North West · Rochdale Borough Council
Rochdale term dates 2026-27 and 2027-28
Rochdale Borough Council calendar for 2026-27 and 2027-28: October half term 26 to 30 October 2026, then Christmas holidays from 21 December 2026.
Rochdale schools go back on Thursday 3 September 2026 and the 2026-27 school year ends on Wednesday 21 July 2027, according to the calendar published by Rochdale 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 193 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 Monday 6 September 2027 and the October break is 25 to 29 October 2027. Dates read on Rochdale Borough Council's own web page on 13 October 2026.
Dates read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How the dates are checked
What is particular about Rochdale
Rochdale publishes a recommended school holiday pattern, and schools may change up to 2 days of it, for example for polling days or religious festivals.
Schools must choose 3 staff training days during term time, which students do not attend.
The 2026-2027 autumn term begins on Thursday 3 September 2026, later in the week than most neighbouring councils.
The council gives the length of each term in weeks: 15, 11 and 14 weeks in 2026-2027.
The 2027-2028 year begins on Monday 6 September 2027, and the Easter holiday runs from 10 to 21 April 2028.
The 2027-2028 page contains typing slips: the Christmas holiday is shown ending on 31 December 2028 and the summer half term starting on 29 May 2027.
We give schools in the borough a recommended school holiday pattern for the academic year.
The council allows schools to change up to 2 days of its recommended holiday pattern, for example for polling days or religious festivals, and asks parents to refer to the school's website for exact term dates.
Rochdale term dates 2026-27
| Period | Dates | Weekdays |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term (first half) | Thursday 3 September 2026 to Friday 23 October 2026 | 37 |
| 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 3 September 2027 | 32 |
Bank holidays inside term time, with no school: Early May bank holiday (3 May 2027).
Every year schools are required to choose 3 days during term time to set aside for staff training which students don't attend.
Rochdale term dates 2027-28
| Period | Dates | Weekdays |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term (first half) | Monday 6 September 2027 to Friday 22 October 2027 | 35 |
| 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 18 February 2028 | 34 |
| February half term | 21 to 25 February 2028 | 5 |
| Spring term (second half) | Monday 28 February 2028 to Friday 7 April 2028 | 30 |
| Easter holidays | 10 to 21 April 2028 | 10 |
| Summer term (first half) | Monday 24 April 2028 to Friday 26 May 2028 | 25 |
| 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 Rochdale compares
Rochdale keeps the most common English dates for its october half term, february half term, easter holidays and may half term.
It moves away from the usual pattern for its summer holidays (22 July to 3 September 2027, where 32 of the 99 English calendars on this site have 22 July to 31 August 2027). A family with children in two areas should check these weeks first.
In the North West region, Bolton, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Cumberland, Lancashire, Liverpool, Oldham, Sefton, Stockport, Trafford, Westmorland and Furness and Wirral share the same Easter break, while Manchester, Salford and Wigan use different Easter dates.