Half Term 2026 Dates: When is Half Term 2026 in England?

Half term breaks in England for 2026 occur across three distinct periods: February Half Term runs from Monday, February 16, 2026, to Friday, February 20, 2026; May Half Term spans Monday, May 25, 2026, to Friday, May 29, 2026; and October Half Term takes place from Monday, October 26, 2026, to Friday, October 30, 2026.

These dates represent the standard pattern followed by approximately 85% of English local authorities, though variations exist across the 152+ independent councils that set term dates within the Department for Education framework.

Half Term in England’s School Calendar

Half term breaks divide each of England’s three academic terms into manageable segments. Each half term lasts five school days (one week) for most English schools, creating mid-term breaks during the Autumn, Spring, and Summer terms.

These breaks serve distinct purposes from major holidays like Christmas and Easter, which extend for two weeks or longer.

England operates without a centralized national school calendar. Local authorities maintain independent control over term dates, creating regional variations despite broad alignment around common weeks.

This decentralized structure means families with children in different local authorities may encounter misaligned break periods.

Three Half Term Types in 2026

Spring Half Term 2026, also known as February Half Term occurs during the coldest months, providing a mid-winter respite. The February break typically coincides with indoor activities and short-haul winter sun destinations. Schools resume on Monday, February 23, 2026, following the five-day closure.

Summer Half Term 2026, also known as May Half Term, aligns with the late May bank holiday on Monday, May 25, 2026. This creates extended weekend opportunities for families, combining the bank holiday with the school break. The proximity to summer vacation makes this period popular for pre-summer travel at lower prices than June and July.

Autumn Half Term 2026, also known as October Half Term, falls during the 2026-2027 academic year, positioning the break at the end of October. This timing creates natural overlap with Halloween on Saturday, October 31, 2026, influencing family planning for seasonal activities.

Half Term Dates 2026 for Major Institutions in England

Primary and Secondary Schools by Local Authority

Local Authority	February Half Term 2026	May Half Term 2026	October Half Term 2026
GREATER LONDON
Barking & Dagenham	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Barnet	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Bexley	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Brent	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Bromley	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Camden	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30
City of London	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Croydon	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Ealing	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30
Enfield	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Greenwich (Royal Borough)	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30
Hackney	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Hammersmith & Fulham	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Haringey	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Harrow	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 27 – Fri, Oct 31
Havering	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Hillingdon	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Hounslow	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30
Islington	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Kensington & Chelsea (Royal Borough)	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Kingston upon Thames (Royal Borough)	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Lambeth	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Lewisham	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Merton	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30
Newham	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Redbridge	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Richmond upon Thames	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Southwark	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Sutton	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Tower Hamlets	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30
Waltham Forest	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Tue, May 26 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Wandsworth	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30
Westminster	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
MAJOR CITIES & METROPOLITAN AREAS
Birmingham	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30
Bristol	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Leeds	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Leicester	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Liverpool	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Manchester	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Newcastle upon Tyne	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Nottingham	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Sheffield	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
COUNTY COUNCILS
Cambridgeshire	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30
Cornwall	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Cumbria	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Derbyshire	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Devon	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Dorset	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Durham	Fri, Feb 13 – Mon, Feb 23	Fri, May 22 – Mon, Jun 1	Fri, Oct 23 – Mon, Nov 2
East Sussex	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Essex	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30
Gloucestershire	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Hampshire	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Hertfordshire	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Kent	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Lancashire	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Leicestershire	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Lincolnshire	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Norfolk	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
North Yorkshire	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Northamptonshire	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Northumberland	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Nottinghamshire	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Oxfordshire	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Somerset	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Staffordshire	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30
Suffolk	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Surrey	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 19 – Fri, Oct 30
Warwickshire	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
West Sussex	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Worcestershire	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
METROPOLITAN BOROUGHS
Bolton	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Bradford	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Bury	Fri, Feb 13 – Mon, Feb 23	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Calderdale	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Coventry	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Doncaster	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Dudley	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Gateshead	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Kirklees	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Knowsley	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
North Tyneside	Fri, Feb 13 – Mon, Feb 23	Fri, May 22 – Mon, Jun 1	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Oldham	Fri, Feb 13 – Mon, Feb 23	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Rochdale	Fri, Feb 13 – Mon, Feb 23	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Rotherham	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Salford	Fri, Feb 13 – Mon, Feb 23	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Sandwell	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Sefton	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Solihull	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
South Tyneside	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
St Helens	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Stockport	Fri, Feb 13 – Mon, Feb 23	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Sunderland	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Tameside	Fri, Feb 13 – Mon, Feb 23	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Trafford	Fri, Feb 13 – Mon, Feb 23	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Wakefield	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Walsall	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Wigan	Fri, Feb 13 – Mon, Feb 23	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Wirral	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Fri, May 22 – Mon, Jun 1	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Wolverhampton	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*

Further Education Colleges Half Term Dates 2026

Institution	February Half Term 2026	May Half Term 2026	October Half Term 2026	Location
Barking & Dagenham College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	East London
Bedford College Group	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Bedfordshire
Blackpool & The Fylde College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Lancashire
Brighton MET College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Tue, May 26 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	East Sussex
Chelmsford College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Tue, May 26 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Essex
City of Bristol College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Bristol
Colchester Institute	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30	Essex
East Coast College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Norfolk
East Riding College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	East Yorkshire
Exeter College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Devon
Greater Brighton Metropolitan College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Tue, May 26 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	East Sussex
Hartlepool College of FE	Mon, Feb 23 – Fri, Feb 27	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	County Durham
Hereford & Ludlow College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Herefordshire/Shropshire
Hull College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	East Yorkshire
Leeds City College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	West Yorkshire
Lincoln College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Lincolnshire
London South East Colleges	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	South East London
The Manchester College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Greater Manchester
MidKent College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Kent
New College Durham	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	County Durham
Northampton College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Northamptonshire
Nottingham College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Nottinghamshire
Peterborough College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Cambridgeshire
Reading College (Activate Learning)	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Berkshire
South Bank Colleges	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	South London
South Essex College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Essex
South Thames College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	South London
Southampton College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Hampshire
Tameside College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Greater Manchester
Vision West Nottinghamshire College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Nottinghamshire
West Nottinghamshire College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Nottinghamshire
Woodhouse College	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	North London

Major Multi-Academy Trusts Half Term Dates 2026

Multi-Academy Trust	Number of Schools	February Half Term 2026	May Half Term 2026	October Half Term 2026
Academies Enterprise Trust	50+ schools	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Ark Schools	38 schools	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Delta Academies Trust	45+ schools	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
E-ACT	28 schools	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Harris Federation	50+ schools	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Oasis Community Learning	52 schools	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Ormiston Academies Trust	42 schools	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Outwood Grange Academies Trust	32 schools	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
REAch2 Academy Trust	60+ schools	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
Star Academies	31 schools	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*
United Learning	68 schools	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*

Major Independent Schools Half Term Dates 2026

School	Type	February Half Term 2026	May Half Term 2026	October Half Term 2026	Location
Eton College	Boys’ boarding	Sat, Feb 14 – Sun, Feb 22	Sat, May 23 – Sun, May 31	Sat, Oct 24 – Sun, Nov 1	Berkshire
Harrow School	Boys’ boarding	Sat, Feb 14 – Sun, Feb 22	Sat, May 23 – Sun, May 31	Sat, Oct 24 – Sun, Nov 1	Greater London
Westminster School	Co-ed day/boarding	Fri, Feb 13 – Mon, Feb 23	Fri, May 22 – Mon, Jun 1	Fri, Oct 23 – Mon, Nov 2	Central London
St Paul’s School	Boys’ day	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	West London
St Paul’s Girls’ School	Girls’ day	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	West London
Dulwich College	Boys’ day/boarding	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	South London
City of London School	Boys’ day	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Central London
City of London School for Girls	Girls’ day	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Central London
King’s College School Wimbledon	Co-ed day	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	South West London
Manchester Grammar School	Boys’ day	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Greater Manchester
The King’s School Canterbury	Co-ed day/boarding	Sat, Feb 14 – Sun, Feb 22	Sat, May 23 – Sun, May 31	Sat, Oct 24 – Sun, Nov 1	Kent
Brighton College	Co-ed day/boarding	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Mon, May 25 – Fri, May 29	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	East Sussex
Tonbridge School	Boys’ boarding	Sat, Feb 14 – Sun, Feb 22	Sat, May 23 – Sun, May 31	Sat, Oct 24 – Sun, Nov 1	Kent
Winchester College	Boys’ boarding	Sat, Feb 14 – Sun, Feb 22	Sat, May 23 – Sun, May 31	Sat, Oct 24 – Sun, Nov 1	Hampshire
Wycombe Abbey	Girls’ boarding	Sat, Feb 14 – Sun, Feb 22	Sat, May 23 – Sun, May 31	Sat, Oct 24 – Sun, Nov 1	Buckinghamshire

Regional Summary Statistics

Region	Total Local Authorities	Standard Pattern (Feb 16-20)	Extended Pattern (Feb 13-23)	Unique Variations
Greater London	32 boroughs	31 (97%)	0	1 (Waltham Forest summer variation)
North East	12 authorities	9 (75%)	3 (Durham, North Tyneside, Gateshead)	Extended Friday patterns
North West	23 authorities	14 (61%)	9 (Greater Manchester metro)	Greater Manchester coordination
Yorkshire & Humber	15 authorities	14 (93%)	1 (potential variations)	Strong regional alignment
East Midlands	9 authorities	9 (100%)	0	Complete standardization
West Midlands	14 authorities	14 (100%)	0	Complete standardization
East of England	11 authorities	11 (100%)	0	Complete standardization
South East	19 authorities	18 (95%)	0	1 (Surrey two-week autumn)
South West	16 authorities	16 (100%)	0	Complete standardization

Key Notes

INSET Day Impact: Schools may schedule In-Service Training (INSET) days adjacent to half-term weeks, effectively extending breaks by one additional day for pupils while staff attend training.

Regional Patterns: Greater Manchester metropolitan authorities are expected to demonstrate coordinated extended patterns starting Friday, February 13, 2026. Durham maintains distinctive Friday start patterns across all three half terms. Surrey’s two-week Autumn Half Term represents the most significant structural variation in England for 2026.

Major Universities in England: Reading Weeks and Term Dates 2026

Russell Group Universities Term Dates 2026

University	Spring Term/Reading Week 2026	Summer/Easter Term 2026	Autumn Term 2026	System Type
OXFORD & CAMBRIDGE (Traditional 8-Week Terms)
University of Oxford	Hilary Term: Sun, Jan 18 – Sat, Mar 14 (56 days)	Trinity Term: Sun, Apr 26 – Sat, Jun 20 (56 days)	Michaelmas Term: Sun, Oct 11 – Sat, Dec 5*	Traditional terms
University of Cambridge	Lent Term: Tue, Jan 13 – Fri, Mar 13 (59 days)	Easter Term: Tue, Apr 21 – Fri, Jun 12 (53 days)	Michaelmas Term: Tue, Oct 6 – Fri, Dec 4*	Traditional terms
LONDON UNIVERSITIES
Imperial College London	Spring Term: Mon, Jan 5 – Fri, Mar 27<br>Reading Week: Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Summer Term: Mon, Apr 27 – Fri, Jun 19	Autumn Term: Mon, Sep 28 – Fri, Dec 18*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Semester system
London School of Economics (LSE)	Lent Term: Mon, Jan 12 – Fri, Mar 20<br>Reading Week: Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Summer Term: Mon, Apr 27 – Fri, Jun 19	Michaelmas Term: Mon, Sep 28 – Fri, Dec 18*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Term system
University College London (UCL)	Semester 2: Mon, Jan 6 – Fri, May 22<br>Spring Reading Week: Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Exams: Late May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 21 – Fri, Dec 18*<br>Autumn Reading Week: Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Semester system
King’s College London	Semester 2: Mon, Jan 12 – Fri, May 29<br>Reading Week: Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 28 – Fri, Dec 19*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Semester system
Queen Mary University of London	Semester 2: Mon, Jan 19 – Fri, May 29<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 2 – Fri, Mar 6	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 28 – Fri, Jan 16*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 9 – Fri, Nov 13*	Semester system
NORTHERN UNIVERSITIES
University of Manchester	Semester 2: Mon, Jan 26 – Fri, Jun 5<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 23 – Fri, Mar 27	Exams: Apr – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 21 – Fri, Jan 23*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Semester system
University of Leeds	Semester 2: Mon, Feb 2 – Fri, May 29<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 23 – Fri, Mar 27	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 28 – Fri, Jan 29*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Semester system
University of Sheffield	Semester 2: Mon, Feb 2 – Fri, Jun 12<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 9 – Fri, Mar 13	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 21 – Fri, Jan 22*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Semester system
Durham University	Epiphany Term: Mon, Jan 12 – Fri, Mar 20<br>No formal reading week	Easter Term: Mon, Apr 27 – Fri, Jun 26	Michaelmas Term: Mon, Oct 5 – Fri, Dec 11*<br>No formal reading week	Term system
Newcastle University	Semester 2: Mon, Jan 26 – Fri, May 29<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 16 – Fri, Mar 20	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 21 – Fri, Jan 16*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Semester system
University of Liverpool	Semester 2: Mon, Feb 2 – Fri, Jun 5<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 23 – Fri, Mar 27	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 28 – Fri, Jan 23*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 9 – Fri, Nov 13*	Semester system
MIDLANDS UNIVERSITIES
University of Birmingham	Semester 2: Mon, Jan 26 – Fri, May 29<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 9 – Fri, Mar 13	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 21 – Fri, Jan 23*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Semester system
University of Nottingham	Semester 2: Mon, Feb 2 – Fri, Jun 5<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 16 – Fri, Mar 20	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 28 – Fri, Jan 30*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 9 – Fri, Nov 13*	Semester system
University of Warwick	Term 2: Mon, Jan 5 – Sat, Mar 28<br>Reading Week: Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Term 3: Mon, Apr 27 – Sat, Jul 4	Term 1: Mon, Oct 5 – Sat, Dec 12*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Term system (3 terms)
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITIES
University of Bristol	Teaching Block 2: Mon, Jan 26 – Fri, May 29<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 23 – Fri, Mar 27	Exams: May – Jun	Teaching Block 1: Mon, Sep 21 – Fri, Jan 23*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Teaching blocks
University of Southampton	Semester 2: Mon, Jan 26 – Fri, Jun 12<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 16 – Fri, Mar 20	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 28 – Fri, Jan 23*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Semester system
University of Exeter	Semester 2: Mon, Jan 12 – Fri, May 22<br>Reading Week: Mon, Feb 23 – Fri, Feb 27	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 21 – Fri, Jan 9*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Semester system
University of Sussex	Semester 2: Mon, Jan 26 – Fri, Jun 5<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 16 – Fri, Mar 20	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 28 – Fri, Jan 23*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 9 – Fri, Nov 13*	Semester system
SCOTTISH UNIVERSITIES
University of Edinburgh	Semester 2: Mon, Jan 12 – Fri, May 22<br>Mid-Semester Break: Mon, Mar 2 – Fri, Mar 6	Exams: Apr – May	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 14 – Fri, Dec 18*<br>Mid-Semester Break: Mon, Oct 19 – Fri, Oct 23*	Semester system
University of St Andrews	Semester 2: Mon, Jan 12 – Fri, May 25<br>Independent Learning Week: TBD	Exams: Apr – May	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 7 – Fri, Dec 18*<br>Independent Learning Week: TBD*	Semester system
University of Glasgow	Semester 2: Mon, Jan 12 – Fri, May 29<br>Mid-Semester Break: Variable by faculty	Exams: Apr – May	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 21 – Fri, Jan 9*<br>Mid-Semester Break: Variable by faculty*	Semester system

Non-Russell Group Major Universities Term Dates 2026

University	Spring Term/Reading Week 2026	Summer/Easter Term 2026	Autumn Term 2026	System Type
CIVIC UNIVERSITIES
University of York	Spring Term: Mon, Jan 12 – Fri, Mar 20<br>Reading Week: Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Summer Term: Mon, Apr 27 – Fri, Jun 19	Autumn Term: Mon, Oct 5 – Fri, Dec 11*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Term system
Lancaster University	Term 2: Mon, Jan 12 – Fri, Mar 27<br>Reading Week: Mon, Feb 23 – Fri, Feb 27	Term 3: Mon, Apr 27 – Fri, Jun 26	Term 1: Mon, Oct 5 – Fri, Dec 11*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Term system (3 terms)
University of Leicester	Semester 2: Mon, Jan 26 – Fri, Jun 5<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 16 – Fri, Mar 20	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 28 – Fri, Jan 23*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Semester system
University of Reading	Semester 2: Mon, Jan 26 – Fri, May 29<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 16 – Fri, Mar 20	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 21 – Fri, Jan 23*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Semester system
Loughborough University	Semester 2: Mon, Jan 26 – Fri, Jun 5<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 23 – Fri, Mar 27	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 28 – Fri, Jan 23*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Semester system
FORMER POLYTECHNICS (1992 Universities)
University of the West of England (UWE Bristol)	Semester 2: Mon, Feb 2 – Fri, Jun 5<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 16 – Fri, Mar 20	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 21 – Fri, Jan 23*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Semester system
Northumbria University	Semester 2: Mon, Jan 26 – Fri, May 29<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 9 – Fri, Mar 13	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 21 – Fri, Jan 16*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30*	Semester system
De Montfort University (Leicester)	Semester 2: Mon, Feb 2 – Fri, Jun 5<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 16 – Fri, Mar 20	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 28 – Fri, Jan 30*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 9 – Fri, Nov 13*	Semester system
Sheffield Hallam University	Semester 2: Mon, Feb 2 – Fri, May 29<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 16 – Fri, Mar 20	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 28 – Fri, Jan 30*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Semester system
Coventry University	Semester 2: Mon, Jan 26 – Fri, May 22<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 9 – Fri, Mar 13	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 21 – Fri, Jan 16*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Semester system
Manchester Metropolitan University	Semester 2: Mon, Feb 2 – Fri, Jun 5<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 23 – Fri, Mar 27	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 21 – Fri, Jan 23*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Semester system
Nottingham Trent University	Semester 2: Mon, Feb 2 – Fri, Jun 5<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 23 – Fri, Mar 27	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 28 – Fri, Jan 30*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 9 – Fri, Nov 13*	Semester system
University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)	Semester 2: Mon, Feb 2 – Fri, May 29<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 16 – Fri, Mar 20	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 21 – Fri, Jan 23*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Semester system
PLATE GLASS UNIVERSITIES (1960s)
University of Kent	Spring Term: Mon, Jan 12 – Fri, Mar 27<br>Reading Week: Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Summer Term: Mon, Apr 27 – Fri, Jun 19	Autumn Term: Mon, Sep 28 – Fri, Dec 18*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Term system
University of Essex	Spring Term: Mon, Jan 12 – Fri, Mar 27<br>Reading Week: Mon, Feb 23 – Fri, Feb 27	Summer Term: Mon, Apr 27 – Fri, Jun 26	Autumn Term: Mon, Oct 5 – Fri, Dec 11*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 9 – Fri, Nov 13*	Term system
University of East Anglia (UEA)	Semester 2: Mon, Jan 12 – Fri, Jun 5<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 16 – Fri, Mar 20	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 21 – Fri, Jan 9*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Semester system
Keele University	Semester 2: Mon, Jan 26 – Fri, Jun 5<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 9 – Fri, Mar 13	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 21 – Fri, Jan 23*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Semester system

Specialist and Collegiate Universities Term Dates 2026

Institution	Spring Term/Reading Week 2026	Summer/Easter Term 2026	Autumn Term 2026	Specialty
ARTS & MUSIC
Royal College of Music	Spring Term: Mon, Jan 12 – Fri, Mar 27<br>Reading Week: Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	Summer Term: Mon, Apr 27 – Fri, Jun 26	Autumn Term: Mon, Sep 28 – Fri, Dec 18*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Music conservatoire
Royal Academy of Music	Spring Term: Mon, Jan 12 – Fri, Mar 27<br>Reading Week: Mon, Feb 23 – Fri, Feb 27	Summer Term: Mon, Apr 27 – Fri, Jun 26	Autumn Term: Mon, Sep 21 – Fri, Dec 18*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Music conservatoire
University of the Arts London	Semester 2: Mon, Jan 19 – Fri, May 22<br>Reading Week: Variable by college	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 28 – Fri, Jan 16*<br>Reading Week: Variable by college*	Arts & design
MEDICAL SCHOOLS
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine	Term 2: Mon, Jan 12 – Fri, Apr 3<br>No formal reading week	Term 3: Mon, Apr 27 – Fri, Sep 11	Term 1: Mon, Sep 28 – Fri, Dec 18*<br>No formal reading week*	Public health
Royal Veterinary College	Semester 2: Mon, Jan 12 – Fri, May 29<br>Reading Week: Mon, Mar 2 – Fri, Mar 6	Exams: May – Jun	Semester 1: Mon, Sep 21 – Fri, Jan 9*<br>Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6*	Veterinary medicine
COLLEGIATE SYSTEM
University of London (Central)	Varies by constituent college	Varies by constituent college	Varies by constituent college	Federal university
Durham University Colleges	Epiphany Term: Mon, Jan 12 – Fri, Mar 20	Easter Term: Mon, Apr 27 – Fri, Jun 26	Michaelmas Term: Mon, Oct 5 – Fri, Dec 11*	Collegiate system

University Reading Week Alignment with School Half Term 2026

University Reading Week Period	Aligns with School Half Term?	Number of Universities	Percentage
Spring Reading Week: Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20	YES – February Half Term	12 universities	20%
Spring Reading Week: Mon, Feb 23 – Fri, Feb 27	NO	5 universities	8%
Spring Reading Week: Mon, Mar 2 – Fri, Mar 6	NO	4 universities	7%
Spring Reading Week: Mon, Mar 9 – Fri, Mar 13	NO	6 universities	10%
Spring Reading Week: Mon, Mar 16 – Fri, Mar 20	NO	14 universities	23%
Spring Reading Week: Mon, Mar 23 – Fri, Mar 27	NO	9 universities	15%
No formal spring reading week	N/A	10 universities	17%

University Reading Week Period	Aligns with School Half Term?	Number of Universities	Percentage
Autumn Reading Week: Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30	YES – Autumn Half Term	8 universities	13%
Autumn Reading Week: Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6	NO	35 universities	58%
Autumn Reading Week: Mon, Nov 9 – Fri, Nov 13	NO	12 universities	20%
No formal autumn reading week	N/A	5 universities	8%

Critical Differences: Universities vs. Schools

Feature	Schools (Primary/Secondary)	Universities	Impact
Half Term Terminology	Use “half term” universally	Use “reading week,” “independent study week,” or no break	Terminology confusion for students/parents
Duration	Fixed 5 days (one week) for 85% of schools	Variable: 5-7 days or no formal break	Planning inconsistency
Timing	Nationally coordinated around late Feb/late May/late Oct	Staggered by institution; no national coordination	Family coordination challenges
Purpose	Complete closure for all students	Independent study period; facilities remain open	Students may have obligations during “breaks”
Consistency	Three annual half terms every academic year	Variable by faculty, course, and year level	Unpredictable for multi-child families
Spring 2026 Alignment	Mon, Feb 16 – Fri, Feb 20 (85% of schools)	Only 20% of universities align with this week	80% misalignment rate
Autumn 2026 Alignment	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30 (85% of schools)	Only 13% of universities align with this week	87% misalignment rate

Faculty-Level Variations (Example: University of Manchester)

Faculty/School	Spring Reading Week 2026	Autumn Reading Week 2026*	Notes
Faculty of Science & Engineering	Mon, Mar 23 – Fri, Mar 27	Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6	Standard pattern
Alliance Manchester Business School	Mon, Mar 16 – Fri, Mar 20	Mon, Oct 26 – Fri, Oct 30	Earlier pattern
Faculty of Humanities	Mon, Mar 23 – Fri, Mar 27	Mon, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 6	Standard pattern
Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health	Variable by programme	Variable by programme	Clinical placements affect timing
Manchester Medical School	No formal reading week (clinical rotations)	No formal reading week	Continuous placement schedule

Key Insights: University Calendar Patterns 2026

Only 20% of major English universities align their Spring Reading Week with the school’s February Half Term (Monday, February 16 to Friday, February 20, 2026). The majority schedule reading weeks in March, creating misalignment for families with school-age children.

Autumn Reading Week shows even greater misalignment: 58% of universities schedule reading weeks for Monday, November 2 to Friday, November 6, 2026, while schools observe half term Monday, October 26 to Friday, October 30, 2026. Only 13% of universities align with the school’s autumn half-term.

Oxford and Cambridge operate fundamentally different systems: Their eight-week terms (Michaelmas, Hilary, Trinity) bear no relationship to school half terms. These terms run Sunday to Saturday and maintain centuries-old schedules independent of modern school calendars.

Medical and clinical programmes rarely observe reading weeks: Students in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, and nursing follow placement schedules that continue through periods other students treat as breaks.

Summer term varies dramatically by institution: Some universities conclude in early June, others extend through late June or early July, creating no consistent pattern comparable to the school summer half term.

Scottish universities diverge further from English school patterns: Semester start dates in early September and mid-semester breaks in early March show minimal overlap with English school half terms.

Faculty-level variations within universities: A single institution may have different reading week schedules for different faculties, meaning siblings at the same university could have different break periods.

Universities publish calendars 12-18 months in advance: Families seeking to coordinate university and school calendars can access future dates earlier than local authority school term dates, which typically appear 6-12 months ahead.

February Half Term Dates 2026

Spring Half Term 2026 begins on Monday, February 16, 2026, and ends on Friday, February 20, 2026, across most English local authorities. Schools closed for instruction resume normal schedules on Monday, February 23, 2026.

Regional Variations in February 2026

Durham County Council implements a distinct pattern starting on Friday, February 13, 2026, and returning on Monday, February 23, 2026. This creates a nine-day break when including weekends, differing from the standard five-day structure.

Greater Manchester authorities follow a similar extended pattern, with schools closing on Friday, February 13, 2026. North Tyneside mirrors this Friday start date, offering families in these regions additional planning flexibility.

The majority of London boroughs maintain the Monday, February 16, 2026, start date. All 32 London boroughs follow this pattern, including Barking & Dagenham, Camden, Ealing, Greenwich, Hammersmith & Fulham, Merton, Tower Hamlets, and Wandsworth.

Major counties across England align with the February 16-20 dates. Birmingham, Cambridgeshire, Essex, and Staffordshire publish confirmed dates matching this standard week.

February 2026 Planning Considerations

Travel demand peaks during Spring Half Term as families seek winter sun destinations. Price premiums of 20-40% above shoulder season rates apply to family accommodations and flights during this period.

Popular February destinations include the Canary Islands, Cyprus, and Southern Spain, offering temperatures 10-15°C warmer than England. Short-haul flight times of 3-4 hours make these locations accessible for week-long breaks.

Indoor activity centers experience high capacity during the February half term. Museums, indoor play centers, and entertainment venues across England implement advanced booking systems to manage visitor numbers.

May Half Term Dates 2026: May Bank Holiday Week

May Half Term 2026 runs from Monday, May 25, 2026, to Friday, May 29, 2026, coinciding with the Spring Bank Holiday on Monday, May 25, 2026.

This alignment creates natural four-day weekend opportunities before schools reopen on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

May 2026 Date Patterns

The Spring Bank Holiday falls on the first day of May Half Term in 2026. This creates extended break opportunities for families, combining the public holiday with school closures.

Most English local authorities maintain the standard Monday to Friday pattern. Confirmed authorities include Royal Greenwich, Tower Hamlets, Birmingham, and all major metropolitan areas.

Waltham Forest implements a variation starting on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, and ending Friday, May 29, 2026. This represents one of the few documented exceptions to the Monday start pattern for May Half Term.

Travel Patterns in May 2026

May half term represents the final major break before summer vacation. Families book outdoor destinations, capitalizing on improving weather conditions across the UK and Europe.

Coastal regions in England experience peak demand during this period. Cornwall, Devon, and East Coast locations report capacity constraints for holiday accommodations.

Theme parks operate extended hours during the Summer Half Term. Major attractions, including Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, and Legoland Windsor, implement summer operating schedules starting this week.

Optimal booking windows occur 3-6 months in advance. Reservations made between December 2025 and February 2026 secure better rates than last-minute bookings made in April or May.

October Half Term Dates 2026

Autumn Half Term 2026 spans Monday, October 26, 2026, to Friday, October 30, 2026, for approximately 85% of English local authorities. This represents the first half term of the 2026-2027 academic year, with most councils having published confirmed dates by early 2026.

October 2026 Confirmed Dates

Camden publishes confirmed dates from Monday, October 26, 2026, to Friday, October 30, 2026. Ealing, Merton, and Tower Hamlets match this pattern with official calendar publications.

Harrow implements a slightly later schedule running Monday, October 27, 2026, to Friday, October 31, 2026. This one-day shift accommodates local authority planning requirements.

Durham maintains its distinctive Friday start pattern for the Autumn Half Term. Schools close on Friday, October 23, 2026, creating an extended break through Monday, November 2, 2026.

Surrey’s Two-Week Autumn Half Term

Surrey introduces a two-week Autumn Half Term from Monday, October 19, 2026, to Friday, October 30, 2026, starting in the 2026-2027 academic year. This represents a major structural change affecting all Surrey community and voluntary-controlled schools.

The extended October break reduces the summer term by five school days. Surrey implements this change to redistribute term lengths more evenly across the academic year.

Families with children in Surrey face planning challenges when coordinating with neighboring authorities. Adjacent counties, including Hampshire, West Sussex, and Greater London, maintain standard one-week patterns.

Halloween Alignment in 2026

Saturday, October 31, 2026, falls immediately after the standard Autumn Half Term ends. This creates natural opportunities for Halloween activities during or directly following the school break.

Families plan Halloween events during the final days of half term. Theme parks, heritage sites, and entertainment venues schedule Halloween programming from October 26-30.

Regional Differences Across English Local Authorities

England’s 152+ local authorities create a fragmented landscape of school term dates. The Department for Education provides framework guidance but grants councils autonomy in setting specific dates.

London Borough Patterns

All 32 London boroughs demonstrate strong alignment across half term dates. The February 16-20, May 25-29, and October 26-30 patterns appear consistently across inner and outer London authorities.

Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, and the City of London follow projected patterns for Autumn 2026. These central London boroughs typically finalize 2026-2027 dates by spring 2026.

Outer London boroughs, including Bromley, Croydon, and Havering, maintain standard patterns. Consistency across London simplifies planning for families moving between boroughs.

Major County Variations

County councils outside London show greater diversity in half term patterns. Large counties, including Cambridgeshire, Essex, and Staffordshire, publish confirmed standard dates.

Durham’s Friday start pattern creates 9-day breaks, including weekends. This extended structure appeals to families seeking additional travel time.

Greater Manchester authorities coordinate across multiple metropolitan boroughs. The unified Friday, February 13, 2026, start date demonstrates regional cooperation.

Academy and Free School Independence

Academies and free schools operate outside local authority control for term dates. These schools set independent calendars, creating potential misalignment with community schools in the same area.

Multi-academy trusts often standardize dates across their school networks. Large trusts, including United Learning and Ark Schools publish unified term calendars affecting dozens of schools.

Parents with children in different school types face coordination challenges. One child in a community school and another in an academy may experience different half term weeks.

Half Term 2026 Compared to University Reading Weeks

Universities in England do not observe half term breaks; instead, they implement reading weeks or independent study periods that vary by institution and faculty. This creates fundamental differences between school and university academic calendars.

University Term Structures

Oxford and Cambridge use traditional term names: Michaelmas, Hilary, and Trinity. These eight-week terms run on fixed schedules independent of school half terms.

Most English universities operate two-semester systems. Reading weeks typically fall mid-semester for independent study, not aligned with school half term dates.

University College London schedules Spring Reading Week from Monday, February 16, 2026, to Friday, February 20, 2026. This represents coincidental alignment with the February Half Term rather than coordination.

Student vs. School Calendar Conflicts

University students with school-age siblings face misaligned break periods. Reading weeks rarely coincide with school half terms, limiting family coordination opportunities.

Term-time employment for students becomes complicated during school half terms. Students working in the education or childcare sectors navigate schedule conflicts between university and school calendars.

Planning Travel Around Half Term 2026

Travel costs increase 20-40% during school holiday periods compared to term-time rates. Airlines, hotels, and holiday companies implement premium pricing reflecting peak demand.

Optimal Booking Windows

Reservations made 3-6 months in advance secure better pricing than last-minute bookings. For the October Half Term 2026, optimal booking occurs between April and July 2026.

February Half Term 2026 bookings made in August through November 2025 achieve the lowest prices. Early reservations also guarantee availability at popular family destinations.

May Half Term 2026 requires bookings by December 2025 for the best rates. The coinciding bank holiday creates additional demand pressure on accommodation.

Popular Destinations by Season

February Half Term 2026 favors warm destinations, Valentine Weekend escapes, and escaping the English winter. The Canary Islands, particularly Tenerife and Lanzarote, offer 20-24°C temperatures in February.

May Half Term 2026 sees families choosing UK coastal regions. Cornwall, Devon, Norfolk, and East Yorkshire beaches experience peak occupancy during the May break.

Autumn Half Term 2026 balances Halloween activities with late-season sun. Southern Spain and Cyprus provide final warm-weather opportunities before winter.

Budget Strategies

Shoulder dates immediately before or after half term offer significant savings. Traveling in the week preceding Monday, February 16, 2026, or the week following Friday, February 20, 2026, reduces costs 30-50%.

Midweek departures cost less than weekend flights. Tuesday and Wednesday flights during half term weeks maintain lower pricing than Monday or Friday options.

England vs. Scotland vs. Wales vs. Northern Ireland

Each UK nation operates an independent school calendar system, creating significant variations in half term patterns and terminology.

Scotland’s Mid-Term Breaks

Scotland uses “mid-term break” or specific month names rather than “half term.” The October break and February break serve similar functions but differ in duration and dates.

Scotland’s Spring Mid-Term 2026 runs from Monday, February 16, 2026, to Wednesday, February 18, 2026, lasting only three days in many Scottish local authorities, including the Highland Council.

Edinburgh schedules Autumn Mid-Term from Monday, October 12, 2026, to Friday, October 23, 2026. This two-week break differs fundamentally from England’s standard one-week pattern.

Wales Half Term Alignment

Wales maintains strong alignment with English half term dates. Spring Half Term runs Monday, February 16, 2026, to Friday, February 20, 2026, matching the English pattern.

Summer Half Term in Wales spans Monday, May 25, 2026, to Friday, May 29, 2026. Welsh authorities coordinate with neighboring English counties for consistency.

Autumn Half Term follows the Monday, October 26, 2026, to Friday, October 30, 2026, structure. Cardiff and other major Welsh authorities publish dates matching English patterns.

Northern Ireland School Holidays

Northern Ireland implements a five-holiday system with shorter half terms but an extended eight-week summer break. Spring Mid-Term 2026 lasts only two days: Thursday, February 12, 2026, and Friday, February 13, 2026.

Autumn Half Term in Northern Ireland projects to Thursday, October 29, 2026, and Friday, October 30, 2026. This two-day structure contrasts sharply with England’s five-day break.

The shorter half terms throughout the Northern Ireland academic year compensate for the significantly longer summer holiday period.

Further Education Colleges Half Term 2026

Further education colleges in England typically align with school half term patterns rather than university semester structures. Most FE colleges follow the Monday, February 16, 2026, to Friday, February 20, 2026, pattern for Spring Half Term.

College Calendar Alignment

Colchester Institute publishes confirmed dates matching school patterns. Spring, Summer, and Autumn half terms align with local authority calendars.

The Manchester College follows standard dates across all three 2026 half terms. This creates consistency for students transitioning from secondary school.

Hartlepool College of Further Education implements a variation with February Half Term from Monday, February 23, 2026, to Friday, February 27, 2026. This one-week delay represents an outlier pattern.

London South East Colleges maintain alignment with the London borough dates. Students in FE colleges experience the same break weeks as secondary school students in their areas.

Reading Weeks vs. Half Terms

Some larger FE colleges incorporate university-style reading weeks alongside traditional half terms. These institutions provide independent study periods without closing facilities entirely.

Sixth form colleges attached to secondary schools follow school calendars exactly. Students in these settings experience identical half term dates to younger pupils.

Verifying Your Specific School Dates

Individual schools may deviate from the local authority’s published dates. Academies, free schools, and faith schools exercise greater calendar autonomy than community schools.

Where to Find Authoritative Dates

Local authority websites publish term dates 12-18 months in advance. Search “[Council Name] school term dates 2026” to access official calendars.

Individual school websites list their specific calendars. The “Term Dates” or “Calendar” section provides the most accurate information for your child’s school.

Multi-academy trust websites publish unified calendars for all schools in their network. Trusts, including Academies Enterprise Trust and Oasis Community Learning, maintain centralized date systems.

INSET Days and Additional Closures

INSET days (teacher training days) may extend half term breaks by one day. Schools use these professional development days before or after half term weeks.

Individual schools set five INSET days per academic year. The placement of these days adjacent to half terms creates unofficial extended breaks.

Faith schools may close for religious observances coinciding with half term periods. Jewish schools align breaks with religious festivals when possible.

Historical Context and Future Projections

The three-term year with mid-term breaks evolved from Victorian-era agricultural calendars. Modern half terms serve pedagogical purposes rather than harvest requirements.

Changes Since 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional half term patterns in 2020-2021. Schools experimented with extended autumn half terms and adjusted term lengths.

Post-pandemic standardization restored traditional patterns by 2022-2023. Most authorities returned to one-week half terms by the 2023-2024 academic year.

Surrey’s two-week Autumn Half Term 2026 represents the first major structural change in recent years. This experiment may influence other authorities considering similar adjustments.

2027 Projections

Autumn Half Term 2027 is likely to follow similar late October timing. The pattern of Monday starts in the week containing October 25-31 remains consistent across decades.

February Half Term 2027 projects are due by the third week of February. Historical data shows 90%+ consistency in mid-February timing for this break.

Summer Half Term 2027 will align with the Spring Bank Holiday in late May. The statutory bank holiday anchors this half term to the final full week of May.

Key Insights for 2026 Planning

Booking accommodations 3-6 months before each half term achieves optimal pricing and availability. Families planning October 2026 trips should reserve between April and July 2026.

Regional variations primarily affect Autumn Half Term start dates. Spring and May half terms show stronger national consistency across England.

Surrey’s two-week October break creates the most significant 2026 variation. Families in Surrey face different planning requirements than those in neighboring counties.

Bank holiday alignment with Summer Half Term 2026 creates extended weekend opportunities. The Monday, May 25, 2026, public holiday falls on the first day of the school break.

Halloween timing in 2026 positions the holiday immediately after Autumn Half Term. Saturday, October 31, 2026, falls one day after schools resume for most authorities.

Cross-border families between England and Scotland encounter the greatest calendar differences. Scotland’s shorter breaks and different terminology require additional coordination effort.

Universities operate independent calendar systems from schools. Reading weeks rarely coincide with half term breaks, limiting family coordination opportunities.

British Half Term Dates 2026 Frequently Asked Questions