North West · Wigan Council
Wigan term dates 2026-27 and 2027-28
Wigan Council calendar for 2026-27 and 2027-28: October half term 26 to 30 October 2026, then Christmas holidays from 21 December 2026.
Wigan schools go back on Wednesday 2 September 2026 and the 2026-27 school year ends on Wednesday 21 July 2027, according to the calendar published by Wigan Council. October half term is 26 to 30 October 2026. Christmas holidays run from 21 December 2026 to 4 January 2027, with pupils back on Wednesday 6 January 2027. February half term is 15 to 19 February 2027. The Easter holidays cover 25 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 191 weekdays in school after bank holidays. 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 Wigan Council's own PDF calendar on 13 October 2026.
Dates read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How the dates are checked
What is particular about Wigan
Wigan sets a school working pattern of 193 days: 190 pupil days, two fixed inset days and one summer term inset day chosen by schools in their consortia.
The two fixed inset days fall on the first day of the autumn term and the first day of the spring term.
Wigan's principles put spring half term in the third full week in February and the Whitsun half term in the last week of May after the bank holiday.
The council aims for at least a two week Christmas break and a six week summer break wherever possible, and part weeks of no fewer than 3 pupil days.
In 2026-2027 the spring term starts on Tuesday 5 January 2027, a fixed inset day, and ends on Wednesday 24 March 2027.
In 2027-2028 the autumn term starts on Friday 3 September 2027 with a fixed inset day, and February half term is 21 to 25 February 2028.
Local Authorities set the school working pattern for community and voluntary controlled schools.
We set standard school term dates which we ask Academy, Foundation and Voluntary Aided Wigan schools to follow but they are not obliged to do so.
Wigan 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 4 January 2027 | 11 |
| Spring term (first half) | Tuesday 5 January 2027 to Friday 12 February 2027 | 29 |
| February half term | 15 to 19 February 2027 | 5 |
| Spring term (second half) | Monday 22 February 2027 to Wednesday 24 March 2027 | 23 |
| Easter holidays | 25 March to 9 April 2027 | 12 |
| 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 2 September 2027 | 31 |
Bank holidays inside term time, with no school: Early May bank holiday (3 May 2027).
In-service days fixed by the council, pupils at home: Tuesday 1 September 2026, Tuesday 5 January 2027.
Two fixed inset days at the start of the autumn and spring terms; a third inset day during the summer term is decided by schools in their consortia; the remaining 2 inset day equivalent is arranged individually by schools.
Wigan term dates 2027-28
| Period | Dates | Weekdays |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term (first half) | Friday 3 September 2027 to Friday 22 October 2027 | 36 |
| 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 31 March 2028 | 25 |
| 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 Wigan compares
Wigan keeps the most common English dates for its october half term, february half term and may half term.
It moves away from the usual pattern for its easter holidays (25 March to 9 April 2027, where 93 of the 105 English calendars on this site have 26 March to 9 April 2027) and summer holidays (22 July to 2 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, no other council on this site has the same Easter break, while Bolton, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Cumberland, Lancashire and Liverpool use different Easter dates.