Term dates for schools
Parents and carers have a legal obligation to make sure their children attend school regularly. You can only take a child out of school when there are exceptional circumstances. You do not have the right to take children on holiday in term time and may be fined if you do.
Please note these term dates are for guidance only.
Some schools set their own term dates or agree minor local variations so you should also consult your school's own website for their individual school dates.
School term dates for 2023/2024
Autumn term 2023 – open 75 days
School Autumn term 2022 – open 72 days
| Status | Date |
|---|
| open |
4 September 2023 – 20 October 2023 (35 days) |
| Half term |
23 October 2023 to 27 October 2023 |
| open |
30 October 2023 – 22 December 2023 (40 days) |
| Christmas holiday |
25 December 2023 to 5 January 2024 (inclusive of Bank Holidays) |
Spring term 2024 – open 54 days
Spring term 2023 – open 59 days
| Status | Date |
|---|
| open |
8 January 2024 – 16 February 2024 (30 days) |
| Half term |
19 February 2024 to 23 February 2024 |
| open |
26 February 2024 – 28 March 2024 (24 days) |
| Spring break |
29 March 2024 – 12 April 2024 (inclusive of Good Friday and Easter Monday) |
Summer term 2024 – open 66 days
Summer term 2023 – open 64 days
| Status | Date |
|---|
| open |
15 April 2024 – 24 May 2024 (inclusive of Bank Holiday) |
| Half term |
27 May 2024 to 31 May 2024 (inclusive of Bank Holiday) |
| open |
3 June 2024 – 23 July 2024 (37 days) |
| Summer holiday |
24 July 2024 to 1 September 2024 (inclusive of Bank Holiday) |
| Return to School |
Monday 2 September 2024 |
Autumn term 2024 – open 75 days
School term dates 2024/2025
| Status | Date |
|---|
| Open |
2 September 2024 – 25 October 2024 (40 days) |
| Half term |
28 October 2024 to 1 November 2024 |
| Open |
4 November 2024 – 20 December 2024 (35 days) |
| Christmas Holiday |
23 December 2024 to 3 January 2025 (inclusive of Bank Holidays) |
Spring term 2025 – open 60 days
School term dates 2024/2025
| Status | Date |
|---|
| Open |
6 January 2025 – 14 February 2025 (30 days) |
| Half term |
17 February 2025 to 21 February 2025 |
| Open |
24 February 2025 – 4 April 2025 (30 days) |
| Spring break |
7 April 2025 – 21 April 2025 (inclusive of Good Friday and Easter Monday) |
Summer term 2025 – open 60 days
School term dates 2024/2025
| Status | Date |
|---|
| Open |
22 April 2025 – 23 May 2025 (inclusive of Bank Holiday) (23 days) |
| Half term |
26 May 2025 to 30 May 2025 (inclusive of Bank Holiday) |
| Open |
2 June 2025 – 22 July 2025 (37 days) |
| Summer holiday |
23 July 2025 to 29 August 2025 (inclusive of Bank Holiday) |
| Return to school |
Monday 1 September 2025 |
Setting term dates for Cheshire East schools
The Local Authority is responsible for setting dates for community and controlled schools, which are recommended for adoption by voluntary-aided, foundation, academies and free schools. Clusters of schools may agree minor local variations with the Local Authority.
In academies and free schools the duty lies with the governing board, or with the trust, depending on their agreements on delegation of responsibilities.
In all cases it is expected the best interests of children/ students will be the key consideration in setting term dates. Primary and secondary headteachers are expected to consult and agree the most appropriate pattern for their shared learning community.
Term dates will be set and published on the school website at least two school years in advance.
Principles for setting term dates in Cheshire East
-
Where possible all terms to start on a Monday (or a Tuesday if so necessitated by a Bank Holiday).
-
Autumn half term will be the full week prior to the first Tuesday in November
-
Spring half term will be the third full week in February unless Easter is early, in which case the middle week of the spring term is selected
-
Easter will be incorporated into the holidays, keeping the holiday period as close to the first two weeks of April as possible, therefore, Easter will be at the start, middle or end of the two-week break
-
The Whitsun half term break will be one week, unless, in the case of primary schools, the Governing Board agrees an additional week; in such cases the summer term will end one week later than for other schools
-
Where a school is open for part of a week to pupils, this will be for a minimum of three school days (to encourage attendance)
-
The five “INSET” days are all to be designated by the individual Governing Board, but there will be no more than two days set consecutively for this purpose.
Required number of days
There is a requirement for all maintained schools to be open for the teaching of pupils/students for 380 sessions (or 190 days) each school year. Academies and free schools have the freedom if they so choose to extend their sessions for pupils beyond this.
Page last reviewed: 04 September 2023
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