When do the kids break up?

Key dates for 2027

Term dates by council

Every council below links to its own page with term start and finish dates, half terms, and the Christmas, Easter and summer holidays for the current academic year, plus next year where the council has published it. Each page links back to the council's official source and shows the date we last checked it. Comparing across councils, for a border-crossing school run or a shared holiday booking? See all councils' school holidays side by side.

Why council term dates are such a mess to find

Every local authority in the UK sets its own school calendar, publishes it on its own website in its own format, and sometimes only as a PDF. Two neighbouring councils can differ by a week on half term. That's why "when do the kids break up" is a question parents end up googling several times a year, usually while trying to price up a holiday.

This site does the boring part: we find each council's published dates, put them in one consistent format, count the school days, and show you the source so you can verify anything important. One caveat we'll repeat until you're sick of it: academies and free schools can set their own dates, and inset days are chosen per school, so always confirm with your school before booking travel.