West Sussex school term dates & holidays 2026/27 and 2027/28

Compiled from West Sussex County Council's published calendar · last checked 7 September 2026

These are the official school term dates and holidays set by West Sussex County 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.

West Sussex 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:
  • 'Term dates are based on a school year of around 195 days, although individual schools can use 5 of these days for staff training inset days.'
  • 'We are required to set school term and holiday dates for maintained and voluntary-controlled schools.' 'Term dates may not apply to academies, voluntary aided schools, further education and sixth form colleges in West Sussex, or to schools in the independent sector.'

West Sussex 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:
  • Autumn term 2027 dates are from the council's term dates web page. Spring and summer 2028 dates are read from the council's '2027 to 2028 calendar view of academic year' PDF (https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/rm3nwxts/school_term_calendar_2027_28_res.pdf), which marks start of term, end of term and holiday days on a calendar grid; the PDF titles them 'Recommended school term and holiday dates for the academic year 2027/2028 for West Sussex'.
  • PDF term lengths: September to October half term 38 days; October to December 35 days; January to February half term 29 days; February to April 30 days; April to May half term 28 days; June to July 35 days; total 195 days.
  • The spring half-term holiday week in 2028 (14-18 February) and the summer half-term week (29 May-2 June, with 29 May the spring bank holiday) are marked as school holidays on the calendar. The calendar also marks end of term 22 October 2027 / start 1 November 2027 and end 11 February / start 21 February 2028 and end 26 May / start 5 June 2028 around each half term.
  • Council note: 'Please note that the first day of the autumn term in September 2028 will not be determined until the 2028/2029 timetable has been consulted upon and approved.'
  • 'Term dates may not apply to academies, voluntary aided schools, further education and sixth form colleges in West Sussex, or to schools in the independent sector.'
Source: these dates come from West Sussex County Council's official term dates page, last checked by us on 7 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 West Sussex?

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

When do West Sussex schools break up for Christmas?

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

When do West Sussex schools break up for summer?

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

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

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

No. These are West Sussex County 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.

Nearby councils