School HolidaysEssex County Council School Holidays, Half Term & Term Dates

Essex County Council School Holidays, Half Term & Term Dates 2026 - 2027

Planning a family getaway or just trying to avoid last-minute surprises? Stay on top of school term dates and holidays in Essex County Council for the years 2026 and 2027. This page has all the key dates you need to plan ahead with confidence.

Many academies and free schools have the flexibility to set their own term dates, so we recommend confirming the exact schedule with your child's school. To make things easy, we've included a link to your school's website further down this page.

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What's the next school holiday in Essex County Council?

21 Jul - 31 Aug

Summer

Starts in 12 days

Essex County Council School Holiday Dates Table 2026 - 2027

The next school holiday in Essex County Council is the Summer holiday, running from 21 July to 31 August. After that, the Autumn Half Term holiday will take place from 26 October to 30 October.

TermHoliday Dates
Summer Half Term25 May 2026 - 29 May 2026
Summer21 Jul 2026 - 31 Aug 2026
Autumn Half Term26 Oct 2026 - 30 Oct 2026
Christmas21 Dec 2026 - 31 Dec 2026
Spring Half Term15 Feb 2027 - 19 Feb 2027
Easter30 Mar 2027 - 9 Apr 2027
Summer Half Term31 May 2027 - 4 Jun 2027
Summer22 Jul 2027 - 31 Aug 2027

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Essex County Council School Term & Half Term Dates Table 2026 - 2027

The current school term in Essex County Council is the Summer term, running from 13 Apr 2026 to 20 Jul 2026.

TermTerm DatesHalf Term Dates
Summer13 Apr 2026 - 20 Jul 202625 May 2026 - 29 May 2026
Autumn1 Sep 2026 - 18 Dec 202626 Oct 2026 - 30 Oct 2026
Spring4 Jan 2027 - 25 Mar 202715 Feb 2027 - 19 Feb 2027
Summer12 Apr 2027 - 21 Jul 202731 May 2027 - 4 Jun 2027

List of Schools in Essex County Council and Their Holiday Pages

Are you looking to find specific school holiday information for your school? Below is a list of schools in Essex County Council with direct links to their websites or dedicated holiday pages.

School NameSchool Website
Columbus School and Collegehttps://www.liftcolumbus.org/term-dates
Southview Schoolhttps://www.southview-jun.hants.sch.uk/term-dates/
Chelmsford Hospital Schoolhttps://www.chelmervalleyhighschool.co.uk/261/term-dates
The Belsteads Schoolhttps://belsteads.essex.sch.uk/term-dates/
Clarity Independent Schoolhttps://www.clarity.essex.sch.uk
Cambian Great Dunmow Schoolhttps://www.cambiangroup.com/media/2751897/Great-Dunmow-School-Term-dates-2023-2024.pdf
St John's RC School (Essex)https://www.stjohnsrcschool.co.uk/admin/term-dates/
Holmwood House Schoolhttps://www.holmwood.house/school-life/term-dates/
Woodcroft Schoolhttps://www.woodcroftprimary.co.uk/useful-info/school-academic-calendar/
Coopersale Hall Schoolhttps://www.coopersaletheydongarnon.essex.sch.uk/parents-pupils/school-calendar
The Basildon Lower Academyhttps://www.basildonloweracademy.org.uk
Octavia House Schools, Essexhttps://www.essex.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools/essex-school-terms-and-holidays
The Hawthorns Schoolhttps://www.hawthorns.com/term-dates/43.html
Minerva Independent Schoolhttps://minervaprimaryschool.clf.uk/content/our-academy/term-dates/
The Greenwell Academyhttps://www.beckmeadtrust.org
Athena Schoolhttps://www.athenaschool.org.uk
The Sir Geoff Hurst Academyhttps://www.beckmeadtrust.org
Lexden Springs Schoolhttps://www.lexden.essex.sch.uk/parents-area/school-calendar
The Trinity Schoolhttps://trinity.cumbria.sch.uk/about-us/term-dates/
Chelmsford County High School for Girlshttps://www.cchsg.com
Saffron Walden County High Schoolhttps://www.swchs.net
St Mary's School for Girlshttps://stmarysschool.co.uk/school-information/term-dates/
The Gilberd Schoolhttps://www.gilberd.com
The Billericay Schoolhttps://www.billericayschool.com
The Boswells Schoolhttps://www.ladyboswells.kent.sch.uk
The Honywood Community Science Schoolhttps://www.honywoodschool.com
Burnt Mill Academyhttps://www.burntmillacademy.org/233/term-dates
Beauchamps High Schoolhttps://www.beauchamps.essex.sch.uk/highschool/calendar/
Philip Morant School and Collegehttps://pmsc.school/calendar/
Forest Hall Schoolhttps://www.foresthallschool.org/397/term-dates-1
Alec Hunter Academyhttps://www.alechunter.org
The Appleton Schoolhttps://www.appleton.oxon.sch.uk/Family-Communication/Term-Dates/
William de Ferrers Schoolhttps://www.wdf.school/62/term-dates
Colne Community Schoolhttps://www.colne.school/news-dates/term-dates
Tabor Academyhttps://www.taboracademy.co.uk/1245/term-dates
Plume Schoolhttps://www.plume.essex.sch.uk/term-dates
The Sweyne Park Schoolhttps://www.sweynepark.com/calendar/
St Helena Schoolhttps://www.st-helena.essex.sch.uk/parents/term-dates
King Harold Business & Enterprise Academyhttps://www.kingalfred.org.uk/about-us/term-dates/
Clacton County High Schoolhttps://www.countyhigh.org.uk/key-information/term-key-dates
Bmat Stem Academyhttps://www.bmatstemacademy.org/572/term-dates
Doucecroft Schoolhttps://doucecroft.autism-anglia.org.uk/school-information/calendar/
Kingswode Hoe Schoolhttps://www.essex.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools/essex-school-terms-and-holidays
The Yellow House Schoolhttps://www.theyellowhouseschool.org.uk/term-dates
Open Box Education Centrehttps://www.openboxeducation.org.uk/term-dates-1
The Tower Schoolhttps://www.towers.kent.sch.uk/Term-Dates-08012018140842/
Grove House Schoolhttps://www.norfolk.gov.uk
Becket Keys Church of England Free Schoolhttps://becketkeys.org/documents/term-dates/BKS%20school%20term%20and%20holiday%20dates%20GP%20weeks%202025-26.pdf
The Stanway Schoolhttps://www.stanway.essex.sch.uk/parents/term-dates
Brentwood County High Schoolhttps://brentwood-county-high.osborne.coop/510/term-dates
Brentwood Ursuline Convent High Schoolhttps://www.ursulinehigh.merton.sch.uk
Ramsden Hall Academyhttps://ramsdenhall.org.uk/termdates
Sir Frederick Gibberd Collegehttps://www.sirfrederickgibberdcollege.org
Omnia Foundationhttps://omniafoundation.co.uk/term-dates/
Davenant Foundation Schoolhttps://www.davenantschool.co.uk/parents/term-dates
St Mark's West Essex Catholic Schoolhttps://www.st-marks.essex.sch.uk/395/full-calendar/event/67/easter-holiday
Tendring Technology Collegehttps://www.tendring-pri.essex.sch.uk/Term-Dates/
Clacton Coastal Academyhttps://www.liftclacton.org/term-dates
The Ongar Academyhttps://www.highongar.essex.sch.uk/Term-Dates/
Debden Park High Schoolhttps://www.debden-tkat.org/parents/current-term-dates
Market Field Schoolhttps://www.marketfieldschool.co.uk
Mark Hall Academyhttps://www.markhallacademy.org/1082/term-dates
The Beaulieu Park Schoolhttps://www.beaulieuparkschool.com/1368/term-dates-1
St John's Schoolhttps://www.stjohns.excalibur.org.uk
Glenwood Schoolhttps://www.glenwood.essex.sch.uk/term-dates
Anglo European Schoolhttps://www.aesessex.co.uk/home/parents/key-dates-and-term-dates/
The King Edmund Schoolhttps://www.king-ed.suffolk.sch.uk/essentials/term-dates/
Colchester Academyhttps://www.colchester.ac.uk/term-times/
Compass Community School Essexhttps://www.thecompassschool.org
The Basildon Upper Academyhttps://www.basildonloweracademy.org.uk
New Hall Schoolhttps://www.norfolk.gov.uk
Manningtree High Schoolhttps://www.manningtreehigh.com/term-dates/
Thurstable School Sports College and Sixth Form Centrehttps://www.thurstable.co.uk/about-us/term-dates
Ormiston Rivers Academyhttps://ormistonriversacademy.co.uk/key-info/term-dates
The Bromfords Schoolhttps://www.bromfords.essex.sch.uk/Term-Dates/
Great Baddow High Schoolhttps://www.gbhs.co.uk/668/term-dates
De La Salle Schoolhttps://www.delasalle.st-helens.sch.uk
Woodlands Schoolhttps://www.woodlands.plymouth.sch.uk/news/term-dates-1
Oak View Schoolhttps://www.leeds.gov.uk/schools-and-education/school-holidays-and-term-dates
Colchester Prep & High Schoolhttps://www.colchesteracademy.org.uk
Hylands Schoolhttps://www.hylands-tkat.org/parents/term-dates
Colchester County High School for Girlshttps://www.cchsg.com
Stewards Academy - Science Specialist, Harlowhttps://www.stewardsacademy.org
The Deaneshttps://www.thedeanes.academy/Term-Dates/
Harlow Fields School and Collegehttps://harlowfields.essex.sch.uk/termdates
Moulsham High Schoolhttps://www.moulsham-jun.essex.sch.uk/essex/primary/moulshamjunior/site/pages/parents/termdates
Hedingham School and Sixth Formhttps://www.hedingham.essex.sch.uk
Cedar Hall Schoolhttps://www.hull.gov.uk/schools-2/school-holidays-term-dates
Chelmer Valley High Schoolhttps://www.chelmervalleyhighschool.co.uk/261/term-dates
St Nicholas Schoolhttps://st-nicholas.kent.sch.uk/termdates
Shorefields Schoolhttps://www.shorefields.essex.sch.uk
Helena Romanes Schoolhttps://www.helena-romanes.essex.sch.uk
Colchester Royal Grammar Schoolhttps://www.scribd.com/document/836467233/CRGS-term-dates-2025-2026-final
Teaseldown Schoolhttps://www.furzedownschool.co.uk/Term-Dates/
King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsfordhttps://www.kegs.org.uk/parents/calendar-term-holiday-dates/
St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsfordhttps://www.sjp.essex.sch.uk/news-and-dates/term-dates-times/
Notley High School and Braintree Sixth Formhttps://www.notleyhigh.com/Term-Dates/
Brentwood Schoolhttps://www.brentwoodschool.co.uk/whats-on/term-dates/
Passmores Academyhttps://www.passmoresacademy.com
Endeavour Co-Operative Academyhttps://endeavouracademy.org.uk/termdates
Felsted Schoolhttps://www.felsted-pri.essex.sch.uk/parents/term-dates/
Shenfield High Schoolhttps://www.shenfield.essex.sch.uk/assets/Uploads/Term-dates-2026-27.pdf

What’s the Difference Between a Term, a Half Term, and a Holiday?

  • Term: A block of time when schools are open, usually split into three per year – Autumn, Spring, and Summer.
  • Half Term: A short break in the middle of each term, typically lasting one week.
  • School Holidays: The longer breaks between terms, such as Christmas, Easter, and Summer.

Each term consists of one half-term, and each term concludes with a holiday. This structure is consistent across most schools in the UK.

How Are School Term Dates Decided in Essex County Council?

School term dates in Essex County Council are set by the Essex County Council, which publishes an official calendar for community and voluntary-controlled schools.

However, not all schools follow these exact dates. Academies, free schools, and independent schools have the freedom to set their own term dates, especially when it comes to inset days (staff training days) and minor adjustments.

Explore School Holiday & Term Dates in Cities Across Essex County Council

BasildonBenfleetBillericayBorehamBraintreeBrentwoodBrightlingseaBroomfieldBuckhurst HillBurnham-on-Crouch

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

School holidays in Essex County Council typically follow this annual pattern:

  • October half-term: One week in October (26 October 2026 - 30 October 2026)
  • Christmas holidays: Two weeks in December (21 December 2026 - 31 December 2026)
  • February half-term: One week in February (15 February 2027 - 19 February 2027)
  • Easter holidays: Two weeks around March/April (30 March 2027 - 9 April 2027)
  • May half-term: One week in late May (25 May 2026 - 29 May 2026, 31 May 2027 - 4 June 2027)
  • Summer holidays: Usually six weeks, beginning in late July (21 July 2026 - 31 August 2026, 22 July 2027 - 31 August 2027)

Dates can vary between schools, especially for academies and free schools, so it's always best to check directly with your school for the most accurate information.

Not always. While Essex County Council sets standard term dates for most schools, academies and free schools may differ. So it's a good idea to double-check with your school to be sure.
No - inset days are teacher training days when staff are in school but pupils get the day off. While children don't attend, these days aren't officially considered part of the school holidays, and they can vary from school to school.