Bradford school term dates & holidays 2026/27 and 2027/28

Compiled from City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council's published calendar · last checked 7 September 2026

These are the official school term dates and holidays set by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council for the 2026/27 and 2027/28 academic years: term start and finish dates, half terms, and the Christmas, Easter and summer breaks. We take the dates straight from the council's own published calendar (linked below), convert them into one consistent format, and recheck them each academic year. School-day counts exclude weekends and half term but not inset days, which individual schools choose themselves.

Bradford term dates 2026/27

PeriodStartsEndsLength
Autumn term 2026 termTuesday 1 September 2026Friday 18 December 202674 school days
October half term holidayMonday 26 October 2026Friday 30 October 2026
Christmas holiday holidaySaturday 19 December 2026Sunday 3 January 2027
Spring term 2027 termMonday 4 January 2027Thursday 25 March 202754 school days
February half term holidayMonday 15 February 2027Friday 19 February 2027
Easter holiday holidayFriday 26 March 2027Sunday 11 April 2027
Summer term 2027 termMonday 12 April 2027Wednesday 21 July 202768 school days
May half term holidayMonday 31 May 2027Friday 4 June 2027
Council notes for 2026/27:
  • Dates read from the council's calendar-grid PDF (Bradford Term Dates 2026-27.pdf), where shaded areas denote holiday dates.
  • 190 pupil days plus 5 INSET days; the pattern identifies 195 days and schools have five INSET days to determine within this schedule.
  • The council states the Autumn Term 2026/27 will commence on Tuesday 1st September 2026.
  • Probable Eid dates: Wednesday 10th March 2027 and Monday 17th May 2027. Schools with a significant number of pupils celebrating Eid are expected to consider this when determining their dates.
  • Bank holidays shaded in the calendar: 25 December 2026, 28 December 2026, 1 January 2027, Good Friday 26 March 2027, Easter Monday 29 March 2027, 3 May 2027, 31 May 2027.
  • Voluntary Aided and Foundation schools may adjust these arrangements locally.

Bradford term dates 2027/28

PeriodStartsEndsLength
Autumn term 2027 termMonday 6 September 2027Friday 17 December 202770 school days
October half term holidayMonday 25 October 2027Friday 29 October 2027
Christmas holiday holidaySaturday 18 December 2027Monday 3 January 2028
Spring term 2028 termTuesday 4 January 2028Friday 7 April 202864 school days
February half term holidayMonday 21 February 2028Friday 25 February 2028
Easter holiday holidaySaturday 8 April 2028Sunday 23 April 2028
Summer term 2028 termMonday 24 April 2028Tuesday 25 July 202862 school days
May half term holidayMonday 29 May 2028Friday 2 June 2028
Council notes for 2027/28:
  • Dates read from the council's calendar-grid PDF (Bradford Term Dates 2027-28.pdf), where shaded areas denote holiday dates.
  • 190 pupil days plus 5 INSET days; the pattern identifies 195 days and schools have five INSET days to determine within this schedule.
  • The council states the Autumn Term 2027/28 will commence on Monday 6th September 2027.
  • Probable Eid dates: Saturday 26th February 2028 and Friday 5th May 2028.
  • The summer half-term holiday includes the Spring bank holiday on Monday 29 May 2028; 3 January 2028 is a bank holiday, with the spring term starting Tuesday 4 January 2028.
Source: these dates come from City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council's official term dates page, last checked by us on 7 September 2026. If the council amends its calendar mid-year, its page is the authority; tell us and we'll correct ours. Read how we compile term dates.

Common questions

When is October half term in Bradford?

October half term in Bradford runs from Monday 26 October 2026 to Friday 30 October 2026. Pupils return the following school day.

When do Bradford schools break up for Christmas?

The autumn term in Bradford ends on Friday 18 December 2026, so that is the last day of school before the Christmas holiday.

When do Bradford schools break up for summer?

The summer term ends on Wednesday 21 July 2027. The summer holiday starts the next day.

Is Bradford's October half term the same as neighbouring councils?

Yes. All 14 of the other Yorkshire and the Humber councils we cover share the same October half term week as Bradford in 2026/27, so crossing a council border won't change your dates.

Do all schools in Bradford follow these dates?

No. These are City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council's published dates for community and voluntary-controlled schools. Academies, free schools, foundation schools and private schools set their own calendars, and every school adds its own inset days. Check with your school before booking anything you can't refund.

Tempted by term-time prices? Taking children out of school during term can mean a penalty notice, and the rules differ across the UK. How school fines work, nation by nation.

Nearby councils

All Yorkshire and the Humber councils' school holidays compared