School Term Dates & Holidays 2025/2026

Knowing when school terms start and end is essential for planning family holidays, childcare, and your child's routine. While the basic structure of three terms per year is consistent across England, the exact dates vary - sometimes significantly - between different types of schools and different local authorities. Here's what parents need to know for the 2025/26 academic year.

The Three-Term Structure

The English school year runs from early September to late July, divided into three terms:

• Autumn term: September to December (with a half-term break in late October)
• Spring term: January to March or April (with a half-term break in mid-February)
• Summer term: April to July (with a half-term break in late May or early June)

Each term is roughly 12–13 weeks long, split by a one-week half-term break in the middle. The Christmas and Easter holidays fall between terms and are typically two weeks each. The summer holiday is approximately six weeks, running from late July to early September.

In total, maintained schools in England must be open for 190 days (380 sessions) per academic year. Schools also have five "INSET days" (in-service training days) when pupils don't attend but staff are in school for training. The timing of INSET days is decided by each individual school.

Typical Term Dates for 2025/2026

While exact dates are set by each local authority (for maintained schools) or each academy trust or governing body (for academies and independent schools), the following represents a typical pattern for 2025/26:

Autumn Term 2025

• Term starts: Monday 1 September 2025 (some schools start Tuesday 2 or Wednesday 3 September, with INSET days on the first day or two)
• Half-term break: Monday 27 October to Friday 31 October 2025
• Term ends: Friday 19 December 2025
• Christmas holiday: Monday 22 December 2025 to Friday 2 January 2026

Spring Term 2026

• Term starts: Monday 5 January 2026
• Half-term break: Monday 16 February to Friday 20 February 2026
• Term ends: Friday 27 March 2026
• Easter holiday: Monday 30 March to Friday 10 April 2026 (Easter Sunday falls on 5 April 2026)

Summer Term 2026

• Term starts: Monday 13 April 2026
• May bank holiday: Monday 4 May 2026
• Half-term break: Monday 25 May to Friday 29 May 2026
• Term ends: Wednesday 22 July 2026 (or Friday 17 July at some schools)

Important: these dates are indicative. Always check your specific school's published term dates, which are usually available on the school website and sent to parents before the start of each academic year.

Why Dates Vary Between Schools

One of the most confusing aspects of term dates for parents is that different schools in the same area can have different holidays. Here's why:

Maintained Schools

Local authority maintained schools follow term dates set by their local council. All maintained schools within the same local authority will usually share the same term dates, though individual schools choose when to place their five INSET days.

Academies and Free Schools

Academies and free schools can set their own term dates independently. Multi-academy trusts (MATs) often standardise dates across their schools, but these may differ from the local authority pattern. Some academies follow the LA dates for convenience; others deliberately vary them.

A growing number of academy trusts have adopted alternative term structures, such as five shorter terms with more frequent breaks, or a longer autumn term with a shorter summer. These models aim to reduce the learning loss associated with the long six-week summer holiday.

Independent Schools

Independent (private) schools set their own dates entirely. They typically have longer holidays than state schools - often three weeks at Christmas and Easter, and seven or eight weeks in summer. Half-terms may also be longer. Boarding schools sometimes have an additional "exeat weekend" (a long weekend off) within each half of term.

INSET Days

Every school gets five INSET days per year. These are staff training days when the school is closed to pupils. Schools decide when to schedule them, and common patterns include:

• Placing one or two INSET days at the start of the autumn term (so pupils start a day or two after the nominal term start date)
• Attaching an INSET day to a half-term break (creating a six-day break for pupils)
• Scheduling INSET days on specific dates for whole-trust training events

INSET days are announced well in advance and appear on the school's published calendar. They're a common source of confusion because two neighbouring schools may show different "first day back" dates purely because of INSET placement.

Bank Holidays and Fixed Closures

Schools are closed on all standard English bank holidays that fall during term time. The ones most likely to affect the school year are:

• Early May bank holiday: first Monday in May
• Spring bank holiday: last Monday in May (usually falls in or near the May half-term break)
• Good Friday and Easter Monday: always fall within the Easter holiday

Holiday Absences and Fines

Taking your child out of school during term time without permission is an offence that can result in a penalty notice. The rules are clear:

• Head teachers can only authorise absence in exceptional circumstances - a family holiday does not normally qualify
• The penalty is currently £80 per parent per child if paid within 21 days, rising to £160 after that
• From August 2024, a new national framework introduced escalating penalties: a first offence is £80 (rising to £160), a second offence within three years is £160, and a third offence can lead to prosecution
• Penalties are issued per parent per child - so two parents taking two children out of school could face four separate fines

Despite the fines, many families still choose to take holidays in term time because of the significant price difference. Flight and hotel prices can be two to three times higher during school holidays. This is a personal and financial decision, but parents should be aware of the potential consequences.

Planning Around Term Dates

Some practical tips for parents:

• Book early: once term dates are published (usually by March for the following academic year), book any holiday travel immediately - prices rise sharply as school holidays approach
• Check INSET days: if an INSET day falls adjacent to a half-term, you effectively get an extra day's holiday without any attendance issues
• Coordinate siblings: if your children attend different schools (for example, one at a maintained school and one at an academy), their term dates may not align. Check all schools' calendars before booking anything
• Childcare for INSET days: arrange childcare or holiday clubs for INSET days - they're normal working days for most parents but the school will be closed
• Exam season: avoid planning anything during the GCSE and A-level exam period (mid-May to late June). Even if your child isn't taking exams, schools often have altered timetables during this period

Where to Find Your School's Exact Dates

The best source is always your school's own website or parent communications. Beyond that:

• Local authority websites: publish term dates for all maintained schools in their area
• Academy trust websites: publish dates for all schools in the trust
• School Signal: we display published term dates where available on individual school pages

Term dates are one of those details that seem simple but can catch parents out - especially when siblings are at different schools or when you're planning travel months in advance. The key is to check early, check every school your family is connected to, and plan accordingly.