9 April
    (Easter weekend 26 March to 29 March)
Summer term

Monday 12 April to Friday 28 May 2027 (34 days)

  • May Day Bank Holiday will be 3 May
  • School holiday: Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June
    (Spring Bank Holiday will be 31 May)

Monday 7 June to Thursday 22 July 2027 (34 days)

Public holidays
  • Christmas Day: Friday 25 December 2026
  • Boxing Day: Monday 28 December 2026
  • New Year’s Day: Friday 1 January 2027
  • Good Friday: Friday 26 March 2027
  • Easter Monday: Monday 29 March 2027
  • May Day Bank Holiday: Monday 3 May 2027
  • Spring Bank Holiday: Monday 31 May 2027
  • August Bank Holiday: Monday 30 August 2027

The dates show schools being open for 195 days. From these, five staff training dates are to be determined by the school’s governing body. Some governing bodies may choose to hold staff training at ‘twilight sessions’ after the school day and to extend the school holiday for staff.

Schools which close for local elections are required to extend the summer term or coincide it with an 'inset' day.

We are suggesting a common transition day for Year 6 pupils to visit the secondary school that they will be attending, which is the first Wednesday in July. Schools are not bound by these suggested dates, though we would anticipate that using the recommended common transition day would have logistical advantages for both primary and secondary schools.

For pupils starting secondary school:

  • September 2026 – Wednesday 1 July 2026
  • September 2027 – Wednesday 7 July 2027

Determined school term and holiday dates 2027 to 2028

Autumn term

Wednesday 1 September to Friday 22 October 2027 (38 days)

  • School holiday: Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October

Monday 1 November to Friday 17 December 2027 (35 days)

  • School holiday: Monday 20 December to Friday 3 January
Spring term

Monday 4 January to Friday 11 February 2028 (29 days)

  • School holiday: Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February

Monday 21 February to Thursday 31 March 2028 (30 days)

  • School holiday: Monday 3 April to Monday 17 April
    (Easter weekend 14 April to 17 April)
Summer term

Tuesday 18 April to Friday 26 May 2028 (28 days)

  • May Day Bank Holiday will be 1 May
  • School holiday: Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June
    (Spring Bank Holiday will be 29 May)

Monday 5 June to Thursday 21 July 2028 (35 days)

Public holidays
  • Christmas Day: Saturday 25 December 2027
  • Boxing Day: Sunday 28 December 2027
  • New Year’s Day: Saturday 1 January 2028
  • Good Friday: Friday 14 April 2028
  • Easter Monday: Monday 17 April 2028
  • May Day Bank Holiday: Monday 1 May 2028
  • Spring Bank Holiday: Monday 29 May 2028
  • August Bank Holiday: Monday 28 August 2028

These are the determined school term and holiday dates for nursery, primary, and secondary schools. Voluntary Aided schools and Academies can set their own dates but are strongly encouraged to align with the suggested dates.

The dates show schools being open for 195 days. From these, five staff training dates are to be determined by the school’s governing body. Some governing bodies may choose to hold staff training at ‘twilight sessions’ after the school day and to extend the school holiday for staff.

Schools which close for local elections are required to extend the summer term or coincide it with an 'inset' day.

We are suggesting a common transition day for Year 6 pupils to visit the secondary school that they will be attending, which is the first Wednesday in July. Schools are not bound by these suggested dates, though we would anticipate that using the recommended common transition day would have logistical advantages for both primary and secondary schools.

  • For pupils starting secondary school September 2027 – Wednesday 7th July 2027
  • For pupils starting secondary school September 2028 – Wednesday 5th July 2028

Determined school term and holiday dates 2028 to 2029

Autumn term

Wednesday 4 September to Friday 20 October 2028 (35 days)

  • School holiday: Monday 23 October to Friday 27 October

Monday 30 October to Friday 15 December 2028 (35 days)

  • School holiday: Monday 18 December to Friday 1 January
Spring term

Tuesday 2 January to Friday 9 February 2029 (29 days)

  • School holiday: Monday 12 February to Friday 16 February

Monday 19 February to Thursday 29 March 2029 (19 days)

  • School holiday: Friday 30 March to Friday 13 April
    (Easter weekend 30 March to 2 April)
Summer term

Monday 16 April to Friday 25 May 2029 (29 days)

  • May Day Bank Holiday will be 7 May
  • School holiday: Monday 28 May to Friday 1 June
    (Spring Bank Holiday will be 28 May)

Monday 4 June to Wednesday 25 July 2029 (38 days)

Public holidays
  • Christmas Day: Friday 25 December 2028
  • Boxing Day: Monday 28 December 2028
  • New Year’s Day: Friday 1 January 2029
  • Good Friday: Friday 30 March 2029
  • Easter Monday: Monday 2 April 2029
  • May Day Bank Holiday: Monday 7 May 2029
  • Spring Bank Holiday: Monday 28 May 2029
  • August Bank Holiday: Monday 27 August 2029

These are the determined school term and holiday dates for nursery, primary, and secondary schools. Voluntary Aided schools and Academies can set their own dates but are strongly encouraged to align with the suggested dates.

The dates show schools being open for 195 days. From these, five staff training dates are to be determined by the school’s governing body. Some governing bodies may choose to hold staff training at ‘twilight sessions’ after the school day and to extend the school holiday for staff.

Schools which close for local elections are required to extend the summer term or coincide it with an 'inset' day.

We are suggesting a common transition day for Year 6 pupils to visit the secondary school that they will be attending, which is the first Wednesday in July. Schools are not bound by these suggested dates, though we would anticipate that using the recommended common transition day would have logistical advantages for both primary and secondary schools.

  • For pupils starting secondary school September 2028 – Wednesday 5th July 2027
  • For pupils starting secondary school September 2029 – Wednesday 4th July 2028

Determined school term and holiday dates 2029 to 2030

Autumn term

Monday 3 September to Friday 19 October 2029 (35 days)

  • School holiday: Monday 22 October to Friday 26 October

Monday 29 October to Friday 14 December 2029 (35 days)

  • School holiday: Monday 17 December to Tuesday 1 January
Spring term

Tuesday 2 January to Friday 15 February 2030 (33 days)

  • School holiday: Monday 18 February to Friday 22 February

Monday 25 February to Friday 5 April 2030 (19 days)

  • School holiday: Monday 8 April to Monday 22 April
    (Easter weekend 19 April to 22 April)
Summer term

Tuesday 23 April to Friday 24 May 2030 (23 days)

  • May Day Bank Holiday will be 6 May
  • School holiday: Monday 27 May to Friday 31 May
    (Spring Bank Holiday will be 27 May)

Monday 3 June to Thursday 25 July 2030 (39 days)

Public holidays
  • Christmas Day: Friday 25 December 2029
  • Boxing Day: Monday 26 December 2029
  • New Year’s Day: Friday 1 January 2030
  • Good Friday: Friday 19 April 2030
  • Easter Monday: Monday 22 April 2030
  • May Day Bank Holiday: Monday 6 May 2030
  • Spring Bank Holiday: Monday 27 May 2030
  • August Bank Holiday: Monday 26 August 2030

These are the determined school term and holiday dates for nursery, primary, and secondary schools. Voluntary Aided schools and Academies can set their own dates but are strongly encouraged to align with the suggested dates.

The dates show schools being open for 195 days. From these, five staff training dates are to be determined by the school’s governing body. Some governing bodies may choose to hold staff training at ‘twilight sessions’ after the school day and to extend the school holiday for staff.

Schools which close for local elections are required to extend the summer term or coincide it with an 'inset' day.

We are suggesting a common transition day for Year 6 pupils to visit the secondary school that they will be attending, which is the first Wednesday in July. Schools are not bound by these suggested dates, though we would anticipate that using the recommended common transition day would have logistical advantages for both primary and secondary schools.

  • For pupils starting secondary school September 2029 – Wednesday 4th July 2029
  • For pupils starting secondary school September 2030 – Wednesday 3rd July 2030

Last updated: 28 October 2026