York schools break for October half term on 26 October and for Christmas on 18 December. Every 2026/27 holiday, plus the schools that break a week earlier.
York’s recommended 2026/27 school year runs from Monday 7 September 2026 to Monday 26 July 2027, and the first break is October half term, Monday 26 to Friday 30 October. Christmas starts after Friday 18 December. These are the City of York Council’s recommended dates; academies and independent schools can set their own, and several of the city’s best known schools do.
The quick answer
- October half term: Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026, back Monday 2 November.
- Christmas holiday: schools close Friday 18 December 2026 and reopen Monday 4 January 2027.
- Independent schools break earlier: St Peter’s and Bootham both start half term on Friday 16 October, two weeks off, and finish for Christmas on Friday 11 December.
York council term dates 2026/27
These are the recommended dates set by City of York Council, last updated on 10 February 2025 (City of York Council, 2026 to 2027 school term dates).
| Term | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn, first half | Monday 7 September to Friday 23 October 2026 |
| October half term | Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026 |
| Autumn, second half | Monday 2 November to Friday 18 December 2026 |
| Christmas holiday | Monday 21 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027 |
| Spring, first half | Monday 4 January to Friday 5 February 2027 |
| February half term | Monday 8 to Friday 12 February 2027 |
| Spring, second half | Monday 15 February to Friday 19 March 2027 |
| Easter holiday | Monday 22 March to Friday 2 April 2027 |
| Summer, first half | Monday 5 April to Friday 28 May 2027 |
| May half term | Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027 |
| Summer, second half | Monday 7 June to Monday 26 July 2027 |
The council recommends a 39-week year of 195 school days, starting on the first Monday in September. Those 195 days include the teacher training days, which is why most pupils actually start a day or two after 7 September. It sets its dates with North Yorkshire and East Riding councils to keep differences small for families who cross the boundary (City of York Council, how we set term dates).
The early May bank holiday, Monday 3 May 2027, falls in term time, and schools close for it.
INSET days are set by each school
The council does not publish training days. Each school sets its own, so two children in the same family can have different days off. Here is what three schools have published for 2026/27.
| School | Training days (closed to pupils) |
|---|---|
| Fulford School | Mon 7 Sep, Wed 30 Sep, Fri 23 Oct, Fri 19 Mar, Mon 26 Jul |
| Huntington School | Mon 7 and Tue 8 Sep, Wed 3 Mar, Fri 2 Jul |
| St Peter’s School | Thu 3 and Fri 4 Sep (staff), Mon 4 Jan, Mon 12 Apr |
What it means for you: at Fulford School the October half term effectively starts a day early, because Friday 23 October is a training day. Pupils finish on Thursday 22 October. Fulford also has a mid-term day off on Wednesday 30 September.
Huntington closes at 12.15pm on the last day before Christmas, Friday 18 December, and at 12.15pm on Friday 23 July, its last day of the summer term. Huntington and Fulford both end the year on Friday 23 July 2027 rather than the council’s Monday 26 July.
The schools that break a week earlier
York’s two big independent schools run a shorter year with a two-week autumn half term.
| Council recommended | St Peter’s School | Bootham School | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term starts | Mon 7 Sep | Mon 7 or Tue 8 Sep, by year group | Tue 8 Sep |
| October half term starts | After Fri 23 Oct | After Fri 16 Oct, 4pm | After Fri 16 Oct, 4pm |
| Back after half term | Mon 2 Nov | Mon 2 Nov | Mon 2 Nov |
| Christmas finish | Fri 18 Dec | Fri 11 Dec | Fri 11 Dec, 4pm |
| Spring term starts | Mon 4 Jan | Tue 5 Jan | Wed 6 Jan |
| February half term | 8 to 12 Feb | After Fri 5 Feb, back Mon 15 Feb | After Fri 5 Feb, back Mon 15 Feb |
| Easter finish | Fri 19 Mar | Fri 19 Mar | Fri 19 Mar |
| Summer term starts | Mon 5 Apr | Tue 13 Apr | Mon 12 Apr |
| Summer finish | Mon 26 Jul | Fri 9 Jul | Fri 9 Jul |
Sources: St Peter’s School term dates; Bootham Senior School term dates 2026 to 2028.
At St Peter’s, Years 7, 8 and 9, the Lower Sixth and the Junior School start on Monday 7 September and the other year groups on Tuesday 8 September. The Junior School finishes for Christmas at 12.15pm on 11 December; the Senior School finishes after the carol service, from 3.45pm. St Peter’s Senior School also has exeat Saturdays on 26 September, 21 November, 23 January and 1 May.
Bootham teaches on some Saturdays. Its autumn teaching Saturdays are 12 and 26 September, 10 October, 7 and 21 November and 5 December.
Looking ahead: 2027/28
The council has already set next year. Autumn term 2027 runs from Monday 6 September, with October half term from Monday 25 to Friday 29 October 2027 and Christmas from Friday 17 December. The spring term starts on Wednesday 5 January 2028, February half term is 21 to 25 February, and the year ends on Wednesday 26 July 2028 (City of York Council, 2027 to 2028 school term dates).
Still to confirm
- Training days for most primary schools and the other academy trusts. Ask your school; the council says dates “may be subject to change throughout the year”.
- Snow and other unplanned closures are posted on the council’s school closures page.
We will check again in December, when schools usually confirm spring term training days. What is on locally over the break is on our October half term in York page.
Also useful: York bin collection days, parking in York and roadworks and travel.
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