Down School Holidays and Term Dates

🔄 Updated: 11 March 2026

There are five main holiday periods across the academic year, giving families regular breaks to plan ahead. The Down School Holidays calendar includes the long summer holiday, Christmas and Easter breaks, plus two mid-term holidays.

Keeping track of the official Down School Holidays and term dates helps parents coordinate work schedules, childcare, and family travel. Knowing confirmed start dates and school closures ensures there are no last-minute surprises.

Down School Holidays 2025/2026

Planning for the Down School Holidays 2025/2026 academic year? Here are your complete term dates and bank holidays.

2025-2026 Term Dates

TermStarting DateEnding Date
Autumn Term1 September 202519 December 2025
Halloween Break27-31 October 2025(within Autumn Term)
Christmas Break22 December 2025 – 2 January 2026(between terms)
Spring Term5 January 202627 March 2026
Mid-Term Break16-20 February 2026(within Spring Term)
St Patrick’s Day17 March 2026(school closed)
Easter Break30 March – 10 April 2026(between terms)
Summer Term13 April 202630 June 2026
May Day Break4 May 2026(school closed)
Spring Bank Holiday25 May 2026(school closed)

2025-2026 Bank Holidays

Bank HolidayDate
Christmas Day25 December 2025
Boxing Day26 December 2025
New Year’s Day1 January 2026
St Patrick’s Day17 March 2026
Good Friday3 April 2026
Easter Monday6 April 2026
May Day4 May 2026
Spring Bank Holiday25 May 2026
Summer Bank Holiday31 August 2026

Find UK School Holidays by Council

Looking for official school holiday dates across the UK? Browse our complete guide to UK school holidays organised by council so you can quickly find accurate term dates and plan family activities with confidence.

Down School Holidays 2026/2027

2026-2027 Term Dates

TermStarting DateEnding Date
Schools resume after summer holiday1 September 2026
Autumn Term1 September 202618 December 2026
Halloween Break29-30 October 2026(school closed)
Additional Closure Day25 September 2026(TransformED NI)
Christmas and New Year21 December 2026 – 1 January 2027(between terms)
Spring Term4 January 202726 March 2027
Mid-term Break11-12 February 2027(school closed)
Additional Closure Day25 January 2027(TransformED NI)
St Patrick’s Day17 March 2027(school closed)
Easter Break25 March – 2 April 2027(between terms)
Summer Term12 April 202730 June 2027
May Day3 May 2027(school closed)
Additional Closure Day4 May 2027(TransformED NI)
Spring Bank Holiday31 May 2027(school closed)
Summer holiday begins1 July 2027

2026-2027 Bank Holidays

Bank HolidayDate
Christmas Day25 December 2026
Boxing Day26 December 2026 (observed)
New Year’s Day1 January 2027
St Patrick’s Day17 March 2027
Good Friday26 March 2027
Easter Monday29 March 2027
May Day3 May 2027
Spring Bank Holiday31 May 2027
Summer Bank Holiday30 August 2027

Check More: Northern Ireland School Holidays

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.

Down School Holidays 2027/2028

2027-2028 Term Dates

TermStarting DateEnding Date
Autumn Term1 September 202722 December 2027
Halloween Break28-29 October 2027(school closed)
Christmas Break23 December 2027 – 7 January 2028(between terms)
Spring Term10 January 202831 March 2028
Mid-Term Break17-18 February 2028(school closed)
St Patrick’s Day17 March 2028(school closed)
Easter Break10-21 April 2028(between terms)
Summer Term24 April 202830 June 2028
May Day1 May 2028(school closed)
Spring Bank Holiday29 May 2028(school closed)

2027-2028 Bank Holidays

Bank HolidayDate
Christmas Day27 December 2027 (observed)
Boxing Day28 December 2027 (observed)
New Year’s Day3 January 2028 (observed)
St Patrick’s Day17 March 2028
Good Friday14 April 2028
Easter Monday17 April 2028
May Day1 May 2028
Spring Bank Holiday29 May 2028
Summer Bank Holiday28 August 2028

Staff Development & Closures in Down

Understanding staff training days and school development days is just as important as knowing holiday dates. Here’s what Down families need to know:

What Are School Development Days?

School development days (also called inset days or teacher training days Down) are when teaching staff engage in professional development while pupils do not attend school. These dates often vary by school discretion based on individual circumstances.

Down School Holidays and Term Dates
Down School Holidays and Term Dates

Why Dates May Vary

Remember that schools can operate on non-operational dates at their own discretion. Always check with your specific school, as school-to-school variations are common for training days.

Also Check: Belfast School Holidays

Useful Resources

For the most up-to-date information and official announcements:

  • Down Council – Local authority information and services
  • NI Education – Official Department of Education Northern Ireland

FAQs

When do schools resume after summer holiday in Down?

Schools typically resume on 1 September. If this falls on a weekend, schools return on the following Monday.

Are all Down schools closed on St Patrick’s Day?
When does the summer holiday begin in Down?
Do all Down schools have the same staff training days?
What are the Halloween break dates for Down schools?
How many weeks is the Easter break?

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