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Scotland, Wales, NI

Welsh school term dates 2026-27 by council

Welsh councils set their own calendars, close to England’s, with a few differences that matter for border families.

Each of the 22 councils in Wales sets the term dates of its community and voluntary controlled schools, as in England, and neighbouring councils often choose the same weeks. Of the 6 Welsh councils on this site, 6 take October half term 26 to 30 October 2026 and 6 have the Easter holidays 22 March to 2 April 2027. The Welsh school year has the same shape as the English one: three terms, each with a half term, summer holidays from late July and about 190 days with pupils. Some Welsh councils name a designated INSET day for all their schools on 1 September, others leave all five, or six, to each school; Flintshire notes that Welsh Ministers can direct councils whose dates are not harmonised. Welsh law has its own penalty notice for unauthorised absence: £60 if paid within 28 days, £120 within 42. Bank holidays are the same as in England. Choose a council below for its Easter break and the days left before it.

Easter holidays 2026-27 · Carmarthenshire

22 March to 2 April 2027

Easter holidays · 10 weekdays off · back on Monday 5 April 2027

160 days from today, 94 school days to go

All term dates for this council

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The Welsh councils side by side

From each council calendar for 2026-27.
CouncilFirst dayOctoberEasterLast dayINSET days fixed
Bridgend1 September 202626 to 30 October 202622 March to 2 April 202720 July 20270
Carmarthenshire2 September 202626 to 30 October 202622 March to 2 April 202720 July 20271
Flintshire1 September 202626 to 30 October 202622 March to 2 April 202720 July 20270
Neath Port Talbot1 September 202626 to 30 October 202622 March to 2 April 202720 July 20270
Rhondda Cynon Taf2 September 202626 to 30 October 202622 March to 2 April 202720 July 20271
Vale of Glamorgan2 September 202626 to 30 October 202622 March to 2 April 202720 July 20271

Who sets the dates in Wales

School term dates in Wales are set by the local authority for community and voluntary controlled schools and by the governing body for foundation and voluntary aided schools. Since the Education (Wales) Act 2014, Welsh Ministers can direct councils and governing bodies to harmonise their dates, which is why the Welsh calendars on this site are almost identical. The pattern is close to England's, so a family that moves across the border rarely changes its holidays by more than a few days.

Absence and penalty notices

In Wales, as in England, a term-time holiday without the head teacher's permission is an unauthorised absence. The penalty notice is set by the Education (Penalty Notices) (Wales) Regulations 2013: £60 within 28 days, £120 within 42. The threshold for a notice is set by each council's local code of conduct, not by a national rule as in England since 2024. The fine calculator works out the amount for your family.

Border families

Around Chester, Shrewsbury, Hereford and the Severn crossings, many children live on one side of the border and go to school on the other. The school's calendar applies, whichever side you live on. Compare the two councils below to see where the holidays differ.

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

Cheshire West and Chester and Bolton, 2026-27

2 days

weekdays when one council's pupils are off and the other's are in school (Cheshire West and Chester off: 2, Bolton off: 0). Both off: 37 weekdays.

BreakCheshire West and ChesterBoltonShared
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 202726 July to 3 September 202727

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

Questions parents ask

Do all Welsh councils have the same term dates?

Neighbouring councils often share the same half terms and Easter, but each council publishes its own calendar, and the first and last days of the year can differ. Check the council page on this site, and the school, since voluntary aided and foundation schools can set their own dates.

How much is the fine for a term-time holiday in Wales?

£60 per parent per child if paid within 28 days, rising to £120 if paid within 42 days, under the Education (Penalty Notices) (Wales) Regulations 2013. Each council's code of conduct sets when a notice can be issued, so the threshold is local rather than national.

Are Welsh and English half terms the same week?

For October and May, usually yes. In 2026-27 the Welsh councils on this site take February half term on 8 to 12 February and Easter from 22 March, a week before most of England. A family with children on both sides of the border should compare the two councils with the tool on this page.

Next pages to read

Term-time holiday fines

Penalty notices: £80, £160, the 10-session rule

INSET days

Who sets them, how many, and how to find them

Half term dates

October, February and May 2026-27, council by council

Bank holidays and schools

Every bank holiday to 2028 and whether schools close

Compare two councils

Separated parents, two schools, a move: shared and mismatched days

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.