East Sussex school term dates & holidays 2026/27 and 2027/28

Compiled from East Sussex County Council's published calendar · last checked 7 September 2026

These are the official school term dates and holidays set by East Sussex County 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.

East Sussex term dates 2026/27

PeriodStartsEndsLength
Autumn term 2026 termWednesday, 2 September 2026Friday, 18 December 202673 school days
October half term holidaySaturday, 24 October 2026Sunday, 1 November 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 holidaySaturday, 13 February 2027Sunday, 21 February 2027
Easter holiday holidayFriday, 26 March 2027Sunday, 11 April 2027
Summer term 2027 termMonday, 12 April 2027Thursday, 22 July 202769 school days
May half term holidaySaturday, 29 May 2027Sunday, 6 June 2027
Council notes for 2026/27:
  • Council publishes the year as six terms (Term 1 to Term 6); each autumn/spring/summer term here combines a pair of terms with the half-term holiday as the gap.
  • Council states holiday ranges inclusive of weekends, e.g. autumn holiday Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November 2026.
  • Christmas holiday: Saturday 19 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. Spring holiday: Friday 26 March to Sunday 11 April 2027. Summer holiday: Friday 23 July to Tuesday 31 August 2027.
  • Transition week (primary to secondary school): Monday 28 June to Friday 2 July 2027.
  • Dates apply only to community schools (run by the council) and voluntary controlled schools; academies, free schools, voluntary aided and foundation schools may differ, check with the school.

East Sussex term dates 2027/28

PeriodStartsEndsLength
Autumn term 2027 termWednesday, 1 September 2027Friday, 17 December 202773 school days
October half term holidaySaturday, 23 October 2027Sunday, 31 October 2027
Christmas holiday holidaySaturday, 18 December 2027Monday, 3 January 2028
Spring term 2028 termTuesday, 4 January 2028Friday, 31 March 202859 school days
February half term holidaySaturday, 12 February 2028Sunday, 20 February 2028
Easter holiday holidaySaturday, 1 April 2028Monday, 17 April 2028
Summer term 2028 termTuesday, 18 April 2028Friday, 21 July 202864 school days
May half term holidaySaturday, 27 May 2028Sunday, 4 June 2028
Council notes for 2027/28:
  • Council lists Wednesday 1 September 2027 as an INSET day; Term 1 is shown starting the same day.
  • Council publishes the year as six terms; holiday ranges include weekends.
  • Christmas holiday: Saturday 18 December 2027 to Monday 3 January 2028. Spring holiday: Saturday 1 April to Monday 17 April 2028. Summer holiday: Saturday 22 July to Thursday 31 August 2028.
  • Dates apply only to community schools and voluntary controlled schools; other school types may differ.
Source: these dates come from East Sussex County 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 East Sussex?

October half term in East Sussex runs from Saturday, 24 October 2026 to Sunday, 1 November 2026. Pupils return the following school day.

When do East Sussex schools break up for Christmas?

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

When do East Sussex schools break up for summer?

The summer term ends on Thursday, 22 July 2027. The summer holiday starts the next day.

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

Partly. Of the 18 other South East councils we cover, 15 share East Sussex's October half term week in 2026/27, while Isle of Wight, Surrey, West Berkshire differ. If your children attend schools under different councils, check both pages before booking.

Do all schools in East Sussex follow these dates?

No. These are East Sussex County 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