How many school days until the holidays?

How the count works

For each day from the start date to the day before the break, the engine asks the same question as the date checker: is it a weekend, a listed holiday, a closure, an in-service day fixed by the council, or a bank holiday in England, Wales or Northern Ireland? Every day that passes all five tests is a school day. The calendar days are simply the days from the start date to the first day of the break.

Typical counts in 2026-27

For a council with October half term from 26 October and a start of term on 1 or 2 September, the first half of the autumn term has 38 or 39 school days and the second half 35. The spring term of 2027 is short because Easter is early: around 30 school days before February half term and 24 after it, in Kent's numbering. The summer term is the longest stretch, about 34 days before May half term and 33 after, in the same calendar. Councils that start on another weekday or move a break will differ by a few days.

Countdowns for Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scottish councils end the year in late June, so the summer countdown reaches zero four weeks before England's. Their in-service days are on the council calendar and already left out of the count. In Northern Ireland the common closure dates give the summer holiday from 1 July 2027; schools may add development days.

Two children, two countdowns

If your children go to schools in different councils, or one is at an academy that follows a neighbour, the comparison above shows the weekdays when one is off and the other in school. The comparison page lists those days one by one.