England School Holidays and Term Dates

🔄 Updated: 2 February 2026

England has six school terms and multiple half-term breaks, making it essential for families to plan. This page provides England school holidays and term dates, covering the full academic calendar used by most local authority-maintained schools.

These dates apply to most state schools across England. Always confirm with your child’s school, as academies and free schools may set slightly different term dates.

England School Holidays 2025/2026

Here’s a look at the England school holidays for the 2025/2026 academic year. This school year calendar will help families and parents with early planning for childcare, travel during school holidays, and managing the school schedule.

2025-2026 Term Dates

The table below outlines the expected term dates and holiday periods for the 2025/2026 school year.

Term/HolidayStarting DateEnding Date
Autumn Term 1Monday, 1 September 2025Friday, 24 October 2025
Autumn Half-TermMonday, 27 October 2025Friday, 31 October 2025
Autumn Term 2Monday, 3 November 2025Friday, 19 December 2025
Christmas HolidaysMonday, 22 December 2025Monday, 5 January 2026
Spring Term 1Tuesday, 6 January 2026Friday, 13 February 2026
Spring Half-TermMonday, 16 February 2026Friday, 20 February 2026
Spring Term 2Monday, 23 February 2026Friday, 27 March 2026
Easter HolidaysMonday, 30 March 2026Friday, 10 April 2026
Summer Term 1Monday, 13 April 2026Friday, 22 May 2026
Summer Half-TermMonday, 25 May 2026Friday, 29 May 2026
Summer Term 2Monday, 1 June 2026Wednesday, 21 July 2026
Summer HolidaysThursday, 22 July 2026Tuesday, 1 September 2026

2025-2026 Bank Holidays

Integrate these bank holidays UK into your holiday checklist for a complete view of the year’s school closure and public holiday periods.

Bank HolidayDate
New Year’s DayThursday, 1 January 2026
Good FridayFriday, 3 April 2026
Easter MondayMonday, 6 April 2026
Early May Bank HolidayMonday, 4 May 2026
Spring Bank HolidayMonday, 25 May 2026
Summer Bank HolidayMonday, 31 August 2026
Christmas DayFriday, 25 December 2026
Boxing DaySaturday, 26 December 2026
Boxing Day (Observed)Monday, 28 December 2026*

England School Holidays 2026/2027

This section covers the complete England school holidays for the 2026/2027 period. Below, you’ll find structured tables for both term dates and the corresponding school breaks, helping you visualize the entire academic year.

2026-2027 Term Dates

Here is the official breakdown of the school term dates and holidays for England in the 2026-2027 school year calendar.

Term/HolidayStarting DateEnding Date
Autumn Term 1Tuesday, 1 September 2026Friday, 23 October 2026
Autumn Half-TermMonday, 26 October 2026Friday, 30 October 2026
Autumn Term 2Monday, 2 November 2026Friday, 18 December 2026
Christmas HolidaysMonday, 21 December 2026Monday, 3 January 2027
Spring Term 1Tuesday, 4 January 2027Friday, 12 February 2027
Spring Half-TermMonday, 15 February 2027Friday, 19 February 2027
Spring Term 2Monday, 22 February 2027Thursday, 25 March 2027
Easter HolidaysFriday, 26 March 2027Friday, 9 April 2027
Summer Term 1Monday, 12 April 2027Friday, 28 May 2027
Summer Half TermMonday, 31 May 2027Friday, 4 June 2027
Summer Term 2Monday, 7 June 2027Wednesday, 21 July 2027
Summer HolidaysThursday, 22 July 2027Tuesday, 31 August 2027

2026-2027 Bank Holidays

Integrating bank holidays UK into your holiday checklist is essential for planning. These are the national public holidays that may affect your school vacation plans.

Bank HolidayDate
New Year’s DayFriday, 1 January 2027
Good FridayFriday, 26 March 2027
Easter MondayMonday, 29 March 2027
Early May Bank HolidayMonday, 3 May 2027
Spring Bank HolidayMonday, 31 May 2027
Summer Bank HolidayMonday, 30 August 2027
Christmas Day (Observed)Monday, 27 December 2027*
Boxing Day (Observed)Tuesday, 28 December 2027*

Have a Question About School Holiday Dates?

If you’ve spotted an issue, need clarification, or have a question about UK school holidays or term dates, feel free to get in touch with us.

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Detailed 2026 to 2027 Academic Calendar

The academic calendar in England is divided into Autumn Term, Spring Term, and Summer Term, with half-term dates usually falling mid-term. This structure supports long-term planning for parents using a school holiday planner or a family holiday planner in the UK.

Key Dates Breakdown for 2026-2027

  • Long Summer Break: The Summer Holidays run from 22 July to 31 August 2027, a classic six-week holiday period.
  • Easter Shift: The Easter Holidays in 2027 fall relatively late, from 26 March to 9 April.
  • Half-Terms: Note the February half-term break is from 15-19 February 2027, and the Summer half term is 31 May to 4 June 2027.
England School Holidays and Term Dates
England School Holidays and Term Dates

Staff Development Days (Inset Days)

Staff development days, also known as inset days, are set by individual schools. Pupils do not attend school on these days, so always check your school’s official calendar.

England school holidays follow a structured school term calendar designed to balance learning and rest. Use this page as your UK school calendar reference, and always confirm dates locally.

Plan using a printable school planner or school holiday planner.

School Holidays by Council

For the most authoritative source, please visit the official UK government website:

Check the official UK Government Website

FAQs

How many teaching days are in a school year in England?

There are 190 teaching days in a standard school year. This is a national requirement for maintained schools.

Are school term dates the same everywhere in England?
Can I take my child on holiday during term time?
What are INSET days?
Do all schools in England follow the same term dates?
Are bank holidays included in school holidays?
Do half-term dates change every year?