South East · Portsmouth City Council
Portsmouth term dates 2026-27 and 2027-28
Portsmouth City Council calendar for 2026-27 and 2027-28: October half term 26 to 30 October 2026, then Christmas holidays from 21 December 2026.
Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth City 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 Portsmouth City Council's own web page on 12 October 2026.
Dates read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How the dates are checked
What is particular about Portsmouth
Portsmouth's published dates apply to local authority maintained schools only.
Most Portsmouth schools also have five teacher training (inset) days each year when pupils do not need to attend.
The council lists the May Day bank holiday inside the summer term: Monday 3 May 2027 and Monday 1 May 2028.
The full calendars for each year are published on the Portsmouth Education Partnership website, linked from the council page.
The council keeps a separate guide page for academies, voluntary aided and foundation schools.
These dates apply to local authority maintained schools only.
Academies, voluntary-aided and foundation schools may set their own term dates. Check each school's website for the latest information about term dates and inset days.
Portsmouth 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).
Most schools also have five teacher training (inset) days in each academic year when pupils do not need to attend; check each school's website.
Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth compares
Portsmouth keeps the most common English dates for its october half term, february half term, easter holidays, may half term and summer holidays.
In the South East region, Brighton and Hove, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Isle of Wight, Kent, Medway, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Reading, Southampton, Surrey, West Sussex and Wokingham share the same Easter break.