East of England · Bedford Borough Council
Bedford term dates 2026-27 and 2027-28
Bedford Borough Council calendar for 2026-27 and 2027-28: October half term 26 to 30 October 2026, then Christmas holidays from 21 December 2026.
Bedford schools go back on Tuesday 1 September 2026 and the 2026-27 school year ends on Wednesday 21 July 2027, according to the calendar published by Bedford Borough Council. October half term is 26 to 30 October 2026. Christmas holidays run from 21 December 2026 to 1 January 2027, with pupils back on Monday 4 January 2027. February half term is 15 to 19 February 2027. The Easter holidays cover 26 March to 9 April 2027, taking in Good Friday and Easter Monday. May half term is 31 May to 4 June 2027. The summer holidays start on Thursday 22 July 2027. That leaves 195 weekdays in school after bank holidays, and each school then takes some of them as its own INSET days. The 2027-28 calendar is already published: school starts on Wednesday 1 September 2027 and the October break is 25 to 29 October 2027. Dates read on Bedford Borough Council's own PDF calendar on 13 October 2026.
Dates read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How the dates are checked
What is particular about Bedford
Bedford Borough Council calls teacher training days Personal or Professional Development (PD) days and marks proposed PD days on its printable calendars.
The council's 2026-27 calendar counts 74 days in autumn, 54 in spring and 67 in summer: 195 days in total, including 5 PD days.
The 2027-28 calendar counts 73 days in autumn, 59 in spring and 63 in summer, again 195 days including 5 PD days.
All schools can set their own PD days, and some schools and academies may change their term dates, so the council asks parents to check with the school.
The council's term dates page links to its guidance on what the law says about holidays during term time.
In 2027-28 the spring term starts on Tuesday 4 January 2028 and the summer term on Tuesday 18 April 2028, the day after Easter Monday.
You can view school term and holiday dates set by Bedford Borough Council below. Please check with your child's schools or academy as some may make minor changes to school term dates.
Academies and other Own Admission Authorities can set their own dates. All schools can set their own PD days. Please contact your school direct for term date queries.
Bedford term dates 2026-27
| Period | Dates | Weekdays |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term (first half) | Tuesday 1 September 2026 to Friday 23 October 2026 | 39 |
| October half term | 26 to 30 October 2026 | 5 |
| Autumn term (second half) | Monday 2 November 2026 to Friday 18 December 2026 | 35 |
| Christmas holidays | 21 December 2026 to 1 January 2027 | 10 |
| Spring term (first half) | Monday 4 January 2027 to Friday 12 February 2027 | 30 |
| February half term | 15 to 19 February 2027 | 5 |
| Spring term (second half) | Monday 22 February 2027 to Thursday 25 March 2027 | 24 |
| Easter holidays | 26 March to 9 April 2027 | 11 |
| Summer term (first half) | Monday 12 April 2027 to Friday 28 May 2027 | 35 |
| May half term | 31 May to 4 June 2027 | 5 |
| Summer term (second half) | Monday 7 June 2027 to Wednesday 21 July 2027 | 33 |
| Summer holidays | 22 July to 31 August 2027 | 29 |
Bank holidays inside term time, with no school: Early May bank holiday (3 May 2027).
The 195 days include 5 PD days; the calendar marks proposed PD days but schools and academies may change them.
Bedford term dates 2027-28
| Period | Dates | Weekdays |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term (first half) | Wednesday 1 September 2027 to Friday 22 October 2027 | 38 |
| October half term | 25 to 29 October 2027 | 5 |
| Autumn term (second half) | Monday 1 November 2027 to Friday 17 December 2027 | 35 |
| Christmas holidays | 20 December 2027 to 3 January 2028 | 11 |
| Spring term (first half) | Tuesday 4 January 2028 to Friday 11 February 2028 | 29 |
| February half term | 14 to 18 February 2028 | 5 |
| Spring term (second half) | Monday 21 February 2028 to Friday 31 March 2028 | 30 |
| Easter holidays | 3 to 17 April 2028 | 11 |
| Summer term (first half) | Tuesday 18 April 2028 to Friday 26 May 2028 | 29 |
| May half term | 29 May to 2 June 2028 | 5 |
| Summer term (second half) | Monday 5 June 2028 to Friday 21 July 2028 | 35 |
How Bedford compares
Bedford keeps the most common English dates for its october half term, february half term, easter holidays, may half term and summer holidays.
In the East of England region, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Peterborough, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock share the same Easter break, while Norfolk and Suffolk use different Easter dates.