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

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

These are the official school term dates and holidays set by City of Wakefield 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.

Wakefield 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:
  • Wakefield publishes 'Holiday starts' and 'Back to school' dates rather than term start/end dates. Term start dates above are the stated 'Back to school' dates; term end dates are the last school weekday before each stated holiday start; half-term end dates are the last school weekday before the stated return.
  • Published dates: back to school Tuesday 1 September 2026; autumn half term starts Monday 26 October 2026, back Monday 2 November 2026; Christmas holiday starts Monday 21 December 2026, back Monday 4 January 2027; spring half term starts Monday 15 February 2027, back Monday 22 February 2027; Easter holiday starts Friday 26 March 2027, back Monday 12 April 2027; summer half term starts Monday 31 May 2027, back Monday 7 June 2027; summer holiday starts Thursday 22 July 2027.
  • Each school selects five INSET days. Schools used as polling stations may close for an INSET day on District Council election day or choose alternative dates.

Wakefield 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:
  • Source for this year: https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/schools-and-education/schools/202728-school-calendar
  • Wakefield publishes 'Holiday starts' and 'Back to school' dates rather than term start/end dates. Term start dates above are the stated 'Back to school' dates; term end dates are the last school weekday before each stated holiday start; half-term end dates are the last school weekday before the stated return.
  • Published dates: back to school Monday 6 September 2027; autumn half term starts Monday 25 October 2027, back Monday 1 November 2027; Christmas holiday starts Monday 20 December 2027, back Tuesday 4 January 2028; spring half term starts Monday 21 February 2028, back Monday 28 February 2028; Easter holiday starts Monday 10 April 2028, back Monday 24 April 2028; summer half term starts Monday 29 May 2028, back Monday 5 June 2028; summer holiday starts Wednesday 26 July 2028.
Source: these dates come from City of Wakefield 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 Wakefield?

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

When do Wakefield schools break up for Christmas?

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

When do Wakefield schools break up for summer?

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

Is Wakefield'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 Wakefield in 2026/27, so crossing a council border won't change your dates.

Do all schools in Wakefield follow these dates?

No. These are City of Wakefield 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.

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