South East school holidays 2026/27

19 councils · compiled from each council's published calendar · latest check 12 September 2026

Most of the South East takes October half term from Monday 26 October 2026 to Friday 30 October 2026 in 2026/27, but Isle of Wight, Surrey and West Berkshire take a different week. The summer holiday starts anywhere from 22 July 2027 in Bracknell Forest to 29 July 2027 in Surrey. The table compares all 19 South East councils for 2026/27, and each council name links to its full term dates, school-day counts and the council's own notes.

South East school holidays 2026/27 by council
CouncilOctober half termChristmasFebruary half termEasterSummer starts
Bracknell Forest26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Brighton and Hove26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Buckinghamshire26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
East Sussex26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr23 July 2027
Hampshire26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Isle of Wight19 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr29 July 2027
Kent26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Medway26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Milton Keynes26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Oxfordshire26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Portsmouth26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Reading26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Slough26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Southampton26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Surrey19 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr29 July 2027
West Berkshire23 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr24 July 2027
West Sussex26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Windsor and Maidenhead26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Wokingham26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027

Term dates by council in the South East

Reading the table: dates are the days off school as each council publishes them, trimmed to the school week. A dash means the council presents that period differently and its own page explains. Academies, free schools and private schools set their own calendars, and every school adds its own inset days.

Common questions

When is October half term in the South East in 2026?

The most common dates are: Monday 26 October 2026 to Friday 30 October 2026, taken by 16 of the 19 South East councils we cover. Isle of Wight, Surrey and West Berkshire take a different week, so check the council page for the school your children attend.

When do schools in the South East break up for summer 2027?

It depends on the council. Bracknell Forest starts the summer holiday first, on 22 July 2027, and Surrey last, on 29 July 2027. The table on this page lists every council's date.

Do all South East councils have the same school holidays?

No. Each council sets its own calendar. In 2026/27, 16 of the 19 South East councils share the most common October half term, but the summer holiday starts anywhere from 22 July 2027 to 29 July 2027. Families with children at schools under two councils should check both pages. Academies, free schools and private schools set their own calendars, and every school adds its own inset days.

Other regions

East Midlands · East of England · London · North East · North West · Scotland · South West · Wales · West Midlands · Yorkshire and the Humber

Comparing across the whole country? See every UK council's school holidays side by side, or read how we compile term dates.