When do schools go back in September 2026? Date kids go back and UK school term schedule in full

MILLIONS of children across the UK are heading back to the classroom after the summer holidays. Here we take a look at when the new school year starts, as well as all of the key dates parents need to know. Children across the UK are returning to classrooms for the new school year Credit: Alamy There is no single set of term dates covering every school in England Credit: Alamy When do schools go back in September 2026? Most pupils across the UK return to school during the first week of September, though exact start dates depend on where you live and your school’s governance type. Councils set dates for community schools, while academies, free schools, and foundation schools set their own calendars. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! In England and Wales, the official autumn term begins on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. But many local authorities and individual schools reserve the first day for staff training (INSET), with pupils returning on Wednesday, September 2 or Thursday, September 3. A small number of councils – primarily in the Midlands – start their school year earlier in late August. In Northern Ireland, standard autumn terms begin on Tuesday, September 1, though schools frequently use the first day for teacher development. Scottish schools run on a different academic calendar altogether, with most pupils having already returned in mid-to-late August. When is October half-term 2026? There is no single UK-wide October half-term week. How much time off pupils receive – and when – varies significantly across the four home nations. Most read in The Sun Scotland holds the earliest October break; dates vary by local authority, generally falling between October 2 and October 19. Some councils take a single week, while others take two. Most English schools take a one-week break from Monday, October 26 to Friday, October 30. But a growing number of councils and academy trusts now schedule a two-week break starting earlier on October 19. Wales follows a standardised national calendar, with all schools taking half-term from Monday, October 26 to Friday, October 30. And Northern Ireland observes a shorter two-day Halloween break on Thursday, October 29 and Friday, October 30. When are the Christmas holidays 2026? Christmas holiday start dates are relatively consistent across the UK, though return dates in the New Year vary. English schools generally break up between Friday, December 18 and Tuesday, December 22. Welsh schools mostly finish on Friday, December 18, though select local authorities remain open until December 22. Northern Ireland follows a standardised holiday block running from Monday, December 21 through to Friday, January 1. Most Scottish schools close between December 18 and December 22, with pupils returning in early January. UK school term dates 2026/27 in full Term dates differ considerably depending on which nation and local authority your school falls under for the remainder of the 2026/27 academic year. In England, spring term begins on or around Monday, January 4, with a half-term break in mid-February. Because Easter Sunday falls early on March 28, 2027, the spring term finishes earlier than usual between mid- and late March, with pupils returning for the summer term in early-to-mid April. Summer finish dates vary widely by region: some Midlands councils break up around July 9, most London and southern boroughs finish around July 22, and select northern councils run until late July. In Wales, the spring term runs from early January to Friday, March 19, with half-term falling between February 8 and 12. The summer term begins on Monday, April 5 and finishes on Tuesday, July 20, with a half-term break running from May 31 to June 4. In Northern Ireland, spring term includes a mid-term break on February 11 and 12, followed by a holiday for St Patrick’s Day on March 17 and an Easter break from March 25 to April 2. The summer term features closures for May Day on May 3 and the Spring Bank Holiday on May 31, with the summer holiday beginning nationwide on July 1. In Scotland, term dates are decided independently by Scotland’s 32 local councils. Unlike the rest of the UK, most Scottish schools finish their spring and summer terms earlier, wrapping up the academic year at the end of June. How to check your child’s term times Because term dates and staff training days can vary significantly, double-checking your child’s exact school calendar directly is the best way to avoid surprise closures. Start by using the GOV.UK postcode tool to locate your local council’s standard term calendar for maintained community schools. For academies, free schools, or faith schools – which set their schedules independently – check the individual school’s official website directly. Looking at the school’s own site can also help you confirm INSET days, as governing bodies schedule these five required training days separately from council guidelines. To clear up any remaining details, check your school’s parent communication portal (such as Arbor, ParentMail, or ClassDojo) or contact the administration office directly. Comment now