School Term Dates 2026–2027: Planning Your Family Holidays

Whether you are booking a family holiday, planning childcare, or simply trying to stay on top of the school calendar, knowing the exact term dates for 2026–2027 is essential. This comprehensive guide gives you the full picture — from the first day of the autumn term through to the summer holidays — plus practical advice on planning around the school year, understanding half-terms, and avoiding costly fines for term-time absences.

England School Term Dates 2026–2027: The Complete Overview

State schools in England follow an academic year that runs from early September 2026 to late July 2027. The year is divided into three terms — Autumn, Spring and Summer — each split by a half-term break. Here are the typical term dates used by most English state schools:

Autumn Term 2026

The autumn term is the longest of the year and includes the return from the summer holidays, plus the run-up to Christmas.

Most schools begin with INSET days on 1–2 September, meaning pupils typically start on Wednesday 2 or Thursday 3 September. Check your school's specific calendar — INSET days are used for staff training and pupils do not attend.

Spring Term 2027

The spring term begins after the New Year break and runs through to Easter. It is typically the shortest of the three terms.

Summer Term 2027

The summer term is the most anticipated — it ends with the long summer holidays and is also when GCSEs, A-Levels and SATs take place.

Bank Holidays That Affect the School Year 2026–2027

The following bank holidays fall during term time or at the edges of terms — schools are always closed on these days:

What Are INSET Days?

INSET days (In-Service Education and Training days) are 5 mandatory staff training days that every school must hold each academic year. Pupils do not attend on INSET days, but teachers do.

Schools have flexibility in when they schedule INSET days. Common choices are:

• The first one or two days of September (before pupils return)
• The first day back after Christmas
• The first day back after Easter
• One day during a half-term or at the end of a term

This means the effective start and end dates for pupils can differ from the official term dates by one or two days. Always check your school's published calendar for confirmed INSET days.

Why Do Term Dates Vary Between Schools?

Unlike in some countries, England does not have a single national set of term dates. Instead, the DfE sets the minimum and maximum number of teaching days (190 days for pupils) but leaves the exact scheduling to:

• Local authorities — who often publish recommended dates for maintained schools in their area
• Academy trusts and free schools — who can set their own term dates independently
• Independent schools — who have complete freedom, often starting earlier in September and ending later in July

In practice, most state schools in the same local authority follow very similar dates, but there can be differences of a few days — particularly around INSET days and the precise start and end of summer.

How to Find Your School's Exact Term Dates

Here are the most reliable ways to get your school's confirmed 2026–2027 term dates:

1. Your school's website — most schools publish their full academic year calendar in the "Parents" or "Key Information" section
2. Your local authority's website — search "[your council name] school term dates 2026 2027"
3. Your school's app or parent portal — many schools use platforms like ParentMail or Arbor which show term dates in-app
4. The school office — call or email to request a copy of the academic year calendar
5. Gov.uk — the government publishes school holiday dates by local authority as a reference guide

How Many School Days Are There in 2026–2027?

The statutory minimum is 380 half-days (190 full days) per year for pupils. In practice, the 2026–2027 school year in England contains approximately:

Term-Time Holidays: The Rules in 2026

One of the most important practical implications of the school calendar is the law around taking holidays during term time. Under current legislation:

• Headteachers can only authorise absences in exceptional circumstances
• Term-time holidays are not considered exceptional by most schools
• Unauthorised absences can result in a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) of £80 per parent per child (rising to £160 if not paid within 21 days)
• From September 2024, FPNs for repeat offenders were increased and national thresholds introduced

The financial temptation to travel during term time is understandable — prices can be 30–50% cheaper outside school holidays — but the legal and educational risks are real. For a full guide to the rules, see our article on term-time holidays and fines.

Planning Childcare Around the School Calendar

For working parents, the school holidays create significant childcare challenges. Here's a practical framework for planning ahead:

• Book holiday clubs early — popular after-school and holiday clubs fill up months in advance, especially for the summer
• Apply for Tax-Free Childcare — eligible working parents can receive up to £2,000 per year per child to help with holiday childcare costs
• Coordinate with your employer — many employers now offer flexible working arrangements specifically around school holidays
• Use Ofsted-registered childminders — childminders registered with Ofsted are typically more flexible than nurseries around school holiday periods
• Check local authority holiday provision — many councils run Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programmes during Easter and summer, often free for children on Free School Meals

Sixth Form and College Term Dates

Sixth form colleges and further education colleges in England often have slightly different term dates from secondary schools, particularly around:

• Start of autumn term — sixth forms may start a week earlier for induction/enrolment
• Study leave — Year 12 and Year 13 students are often sent on study leave from May onwards during A-Level exam season
• Results days — A-Level results day in August and GCSE results day in late August fall during the summer holidays

Always check your sixth form or college's specific academic calendar, as it may differ significantly from your local secondary schools.

Differences Between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Useful Tools and Resources

• 🔍 School Finder Wizard — find schools near you and check their profiles
• 📊 Compare Schools Tool — compare schools across your area
• 🗺️ Catchment Checker — check which schools you are eligible to apply to
• 🌐 GOV.UK — School Term Dates by Local Authority

Frequently Asked Questions

When do schools go back in September 2026?

Most state schools in England return to school in the week beginning Monday 1 September 2026, with pupils typically starting on Wednesday 2 or Thursday 3 September after INSET days. Some academies and free schools may return a few days earlier or later. Always confirm with your child's school directly.

When is the October half-term 2026?

Autumn half-term 2026 typically falls in the week of Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026. Some schools may take a slightly different week, particularly those in London boroughs which sometimes stagger dates.

When does school break up for Christmas 2026?

Most English state schools break up for Christmas on Friday 18 December 2026, returning after the New Year on Monday 4 January 2027. This gives approximately two and a half weeks for the Christmas holiday.

When is the February half-term 2027?

Spring half-term 2027 is typically the week of Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027.

When do schools break up for Easter 2027?

Easter 2027 falls on 28 March (Good Friday) and 29 March (Easter Monday — a Sunday in 2027 so observed differently). Most schools break up in the last week of March and return in the second week of April. The exact dates vary significantly by school.

How long are the summer holidays in England in 2027?

The summer holidays in England typically last six weeks, running from late July to early September. Most schools break up in the week of 21–25 July 2027 and return in the week beginning 1 September 2027.

Can I take my child on holiday during term time in 2026?

Not without risking a fine. Since 2013, headteachers have only been able to authorise absences in "exceptional circumstances". Term-time holidays are almost never approved. Parents who take children out of school without authorisation risk a Fixed Penalty Notice of £80 per parent per child. See our detailed guide to term-time holiday fines for full information.