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England school holidays 2026–27

On now: October half term, 26 to 30 October 2026. Here is every break in the 2026-27 school year, the public holidays, and a calendar you can add in one tap.

Dates from Wandsworth Council (London Borough of Wandsworth), community schools. Term dates in England are set by each local authority for community schools and by governing bodies or academy trusts for academies, free schools, foundation and voluntary aided schools, so other councils and academies can differ by a few days; each school also sets five INSET (staff training) days. Dates below are Wandsworth Council's.

Looking for 2024–25 or 2025–26? We only publish the current and next school years, so the dates above are the ones that apply now.

Checked against official sources on 19 October 2026

The 2026-27 school year

The year at a glance

SepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAug
October half term, 26 to 30 Oct 2026Christmas holidays, 21 Dec 2026 to 1 Jan 2027February half term, 15 to 19 Feb 2027Easter holidays, 26 Mar to 9 Apr 2027Early May bank holiday, 3 May 2027May half term, 31 May to 4 Jun 2027Summer holidays, from 23 Jul 2027
  • Winter and Christmas
  • Spring, March and Easter
  • Summer
  • Autumn and half terms
  • Short breaks
  • Public holiday
All dates

England school holiday dates

2026-27

Confirmed
BreakDatesSchool days off
First day of schoolWed 2 September 2026
October half term Mon 26 Oct – Fri 30 Oct 2026 5
Christmas holidays Mon 21 Dec – Fri 1 Jan 2027 10
February half term Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 5
Easter holidaysIncludes Good Friday (26 March) and Easter Monday (29 March). Fri 26 Mar – Fri 9 Apr 2027 11
Early May bank holidayBank holiday, not a multi-day break; the council page lists it as Monday 4 May, but the gov.uk date is Monday 3 May 2027. Mon 3 May – Mon 3 May 2027 1
May half termIncludes Spring bank holiday (31 May). Mon 31 May – Fri 4 Jun 2027 5
Summer holidaysStart date only; schools return early September 2027 (2027-28 dates not yet published by Wandsworth). From Fri 23 Jul 2027 –
Last day of schoolThu 22 July 2027

Term dates

  • Autumn term2 Sep to 18 Dec 2026
  • Spring term4 Jan to 25 Mar 2027
  • Summer term12 Apr to 22 Jul 2027

Source: Wandsworth Council school term dates 2026/27

2027-28

Not yet announced

Wandsworth Council (London Borough of Wandsworth), community schools hasn't published its 2027-28 calendar yet. We don't guess: the dates go up here, and into the calendar feed, as soon as they are official.

Dates are inclusive school days off, Monday to Friday. Individual schools can add closure days of their own (training days, PA days, inset days), so check with your school before you book anything non-refundable.

Public holidays

England public holidays 2027

Long weekends move demand as much as school breaks do. Where a holiday falls on a weekend, the day off in lieu is listed.

Source: GOV.UK UK bank holidays (England and Wales)

Long weekends 2027: the leave that turns these into week-long breaks →

  1. New Year's DayFriday · long weekend
  2. Good FridayFriday · long weekend
  3. Easter MondayMonday · long weekend
  4. Early May bank holidayMonday · long weekend
  5. Spring bank holidayMonday · long weekend
  6. Summer bank holidayMonday · long weekend
  7. Christmas Day (substitute day)Monday · long weekend
  8. Boxing Day (substitute day)Tuesday
For travellers and advisors

What these dates do to demand

  • Headteachers in England can refuse term-time leave and councils can fine parents for unauthorised absence, so family travel is concentrated in half terms, Easter and the summer holidays.
  • Most English councils use the same half-term weeks, so 26 to 30 October 2026, 15 to 19 February 2027 and 31 May to 4 June 2027 are peak family travel weeks; Scotland's October break and Wales's February half term fall on different weeks.
  • English summer holidays run from late July to early September, overlapping the August bank holiday (30 August 2027).

Also off school during February half term

More regions off at once means fuller flights and resorts that week. See the busiest weeks

Questions

Quick answers

When is February Half Term 2027 in England?

February half term is 15 to 19 February 2027, 5 school days off, according to Wandsworth Council school term dates 2026/27. Term dates in England are set by each local authority for community schools and by governing bodies or academy trusts for academies, free schools, foundation and voluntary aided schools, so other councils and academies can differ by a few days; each school also sets five INSET (staff training) days. Dates below are Wandsworth Council's.

When are the Christmas holidays 2026 in England?

Christmas holidays are 21 December 2026 to 1 January 2027, according to Wandsworth Council school term dates 2026/27.

When are the next school holidays in England?

October half term is 26 to 30 October 2026, according to Wandsworth Council school term dates 2026/27.

When does the 2026-27 school year start and end in England?

The first day of school is Wednesday 2 September 2026 and the last day is Thursday 22 July 2027.

When are the 2027-28 school holidays in England?

Wandsworth Council (London Borough of Wandsworth), community schools hasn't published the calendar yet. We check the official sources regularly and add the dates as soon as they are out.

What are the public holidays in England in 2027?

There are 8 public holidays: New Year's Day (1 January), Good Friday (26 March), Easter Monday (29 March), Early May bank holiday (3 May), Spring bank holiday (31 May), Summer bank holiday (30 August), Christmas Day (substitute day) (27 December), Boxing Day (substitute day) (28 December).

Sources

Spotted a change? Boards sometimes revise calendars mid-year. Tell us