When are the school holidays in the UK?
School holidays in the UK generally follow a national pattern, but exact dates can vary depending on the local authority, individual schools, multi‑academy trusts, and independent academies. In most cases, the main holiday periods fall at the end of December, early April, late July, and throughout August.
School term dates in the UK generally follow a similar pattern, but the exact schedule can differ between individual schools, academy trusts, and regions. The examples below provide a typical structure for the 2025/26 academic year, based on widely used term‑date models. Always check with the individual school for confirmed dates.
Example Term Dates for 2025/26
Autumn Term 2025 (Term 1)
03/09/2025 – 19/12/2025
These dates reflect a commonly adopted autumn term pattern.
Spring Term 2026 (Term 2)
06/01/2026 – 27/03/2026
This follows the standard spring term layout used by many schools.
Summer Term 2026 (Term 3)
14/04/2026 – 17/07/2026
A typical summer term period for the 2025/26 academic year.
Half‑Term Holidays
Half‑term breaks usually occur midway through each term and typically last one week – although more recently some schools have opted for a two week October half-term.
Examples from the 2025/26 model include:
- Late October (Autumn)
- Mid‑February (Spring)
- Late May (Summer)
Important Notes
- Individual schools, academies, and trusts may adjust dates slightly.
- Staff training days may also shift term start/end dates.