England School Holidays & Term Dates
October Half-Term is on now: 26 Oct 2026 (Mon) – 30 Oct 2026 (Fri) (5 days). Official England school term dates.
See 2026 school holiday dates
days left of this school holiday
Next school holiday in England
England schools are currently on the October Half-Term.
The break ends on , and schools reopen on .
Ends in 1 day.
When does school start in England?
The 2027 school year begins on .
Email me when the next break is
No account needed. One-click unsubscribe in every email.
United KingdomEngland
2026 calendar
England school holidays in 2026 include summer, October half-term and Christmas break. Local authorities and schools may add INSET days — confirm locally.
Subscribing keeps this synced automatically if dates change — no need to re-download.
| Period | Dates | Days |
|---|---|---|
Summer HolidaysBreakBreak | Dates21 Jul 2026 (Tue) – 31 Aug 2026 (Mon) | Days42 |
Autumn TermTermTerm | Dates1 Sept 2026 (Tue) – 25 Oct 2026 (Sun) | Days55 |
October Half-TermBreakBreak | Dates26 Oct 2026 (Mon) – 30 Oct 2026 (Fri) | Days5 |
Term 2TermTerm | Dates31 Oct 2026 (Sat) – 18 Dec 2026 (Fri) | Days49 |
Christmas HolidaysBreakBreak | Dates19 Dec 2026 (Sat) – 3 Jan 2027 (Sun) | Days16 |
More ways to plan your trips
Compare calendars with family abroad, or stretch leave into longer breaks.
At a glance
- School days
- 104
- Holiday days
- 63
- Terms
- 2
- Longest break
- 42d
- Shortest break
- 5d
- Avg break
- 21d
Summer Holidays
October Half-Term
Year timeline
Sky bars show school terms, and amber bars show school breaks across 2026.
School terms: Autumn Term, 1 Sept 2026 (Tue) – 25 Oct 2026 (Sun); Term 2, 31 Oct 2026 (Sat) – 18 Dec 2026 (Fri). School breaks: Summer Holidays, 21 Jul 2026 (Tue) – 31 Aug 2026 (Mon); October Half-Term, 26 Oct 2026 (Mon) – 30 Oct 2026 (Fri); Christmas Holidays, 19 Dec 2026 (Sat) – 3 Jan 2027 (Sun)
- School terms
- School breaks
School holidays by year
School holidays by local authority
In England, maintained-school term dates are set by your local authority. Select your council for official holiday and term dates. Academies and many other schools may differ — confirm with your school.
- KentCounty council
- SurreyCounty council
- LeedsMetropolitan borough
- EssexComing soon
- HampshireComing soon
- LancashireComing soon
- NorfolkComing soon
- OxfordshireComing soon
- CornwallComing soon
- BristolComing soon
- ManchesterComing soon
- BirminghamComing soon
FAQ
How many England school holiday blocks are there each year?
Typically six: October half-term, Christmas, February half-term, Easter, May half-term, and the long summer holiday. Exact lengths vary by nation and local authority.
What is the next school holiday in England?
England schools are currently on October Half-Term, ending 30 Oct 2026 (Fri).
When are the next England school holidays?
Open the England hub for a live countdown to the next break, or pick a year calendar for half-terms, Christmas, Easter and summer holidays. Local authority and school INSET days can differ from the reference dates we publish.
Are schools currently on holiday in England?
Yes. England schools are on October Half-Term until 30 Oct 2026 (Fri).
Are TermBreaks dates the official England school holidays?
Dates follow the cited England education authority or a widely used reference calendar for that nation. Every page links the source and last-verified date. Always confirm with your local authority or school, especially for INSET days.
Where can I verify England school holiday dates?
Cross-check the cited source at https://www.gov.uk/school-term-holiday-dates and your local authority or school calendar. TermBreaks links sources and last-verified dates on every calendar page and on the methodology page.
Are INSET / training days included in the England holiday list?
No. TermBreaks lists term blocks and major holiday breaks. Teacher training (INSET) days are set locally and are not always published as term breaks — check your school.
Do all schools in England follow the same term dates?
Not always. In England, local authorities and academy trusts set term dates, so half-terms can vary by a week. Independent schools can also differ.
When does school start in England?
The 2027 Department for Education school year begins on 4 Jan 2027 (Mon).