Education and Child Matters

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School Days, Terms, Holidays & Inset Days

 

HOW MANY ACADEMIC SCHOOL DAYS ARE THERE IN THE SCHOOL YEAR

There are 365 days in the year. They are broken down as follows:  

  1. 190 academic school days 
  2. 104 days of the weekend 
  3. 71 non school days 

WHAT IS A SCHOOL TERM?

A school term is a set academic period of time during which lessons and education is provided by the school for pupils enrolled at the school.

Usually there are 3 set school terms which make up the school year. The school year for most schools starts in the first week of September and ends in the third week of July. The 3 school terms fit into the school year as follows:

  1. TERM 1 – Usually called the autumn term. Approximately lasts from the first week of September until the third week of December.
  2. TERM 2 – Usually called the spring term. Approximately lasts from the first week of January until the last week of March.
  3. TERM 3 – Usually called the summer term. Approximately lasts from the third week of April until the third week of July.

WHAT IS A SCHOOL HOLIDAY?

A school holiday is a set time during the year where the school will be closed for academic education and will not be providing any lessons for pupils.

There are 3 main school holidays during the year. They are:

  1. Summer holiday which lasts approximately 6 weeks from the third week of July to the first week of September.
  2. Christmas holiday which lasts approximately 2 weeks from the third week of December to the first week of January.
  3. Easter holiday which lasts approximately 2 weeks from the first week of April to the third week of April.

There are 3 small school holidays called half term holidays. Half term holiday lasts about a week. A half term holiday breaks a school term into two.

  1. Autumn half term is usually in mid October.
  2. Spring half term is usually in mid February.
  3. Summer half term is usually in May.

There are a few public holiday days during the year where the school will be closed. Some public holidays fall in the main school holidays and some in school half term holidays. Public holidays are:

  1. Christmas day (usually falls in Christmas holiday period)
  2. Boxing day (usually falls in Christmas holiday period)
  3. New years day (usually falls in Christmas holiday period)
  4. Good Friday (usually falls in Easter holidays) 
  5. Easter Monday (usually falls in Easter holidays) 
  6. Early May bank holiday 
  7. Spring (May) bank holiday
  8. Summer bank holiday (usually falls in summer holidays) 

WHAT IS AN INSET DAY?

An inset day is also called a:

  1. TD day (teacher development day), 
  2. PD day (professional development day), 
  3. Baker day
  4. In-service training day
  5. Teacher training day. 

The school is open to teachers and staff but not to enrolled pupils. It is when teachers go to school and undergo training and other duties such as planning and administration tasks.

Of the 190 academic school days, schools can take 5 inset days. The dates are decided by the head teacher. 

WHERE DO YOU FIND OUT EXACT TERM TIME DATES, HOLIDAY DATES AND INSET DATES?

These exact dates are listed on the following websites. They are:

1. The school website will list in detail school term dates, holiday dates, public holiday dates and school inset dates.

2. Your local authority website will also list all these dates.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBPAGE TO FIND OUT SCHOOL TERM AND HOLIDAY DATES.

3. The school may also send you a letter listing these dates for you to put on your fridge.