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North East · Durham County Council

County Durham term dates 2026-27 and 2027-28

Durham County Council calendar for 2026-27 and 2027-28: October half term 26 to 30 October 2026, then Christmas holidays from 21 December 2026.

County Durham 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 Durham County 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 Durham County Council's own web page on 13 October 2026.

The council that runs the state schools where you live.

Any day from August 2026 to August 2028.

Tuesday 13 October 2026 · County Durham

School day

Autumn term (first half) at Durham County Council

Open on the council calendar. Your school may still use this day for one of its own INSET days, and academies can set different dates.

Next break

October half term: 26 to 30 October 2026

13 days away, 9 school days

School days left in 2026-27: 165

  • October half term · 26 to 30 October 2026
  • Christmas holidays · 21 December 2026 to 1 January 2027
  • February half term · 15 to 19 February 2027
  • Easter holidays · 26 March to 9 April 2027

Dates read on Durham County Council on 13 October 2026 · method

Dates read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How the dates are checked

What is particular about County Durham

Durham County Council publishes recommended dates; aided schools and academies can set different dates.

Both 2026-27 and 2027-28 have 195 days, and schools use up to five of them for teacher training, known locally as PD days.

In 2025-26 the year had 193 days, with three PD days in term time and two more taken in the holidays or as twilight sessions.

The council lists the May Day bank holiday as a short break: schools close on Friday 30 April and re-open on Tuesday 4 May 2027.

The 2027-28 year starts on Wednesday 1 September 2027 and ends on Thursday 20 July 2028.

The council says PD day dates are decided by each school and can often change, so parents should check the school website.

These are our recommended dates but aided schools and academies can set different dates.

Durham County Council, term dates page

Aided schools and academies can set different dates. Please check with your school.

County Durham term dates 2026-27

Durham County Council, 2026-27. Breaks in bold.
PeriodDatesWeekdays
Autumn term (first half)Tuesday 1 September 2026 to Friday 23 October 202639
October half term26 to 30 October 20265
Autumn term (second half)Monday 2 November 2026 to Friday 18 December 202635
Christmas holidays21 December 2026 to 1 January 202710
Spring term (first half)Monday 4 January 2027 to Friday 12 February 202730
February half term15 to 19 February 20275
Spring term (second half)Monday 22 February 2027 to Thursday 25 March 202724
Easter holidays26 March to 9 April 202711
Summer term (first half)Monday 12 April 2027 to Friday 28 May 202735
May half term31 May to 4 June 20275
Summer term (second half)Monday 7 June 2027 to Wednesday 21 July 202733
Summer holidays22 July to 31 August 202729

Bank holidays inside term time, with no school: Early May bank holiday (3 May 2027).

There are 195 days in the 2026/27 school year. Up to five of these days will be used by schools for teacher training (known as PD days), decided by individual schools.

County Durham term dates 2027-28

Durham County Council, 2027-28. Breaks in bold.
PeriodDatesWeekdays
Autumn term (first half)Wednesday 1 September 2027 to Friday 22 October 202738
October half term25 to 29 October 20275
Autumn term (second half)Monday 1 November 2027 to Friday 17 December 202735
Christmas holidays20 December 2027 to 3 January 202811
Spring term (first half)Tuesday 4 January 2028 to Friday 11 February 202829
February half term14 to 18 February 20285
Spring term (second half)Monday 21 February 2028 to Friday 7 April 202835
Easter holidays10 to 21 April 202810
Summer term (first half)Monday 24 April 2028 to Friday 26 May 202825
May half term29 May to 2 June 20285
Summer term (second half)Monday 5 June 2028 to Thursday 20 July 202834
County Durham, 2026-27, day by day:   school   holiday or closure   bank holiday   weekend
Sept 26
Oct 26
Nov 26
Dec 26
Jan 27
Feb 27
Mar 27
Apr 27
May 27
Jun 27
Jul 27

How County Durham compares

County Durham keeps the most common English dates for its october half term, february half term, easter holidays, may half term and summer holidays.

In the North East region, Newcastle and Northumberland share the same Easter break.

For example the other parent's area, or a school just over the boundary.

County Durham and Newcastle, 2026-27

3 days

weekdays when one council's pupils are off and the other's are in school (County Durham off: 0, Newcastle off: 3). Both off: 37 weekdays.

BreakCounty DurhamNewcastleShared
October half term26 to 30 October 202626 to 30 October 20265
Christmas holidays21 December 2026 to 1 January 202721 December 2026 to 1 January 202710
February half term15 to 19 February 202715 to 19 February 20275
Easter holidays26 March to 9 April 202726 March to 9 April 202711
May half term31 May to 4 June 202731 May to 4 June 20275
Summer holidays22 July to 31 August 202719 July to 3 September 202729

Council calendars only: INSET days chosen by each school are not included · method

Questions parents ask

When is October half term 2026 for County Durham schools?

Durham County Council lists 26 to 30 October 2026, 5 weekdays off, and pupils return on Monday 2 November 2026. It is the first break of the school year that began on Tuesday 1 September 2026. Academies and voluntary aided schools can set other dates, so check the school website as well.

What is the last day before Christmas 2026 in County Durham?

The last school day on the Durham County Council calendar is Friday 18 December 2026. The Christmas holidays then run 21 December 2026 to 1 January 2027, which covers Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Some schools finish early on the last afternoon.

What are the Easter 2027 school holiday dates in County Durham?

26 March to 9 April 2027 (11 weekdays), after a last day of the spring term on Thursday 25 March 2027. Easter Sunday is 28 March 2027, and school starts again on Monday 12 April 2027. Good Friday and Easter Monday are bank holidays either way.

When do County Durham schools break up for summer 2027?

The last day of the 2026-27 school year is Wednesday 21 July 2027, so the summer holidays begin on Thursday 22 July 2027. The council has set the first day back as Wednesday 1 September 2027. Days off before the end of term need the head teacher's agreement.

Next pages to read

Newcastle term dates

Newcastle City Council

Northumberland term dates

Northumberland County Council

Half term dates

Every council on one page

Where the dates come from

Compiled by

Radif Partners

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School years 2026-27 and 2027-28, council pages last read on . A council calendar is an indication only: it does not replace the calendar of your child’s school.