The School Year

The English school year, which is divided into three terms, commences in the first week of September and finishes in the third week of July. Each term has a one-week mid term break, which is an ideal time for a trip away. There are 195 working days (ideal for Working Holiday Makers) in a school year, five of which are set aside for in-service training and staff development activities.

Detailed below is a guide to the term and holiday dates to help when planning your arrival in the UK. Most positions will commence at the beginning of a term, so it is advisable that you be available to start work on the first day of a term. We do have some positions which become available for a mid term start.

Autumn term: first week in September until third week in December, with the half term break late October.

Christmas Holiday (two weeks)

Spring term: first or second week in January until Easter, with the half term break in mid February.

Easter Holiday (two weeks)

Summer term: starts after Easter until third week in July with the half term break in late May or early June.

 Summer holiday (six weeks)