Southampton school term dates & holidays 2026/27 and 2027/28

Compiled from Southampton City Council's published calendar · last checked 12 September 2026

These are the official school term dates and holidays set by Southampton City 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.

Southampton term dates 2026/27

PeriodStartsEndsLength
Autumn term 2026 termTuesday, 1 September 2026Friday, 18 December 202674 school days
October half term holidayMonday, 26 October 2026Friday, 30 October 2026
Christmas holiday holidaySaturday, 19 December 2026Sunday, 3 January 2027
Spring term 2027 termMonday, 4 January 2027Thursday, 25 March 202754 school days
February half term holidayMonday, 15 February 2027Friday, 19 February 2027
Easter holiday holidayFriday, 26 March 2027Sunday, 11 April 2027
Summer term 2027 termMonday, 12 April 2027Wednesday, 21 July 202768 school days
May half term holidayMonday, 31 May 2027Friday, 4 June 2027
Council notes for 2026/27:
  • Dates apply to all local authority maintained and voluntary controlled schools in Southampton.
  • The council publishes the year in six blocks: Autumn one 1 September to 23 October 2026, Autumn two 2 November to 18 December 2026, Spring one 4 January to 12 February 2027, Spring two 22 February to 25 March 2027, Summer one 12 April to 28 May 2027, Summer two 7 June to 21 July 2027.
  • Teaching days: 190 teaching and five staff training days.
  • Christmas holidays 21 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. Easter holidays 26 March to 9 April 2027. Summer holidays 22 July to 31 August 2027.

Southampton term dates 2027/28

PeriodStartsEndsLength
Autumn term 2027 termWednesday, 1 September 2027Friday, 17 December 202773 school days
October half term holidayMonday, 25 October 2027Friday, 29 October 2027
Christmas holiday holidaySaturday, 18 December 2027Monday, 3 January 2028
Spring term 2028 termTuesday, 4 January 2028Friday, 31 March 202859 school days
February half term holidayMonday, 14 February 2028Friday, 18 February 2028
Easter holiday holidaySaturday, 1 April 2028Monday, 17 April 2028
Summer term 2028 termTuesday, 18 April 2028Friday, 21 July 202864 school days
May half term holidayMonday, 29 May 2028Friday, 2 June 2028
Council notes for 2027/28:
  • Published at https://www.southampton.gov.uk/schools-learning/school-information/school-term-dates/school-year-calendar-2027-28/
  • The council publishes the year in six blocks: Autumn one 1 September to 22 October 2027, Autumn two 1 November to 17 December 2027, Spring one 4 January to 11 February 2028, Spring two 21 February to 31 March 2028, Summer one 18 April to 26 May 2028, Summer two 5 June to 21 July 2028.
  • Teaching days: 190 teaching and five staff training days.
  • Christmas holidays 20 December 2027 to 3 January 2028. Easter holidays 3 April to 17 April 2028. Summer holidays 24 July to 31 August 2028.
Source: these dates come from Southampton City Council's official term dates page, last checked by us on 12 September 2026. If the council amends its calendar mid-year, its page is the authority; tell us and we'll correct ours. Read how we compile term dates.

Common questions

When is October half term in Southampton?

October half term in Southampton runs from Monday, 26 October 2026 to Friday, 30 October 2026. Pupils return the following school day.

When do Southampton schools break up for Christmas?

The autumn term in Southampton ends on Friday, 18 December 2026, so that is the last day of school before the Christmas holiday.

When do Southampton schools break up for summer?

The summer term ends on Wednesday, 21 July 2027. The summer holiday starts the next day.

Is Southampton's October half term the same as neighbouring councils?

Partly. Of the 18 other South East councils we cover, 15 share Southampton'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 Southampton follow these dates?

No. These are Southampton City 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.

Tempted by term-time prices? Taking children out of school during term can mean a penalty notice, and the rules differ across the UK. How school fines work, nation by nation.
Student in the family? University terms run differently: Southampton term dates

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