When do schools go back in 2026?
When do schools go back?
26 Oct to 2 Nov 2026
Back to school: Scotland on 26 Oct; England and Wales and Northern Ireland on 2 Nov.
October half-term 2026
Quietest week 21–27 Oct 2026 37%Busiest week 24–30 Oct 2026 82%
45 points separate the quietest week of October half-term from the busiest. Picking the week matters more than picking the destination.
Back-to-school dates by nation
| After | England | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October half-term 2026 | ||||
| Christmas 2026 | ||||
| February half-term 2027 | ||||
| Easter 2027 | ||||
| May half-term 2027 | Not published |
Term time is the quietest travel window of the year
The day schools go back is the day travel demand collapses. Every family tied to the school calendar is off the roads and out of the airports until the next holiday, and prices follow. If you are not tied to term dates, the weeks immediately after a return date are consistently the cheapest and calmest of the year — more so than any weekend or shoulder-season trick.
The finder above scores every week between now and the end of our data. Set a range that starts after the return date and the quietest windows come back ranked, with the percentage of UK schools off on each one.
Why the four nations go back on different days
Scotland runs its school year from mid-August to late June, roughly a fortnight ahead of the rest of the UK. England delegates term dates to 218 local authorities and to academy trusts, which can set their own within the authority's window. Wales works to central guidance across 22 authorities. Northern Ireland is centrally coordinated, which makes its dates the most predictable of the four.
The practical consequence for travel: there is almost always a week somewhere in the UK where one nation is back at school and another is not. Those gaps are where the quietest windows sit.
INSET days move the first day back
English state schools set their own INSET days, and the start of the autumn term is where most of them land. The published return date is when the term starts; your school's first teaching day can be a day or two later. Check how rare your school’s INSET day is →
Return dates are derived from the published end of each holiday and roll forward to the next weekday. Individual schools, particularly academies in England, may differ. Always confirm with your school.
Common questions
When do schools go back in England?
The next school day in England after a holiday is 2 Nov 2026. Academies can set their own dates within the local authority window, so check with your school before making plans around it.
Do Scottish schools go back earlier than English ones?
Yes. Scotland's school year starts in mid-August, around a fortnight before England and Wales, and its October break falls one to two weeks earlier too. The next Scottish return date is 26 Oct 2026.
Is it cheaper to travel once schools go back?
Yes, and by a wide margin. Term time is when the fewest families can travel, so roads, airports and resorts are at their quietest and prices track that demand. The finder on this page scores every week so you can see the difference.