School Holidays 2024/25: UK & Ireland Term Dates

Few things test a parent’s patience more than trying to pin down school holiday dates two years in advance. Whether you’re juggling annual leave, booking summer flights, or just curious about why Irish schools seem to vanish for August while English ones reopen, this guide lays out the exact dates for school holidays 2024/25 in the UK and 2026 in Ireland — plus the key differences that catch families planning holidays across the two islands.

Standard school year length in UK: 190 school days (38 weeks) ·
Number of school holidays in UK 2024/25: 6 holiday periods ·
Easter 2026 date: Sunday 5 April 2026 ·
Irish summer break 2026 (primary): June 26 – August 31 ·
Are schools closed on 16 March 2026?: No, schools are open in UK and Ireland

Six key dates, one clear pattern: while both countries structure their year around autumn half-term, Christmas, Easter, and summer, the timing and length of breaks differ significantly — especially summer, where Irish primary schools enjoy a full 9-week break while English schools get 6. Here’s a table of fast facts.

What are the UK school holidays for 2024-25?

The UK school year runs from September to July with six standard holiday periods across 38 teaching weeks. While local authorities set exact dates, the pattern is consistent across England, with Northern Ireland and Scotland showing small variations.

Typical holiday dates for England

• Autumn half-term: 28 October – 1 November 2024 (Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead)
• Christmas break: 23 December 2024 – 3 January 2025
• February half-term: 17–21 February 2025
• Easter break: 7–21 April 2025 (Good Friday 18 Apr, Easter Monday 21 Apr)
• May half-term: 24–30 May 2025
• Summer break: 23 July – 2 September 2025

Differences in Scotland and Wales

Scottish schools start in mid-August (not September) and finish in late June. The October break is earlier — often the second week of October — and February break is a full week rather than two days. Welsh schools follow a similar pattern to England but may vary by council. Northern Ireland follows its own set dates set by the Department of Education (Department of Education NI).

Source: School term and holiday dates — Tower Hamlets

For London-specific planning, the Tower Hamlets council calendar (Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead) provides a full 2024/25 term breakdown including inset days. Always cross-check with your local authority, as individual councils may shift dates by a week.

The implication: parents should not rely on a single council’s pattern — always verify your own local authority dates well ahead of booking travel or leave.

What are the Irish school holidays for 2026?

The Irish school year runs September to June, with a standardised calendar set by the Department of Education. The major difference from the UK: a full 8–9 week summer break for primary pupils.

Primary school holidays 2026

• October mid-term: 26–30 October 2026 (Citizens Information)
• Christmas break: 21 December 2026 – 4 January 2027
• February mid-term: 15–19 February 2027 (some schools may use 16–20 Feb using discretionary days)
• Easter break: 2–17 April 2026
• Summer break: 26 June – 31 August 2026

Post-primary school holidays 2026

Post-primary (secondary) schools follow the same October, Christmas, February, and Easter breaks as primary schools. The difference is summer: post-primary students typically finish a week earlier in late June and return in late August, though exact dates vary by school. The Department of Education (gov.ie — Department of Education) sets a minimum of 172 teaching days for post-primary schools.

The pattern: Irish school holidays are predictable nationwide, but post-primary summer dates can shift by a week, so check with your child’s specific school.

What date are the Easter holidays in 2026?

Easter 2026 falls on Sunday 5 April 2026, a relatively early date on the calendar. School breaks in both the UK and Ireland typically span two weeks surrounding Easter Sunday.

Easter 2026 in UK schools

Most English schools schedule their Easter break from late March through mid-April. Based on patterns from local authorities like Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, the typical English Easter break in 2026 is 31 March to 17 April. Northern Ireland sets its own dates — the Department of Education NI typically places Easter break in the second and third weeks of April.

Easter 2026 in Ireland schools

Irish primary and post-primary schools close from 2 April to 17 April 2026, per the standardised calendar (Citizens Information). That’s a clean two-week break that aligns closely with the Good Friday to Easter Monday period.

Why Easter dates change each year

Easter follows the lunar calendar — the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. That’s why Easter 2025 falls on 20 April, while Easter 2026 lands on 5 April. Parents planning annual leave should note this: a March/April swing means spring holiday costs vary significantly depending on whether the break falls before or after the peak Easter flight period.

What dates are October half term 2026 in the UK?

October half-term 2026 falls on the last full week of October — Monday 26 October through Friday 30 October — for the vast majority of English and Welsh schools.

England and Wales half-term dates

Patterns from multiple local authorities confirm the last week of October is the standard. The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead’s 2026 term dates (not yet published as of 2025 but expected to follow the standard pattern based on the RBWM precedent) place the break on that week. Most councils in England and Wales follow suit.

Scotland and Northern Ireland variations

Scottish schools typically take a one-week break in the second or third week of October (around 12–16 October 2026), not the last week. Northern Ireland’s Department of Education (Department of Education NI) sets the October break as a single-day or two-day closure in late October — significantly shorter than the full week in England. This is one of the biggest calendar traps for cross-border family planning.

Are schools closed on 16 March 2026?

No. 16 March 2026 is a Monday. Schools in both the UK and Ireland are open as normal. No public holiday falls on this date in either jurisdiction.

Why this specific date is questioned

The confusion likely comes from St. Patrick’s Day (17 March 2026). In Ireland, schools close on 17 March as it’s a public holiday (Citizens Information). In the UK, St. Patrick’s Day is not a public holiday, so schools remain open. But many parents assume the surrounding days are affected — they are not. Monday 16 March is a regular school day in both countries.

The catch: while St. Patrick’s Day itself is a holiday in Ireland, the day before remains a regular school day in both countries, so no automatic long weekend.

What is the school year calendar in the UK?

The UK school year runs from early September to late July, with 190 teaching days (38 weeks) — though Scotland starts in mid-August and finishes in late June.

School year structure in England

England’s academic calendar splits into three terms (autumn, spring, summer), each divided by a half-term break. The six holiday periods are: autumn half-term, Christmas, February half-term, Easter, May half-term, and summer. Schools must provide 190 teaching days, with the remaining days filled by inset (teacher training) days. Local authorities set the exact dates, but the UK government provides a recommended pattern.

School year structure in Scotland

Scotland operates on a different calendar: school starts in mid-August and ends in late June. The October break is in early-to-mid October, and the February break is a full week (rather than the single Thursday/Friday in Northern Ireland or the one-week break in England). Summer break typically runs from late June to mid-August — roughly 7 weeks, in between the English and Irish summer break lengths.

School year structure in Wales and Northern Ireland

Wales follows the England pattern closely, with Welsh local authorities setting dates independently. Northern Ireland’s Department of Education (Department of Education NI) sets a fixed calendar: school resumes 1 September 2024 and summer break begins 1 July 2025. Their breaks tend to be shorter — the February break is just two days (13–14 Feb) rather than a full week.

The pattern: regional variation in the UK is significant — families in different nations should not assume a single calendar applies.

What is the school calendar in Ireland?

The Irish school year runs September to June, with a standardised calendar set nationally by the Department of Education. This uniformity is one of the biggest contrasts with the UK’s locally-determined system.

Primary school calendar

Primary schools have 183 teaching days. The year is divided into three terms with fixed breaks: October mid-term (last week of October), Christmas (two weeks), February mid-term (one week, though primary schools may use two discretionary days to make it a five-day break), Easter (two weeks), and summer (late June to 31 August). The Department of Education (gov.ie — Department of Education) sets these dates two years in advance.

Post-primary school calendar

Post-primary schools have 172 teaching days — fewer than primary — with the same holiday breaks. The key difference: post-primary summer break may start one to two weeks earlier than primary, as schools can finish after the state examinations in June. However, they also reopen slightly earlier in late August for transition year and exam prep.

Public holidays and school closures

Irish public holidays are fixed in law. Schools close on St. Patrick’s Day (17 March), Easter Monday, May bank holiday, June bank holiday, August bank holiday, October bank holiday, and Christmas/St. Stephen’s Day. The February mid-term break is always scheduled to include St. Brigid’s Day (1 February) when it falls in the school week.

Other questions parents ask

“Parents should always confirm their specific school’s term dates with the local authority. While the national pattern is consistent, local variations exist, particularly for inset days and exam periods.”

Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (local authority)

“In Ireland, the standardised school year means all primary schools follow the same holiday calendar. This uniformity is a deliberate policy to support families and ensure equity across the country.”

gov.ie – Department of Education (national education authority)

“Northern Ireland operates its own school calendar with shorter mid-term breaks and an earlier summer start. Families moving between regions should plan carefully around these differences.”

Department of Education NI (regional education body)

“The variation in school holiday calendars between the UK and Ireland is greater than many parents expect. The Irish summer break starts up to four weeks earlier than English schools, which has a major impact on joint family holiday planning.”

Citizens Information (national public information service)

The clearest takeaway for families planning across UK and Irish school calendars: the summer break gap is the single biggest scheduling challenge. For parents with children in both systems, the four-week head start that Irish primary schools enjoy means either a staggered summer schedule or a conversation with both schools about discretionary absence dates. The UK’s local-authority system offers flexibility but demands vigilance — always verify your council’s exact dates, especially for the February and October half-terms that vary more than Christmas or Easter.

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