17th July 2024

UK school terms: When does school start & how long does it last?

In the UK the first school term begins in September and the academic year concludes in mid-July.

Dates might vary from council to council around the country

When do English schools go back?

UK school terms: 2024-2025 term dates

Autumn term: When do schools start UK?

• The term begins on  Monday 2nd September 2024 and ends on Friday 20th December 2024
• The half-term holiday runs from Monday 28th October 2024 to Monday 4th November 2024
• The Christmas holiday runs from Saturday 21st December 2024 to Monday 6th January 2025

Spring term

• The term begins on Monday 2nd January 2023 and ends on Friday 14th April 2023
• The half-term holiday runs from Monday 17th February 2025 until Monday 24th February 2025
• The Easter holiday runs from Monday 7th April 2025 to Monday 21st April 2025

UK school terms: bank holidays 2022-2023

The dates of UK bank holidays differ between countries.

Bank holidays in England and Wales include:

• Christmas Day (Wednesday 25th December 2024)
• Boxing Day (Thursday 26th December 2024)
• New Year’s Day (Wednesday 1st January 2025)
• Good Friday (Friday 18th April 2025)
• Easter Monday (Monday 21st April 2025)
• May Day (Monday 5th May 2025)
• Spring Bank Holiday (Monday 26th May 2025)
• August Bank Holiday (Monday 25th August 2025)

UK school terms: how to make the most of your holiday

In the UK the teaching profession is renowned for the generous holiday allowance that its staff receive – and for many, this is a major incentive to work as a teacher.

Due to the fact that the UK school year is divided into three terms of 13 weeks, with a holiday following each and a half term break in the middle, teachers work for no more than six weeks without getting a break of at least a week.

Although teachers spend much of their holiday time working, completing activities such as marking, lesson planning for the following term and even running clubs or revision sessions during the holidays, it’s advisable to take some time to relax to avoid burnout.

This is especially true of the UK summer holiday, which lasts at least six weeks in state schools and more in private schools. It’s the perfect time to relax and recuperate in preparation for the start of the new academic year.

To make the most of your break, lay your bag of marking to one side and switch off from your life in education. Socialise with your non-teacher friends to ensure that you’re feeling ready and refreshed for the start of the next term.

With a work week of more than 60 hours, teachers must make the most of their time to wind down. Learning to distance yourself from your role when appropriate will make you a more effective teacher in the long run.

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