School holidays and term dates 2026/27 in England

The 2026/27 school year in England has already started, and the next break for most families is October half term. In many council calendars that runs from 26 to 30 October 2026, followed by Christmas from 21 December 2026, February half term from 15 to 19 February 2027, Easter from 26 March to 9 April 2027 and May half term from 31 May to 4 June 2027. Not every council follows that pattern: Manchester's Easter holiday, for example, runs from 5 to 16 April 2027, and the last day of the summer term ranges from 21 to 28 July 2027 in the calendars below. There is no national calendar: councils set dates for the schools they maintain, and academies and some other schools set their own, so always confirm with your child's school.

School holidays 2026/27 at a glance

The table compares three council calendars for 2026/27, chosen to show how much, and how little, dates vary. Each applies to the schools that council maintains. Academies, free schools, foundation schools and voluntary-aided schools in the same area may use different dates, and every school adds its own training (INSET) days.

Sources: London Borough of Camden, Birmingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, checked on 24 September 2026. Nottinghamshire's calendar marks Tuesday 1 September 2026 as an administration (INSET) day.

The Christmas, February, Easter and May breaks match across all three, although not every council shares them. The differences are at the edges: the first day of the autumn term, the length of October half term and the last day of the summer term. Those are exactly the dates to check before you book anything.

If you were looking for the summer 2026 holidays, they have now finished. The autumn term started on 1 or 2 September 2026 in these three areas.

Bank holidays in the 2026/27 school year

Bank holidays explain some of the odd-looking dates, such as a term that ends on a Thursday. These are the bank holidays in England from GOV.UK.

Source: GOV.UK bank holidays. Easter Sunday 2027 is 28 March, which is why the spring term ends on Thursday 25 March in all three areas. The early May bank holiday is the only one that falls during term time in these calendars.

Why term dates vary between schools

It is common for two families in the same area to have different first days back. The reason is who controls the calendar:

• Community and voluntary-controlled schools follow the dates set by their local council.
• Academies, free schools, foundation schools and voluntary-aided schools can set their own term dates. Birmingham City Council, for example, says these schools are encouraged to accept its dates but are not required to.
• Every school sets its own INSET days, which often fall on what would otherwise be the first or last day of a term.

Some councils also make bigger choices. Nottinghamshire County Council gives its maintained schools a two-week October half term in 2026, and its summer term ends later, on 28 July 2027. Nottingham City Council publishes separate dates for city schools. Manchester City Council keeps its schools open after the Easter weekend: they close for the bank holidays on 26 and 29 March 2027, and the Easter holiday runs from Monday 5 to Friday 16 April 2027.

If you have children at more than one school, or you are comparing schools during admissions, check each one separately rather than assuming they match.

How to check your school's exact dates

There are two reliable steps. Start with your council, then confirm with the school itself.

1. Find your council's calendar through the GOV.UK school term and holiday dates service, which sends you to the right local authority for your postcode. It covers England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own services, linked from the same page.
2. Check your school's website or newsletter for its own term dates and INSET days, especially if it is an academy, free school, foundation school or voluntary-aided school.

If the two ever disagree, follow the school's own calendar, since that is where INSET days and any local changes are confirmed.

How the English school year works

The school year runs from September to July and has three terms, each split by a half-term break, usually of one week:

• Autumn term, from early September to mid or late December.
• Spring term, from early January to late March or early April.
• Summer term, from April to mid or late July.

The longer holidays sit between the terms: about two weeks at Christmas, about two weeks at Easter and about six weeks in summer.

The length of the year is set in law. Under the Education (School Day and School Year) (England) Regulations 1999, a maintained school must hold at least 380 sessions a year. Each school day is divided into two sessions separated by a midday break, so that is 190 days of school for pupils. Full-time teachers work five more days without pupils, usually used for training, under the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document.

Taking a holiday during term time

Cheaper holidays outside the school breaks are tempting, but the rules are strict. GOV.UK says a holiday is generally not an exceptional circumstance, so you cannot usually take your child away during term time. You can ask the school for leave in other exceptional circumstances, and it will consider each request.

An unauthorised absence can lead to a fine of £80, rising to £160 if it is not paid within 21 days. Each parent can get up to two fines for the same child in three years, and a second fine is £160. After that, the council may take the case to court instead, where the maximum penalty is a £2,500 fine, a community order or up to three months in prison. See GOV.UK's guidance on legal action for the details.

Admissions deadlines around the holidays

School application deadlines are national and do not move with the holidays. According to GOV.UK:

• Secondary school applications for September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, the day after October half term ends in all three areas above. Our secondary admissions timeline explains each step.
• Primary school applications, including Reception, close on 15 January 2027, less than two weeks after the Christmas holiday. See our primary admissions timeline.

If you are unsure which application your child needs, our guide to what school year your child is in turns a date of birth into the exact year group.

What about 2027/28 term dates?

Some councils have already published dates for 2027/28. Birmingham's autumn term 2027 starts on Thursday 2 September 2027, and Nottinghamshire lists dates up to 2029/30. Camden says its 2027/28 dates will be published in October 2026. If you are planning further ahead, check your council's page, which usually shows the next year once it is agreed.

How FindMySchool helps

Term dates matter most when you are choosing between schools or planning childcare around them. On FindMySchool you can search for schools near you and open any school's profile to see its key details in one place, with a link to the school's own website for its exact term dates and INSET days. To weigh up a shortlist, compare schools side by side. If you want a starting point, School Match suggests schools based on your priorities and location; you need a free account to see the results, and your top match on your first search is free.

Frequently asked questions

When is October half term 2026 in England?

In many council calendars it runs from Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026, as in Camden and Birmingham. It is not the same everywhere: Nottinghamshire County Council's maintained schools have a two-week break from Monday 19 October to Friday 30 October 2026. Academies and other schools that set their own dates can differ again, so check your school's calendar.

When do schools break up for Christmas 2026?

When are the Easter holidays in 2027?

When do schools break up for summer 2027?

How many days and weeks are in a school year?

Why are term dates different at my child's school?

Can I take my child on holiday in term time?