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

Compiled from Rochdale Borough Council's published calendar · last checked 12 September 2026

These are the official school term dates and holidays set by Rochdale Borough 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.

Rochdale term dates 2026/27

PeriodStartsEndsLength
Autumn term 2026 termThursday, 3 September 2026Friday, 18 December 202672 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:
  • The council describes this as its recommended school holiday pattern for September 2026 to August 2027.
  • The autumn term begins on Thursday 3 September 2026, later than most neighbouring councils.
  • Christmas holiday: Monday 21 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027 inclusive. Easter holiday: Monday 29 March to Friday 9 April 2027 inclusive.
  • The page notes Friday 26 March 2027 is a public holiday (the day after the spring term ends) and Monday 31 May 2027 is a public holiday (the first day of the summer half term week).
  • Summer holiday: Thursday 22 July to Tuesday 31 August 2027 inclusive.

Rochdale 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 2028Friday, 21 July 202860 school days
May half term holidayMonday, 29 May 2028Friday, 2 June 2028
Council notes for 2027/28:
  • 2027-28 dates come from the companion page at https://www.rochdale.gov.uk/schools/school-terms-holiday-dates-closures/3.
  • The page prints the Christmas holiday as Monday 20 December 2027 to Friday 31 December 2028 inclusive; the closing year appears to be a typo for 2027, since 31 December 2027 is a Friday and 31 December 2028 is a Sunday.
  • The page prints the summer half term as Monday 29 May 2027 to Friday 2 June 2028 inclusive; the opening year appears to be a typo for 2028, since 29 May 2028 is a Monday and 29 May 2027 is a Saturday. The half_term field uses 2028.
  • Easter holiday: Monday 10 April 2028 to Friday 21 April 2028 inclusive. Good Friday 14 April 2028 falls within it.
  • The page gives term lengths of 14 weeks (autumn), 13 weeks (spring) and 11 weeks (summer).
  • Summer holiday: Monday 24 July 2028 to Thursday 31 August 2028 inclusive.
Source: these dates come from Rochdale Borough Council's official term dates page, last checked by us on 12 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 Rochdale?

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

When do Rochdale schools break up for Christmas?

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

When do Rochdale schools break up for summer?

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

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

Yes. All 22 of the other North West councils we cover share the same October half term week as Rochdale in 2026/27, so crossing a council border won't change your dates.

Do all schools in Rochdale follow these dates?

No. These are Rochdale Borough 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.

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