Medway school term dates & holidays 2026/27 and 2027/28
Compiled from Medway Council's published calendar · last checked 12 September 2026
These are the official school term dates and holidays set by Medway Council for the 2026/27 and 2027/28 academic years: term start and finish dates, half terms, and the Christmas, Easter and summer breaks. We take the dates straight from the council's own published calendar (linked below), convert them into one consistent format, and recheck them each academic year. School-day counts exclude weekends and half term but not inset days, which individual schools choose themselves.
Medway term dates 2026/27
| Period | Starts | Ends | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn term 2026 term | Tuesday, 1 September 2026 | Friday, 18 December 2026 | 74 school days |
| October half term holiday | Monday, 26 October 2026 | Friday, 30 October 2026 | |
| Christmas holiday holiday | Saturday, 19 December 2026 | Sunday, 3 January 2027 | |
| Spring term 2027 term | Monday, 4 January 2027 | Thursday, 25 March 2027 | 54 school days |
| February half term holiday | Monday, 15 February 2027 | Friday, 19 February 2027 | |
| Easter holiday holiday | Friday, 26 March 2027 | Sunday, 11 April 2027 | |
| Summer term 2027 term | Monday, 12 April 2027 | Wednesday, 21 July 2027 | 68 school days |
| May half term holiday | Monday, 31 May 2027 | Friday, 4 June 2027 |
- Medway publishes six terms. Term 1: Tuesday 1 September 2026 to Friday 23 October 2026. Term 2: Monday 2 November 2026 to Friday 18 December 2026. Term 3: Monday 4 January 2027 to Friday 12 February 2027. Term 4: Monday 22 February 2027 to Thursday 25 March 2027. Term 5: Monday 12 April 2027 to Friday 28 May 2027. Term 6: Monday 7 June 2027 to Wednesday 21 July 2027.
- Autumn break runs Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026. Christmas break runs Monday 21 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027. February break runs Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027. Easter break runs Tuesday 30 March to Friday 9 April 2027, with Good Friday on 26 March and Easter Monday on 29 March 2027. Late spring break runs Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027.
- The early May bank holiday is Monday 3 May 2027 and the spring bank holiday is Monday 31 May 2027.
- The term dates give a total of 195 days. Maintained schools must provide 190 teaching days, with the remaining 5 days used for staff development. Each school is free to decide when these staff development days take place.
- Most Medway schools have the same holiday dates, but some academy, voluntary aided or foundation schools may differ. Academies have the authority to set their own term dates.
Medway term dates 2027/28
| Period | Starts | Ends | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn term 2027 term | Monday, 6 September 2027 | Friday, 17 December 2027 | 70 school days |
| October half term holiday | Monday, 25 October 2027 | Friday, 29 October 2027 | |
| Christmas holiday holiday | Saturday, 18 December 2027 | Monday, 3 January 2028 | |
| Spring term 2028 term | Tuesday, 4 January 2028 | Friday, 31 March 2028 | 59 school days |
| February half term holiday | Monday, 14 February 2028 | Friday, 18 February 2028 | |
| Easter holiday holiday | Saturday, 1 April 2028 | Monday, 17 April 2028 | |
| Summer term 2028 term | Tuesday, 18 April 2028 | Wednesday, 26 July 2028 | 67 school days |
| May half term holiday | Monday, 29 May 2028 | Friday, 2 June 2028 |
- Medway publishes six terms. Term 1: Monday 6 September 2027 to Friday 22 October 2027. Term 2: Monday 1 November 2027 to Friday 17 December 2027. Term 3: Tuesday 4 January 2028 to Friday 11 February 2028. Term 4: Monday 21 February 2028 to Friday 31 March 2028. Term 5: Tuesday 18 April 2028 to Friday 26 May 2028. Term 6: Monday 5 June 2028 to Wednesday 26 July 2028.
- Autumn break runs Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027. Christmas break runs Monday 20 December to Friday 31 December 2027. February break runs Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028. Easter break runs Monday 3 April to Friday 14 April 2028, with Good Friday on 14 April and Easter Monday on 17 April 2028. Late spring break runs Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028.
- The early May bank holiday is 1 May 2028 and the spring bank holiday is Monday 29 May 2028.
- The autumn term starts on Monday 6 September 2027 and the summer term ends on Wednesday 26 July 2028, later than most neighbouring councils.
- The term dates give a total of 195 days. Maintained schools must provide 190 teaching days, with the remaining 5 days used for staff development. Each school is free to decide when these staff development days take place.
- Most Medway schools have the same holiday dates, but some academy, voluntary aided or foundation schools may differ. Academies have the authority to set their own term dates.
Common questions
When is October half term in Medway?
October half term in Medway runs from Monday, 26 October 2026 to Friday, 30 October 2026. Pupils return the following school day.
When do Medway schools break up for Christmas?
The autumn term in Medway ends on Friday, 18 December 2026, so that is the last day of school before the Christmas holiday.
When do Medway schools break up for summer?
The summer term ends on Wednesday, 21 July 2027. The summer holiday starts the next day.
Is Medway's October half term the same as neighbouring councils?
Partly. Of the 18 other South East councils we cover, 15 share Medway's October half term week in 2026/27, while Isle of Wight, Surrey, West Berkshire differ. If your children attend schools under different councils, check both pages before booking.
Do all schools in Medway follow these dates?
No. These are Medway Council's published dates for community and voluntary-controlled schools. Academies, free schools, foundation schools and private schools set their own calendars, and every school adds its own inset days. Check with your school before booking anything you can't refund.