England school holidays 2026 and 2027
English term dates are set locally, not nationally. 152 councils plus thousands of academy trusts each pick their own, so a school in Birmingham can be off while one 20 miles away in Coventry is still in lessons.
Every state school gets five INSET days to place wherever it likes. When one falls on the Friday before a half-term, pupils get the whole weekend plus the break week — nine days off instead of five. Get your school's INSET calendar as soon as it's published: the difference between a Friday INSET and a Monday one is often hundreds of pounds on flights.
How England's dates compare across the UK
Each period rated against Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. All aligned = all four nations off together — peak demand. Staggered or Divergent = dates offset, quieter windows possible.
Upcoming school holiday dates in England ✓ GOV.UK
- Summer holidays
- October half-term
- Christmas
- February half-term
- Easter
- May half-term
These are the dates most English councils share. Your specific school may differ by a day or two, particularly if it's an academy or free school.
Why English dates vary so much
Three types of school each have different freedoms when setting term dates:
- Community and voluntary-controlled schools follow the local council calendar, published a year or two ahead.
- Academies and free schools set their own. Most align loosely with the council to avoid confusing parents, but they aren't required to. Around half of England's secondary schools are academies.
- Independent schools set their own dates entirely. Their summer break is typically a week longer and starts earlier in July.
In practice, "English school holidays" is a pattern, not a fixed schedule. Most schools take the same week off, but start and end dates can shift two or three days either side. Always check with your school before booking.
INSET days
Every state school in England sets five INSET (in-service training) days a year. Pupils stay home; staff work. Schools place them where they like, sometimes at the edge of a half-term.
A Friday INSET at the start of a half-term turns a 5-day break into a 9-day window across both weekends. That single Friday converts a Saturday peak flight into a Friday off-peak one, often saving hundreds. Get your school's INSET calendar as soon as it's published.
Term-time holiday fines in England
Taking children out of school during term without permission triggers a Penalty Notice. Current rates:
- £80 per parent per child if paid within 21 days
- £160 per parent per child if paid between days 22 and 28
- A second offence within three years is a flat £160, no reduced rate
- A third offence within three years can go to the Magistrates' Court, where fines rise to £2,500 per parent per child
Penalty Notices are issued for unauthorised absences of five or more consecutive days. Headteachers can only authorise term-time absence in "exceptional circumstances", and family holidays don't count.
Quieter weeks if you're tied to English term dates
The quietest weeks in each holiday follow a consistent pattern, year on year, in date order:
- October half-term: Scotland breaks up a week or two earlier, so popular destinations are quieter the week immediately after Scottish pupils return.
- Christmas: the first day of the break and the day before children return are usually noticeably cheaper than the week between Christmas and New Year.
- Easter: the week before Easter weekend is quieter than the week after.
- Summer: mid-July beats late August. Scotland is back in school by 19 August, so a chunk of UK domestic demand has already gone.
Penalty Notice amounts and procedures reflect the National Framework that came into effect August 2024 and may be updated. Always check your local authority's current attendance policy.