School Holidays in the UK 2024-2025

Get ready to mark your calendars! Whether you're planning family adventures or just counting down to the next break, knowing the school holiday dates is essential. This year, the UK school holidays bring plenty of opportunities to relax, recharge, and make lasting memories. From Easter to summer and everything in between, we’ve got you covered with all the key dates you need to know. Let's dive into the fun!

Overview of School Holidays in the UK

School Holiday is a vital part of the UK Education System. There are broadly three types of school holidays in the UK: Public holidays, term breaks and mid-term breaks, and other school holidays. The following table summarises all the major holidays in the 2024/2025 academic year across the UK:

List of Public Holidays in the UK (2024 - 2025)

Public holidays in the UK, known as bank holidays, are days when most businesses, schools, and many government offices close, and people typically have the day off work. In all countries except Scotland (England, Wales, and Northern Ireland), the UK Government decides the dates of the public holidays and they are not entirely uniform across the UK. Here's an overview of the public holidays in the UK in the 2024/2025 academic year:

1. Common Public Holidays Across the UK:

• Christmas Day (25th December 2024): Celebrated across the UK.
• Boxing Day (26th December): Observed across the UK.
• New Year's Day (1st January 2025): Celebrated across the UK.
• Good Friday (18th April 2025): The Friday before Easter Sunday, observed by all UK nations.
• Early May Bank Holiday (5th May 2025): Observed across the UK.
• Spring Bank Holiday (26th May 2025): Observed across the UK.

2. England, Wales, and Northern Ireland:

• Easter Monday (21st April 2025): Observed in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, but not in Scotland.
• Summer Bank Holiday:
  • England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (25th August 2025): The last Monday in August.
  • Scotland (4th August 2025): The first Monday in August.

3. Scotland:

• 2nd January: A bank holiday in Scotland, extending the New Year's celebrations.
• St. Andrew's Day (30th November): Scotland's national day, observed as a bank holiday, but not a public holiday across all sectors.
• Early January Bank Holiday (sometimes): Some regions observe an extra holiday after New Year's Day.

4. Northern Ireland:

• St. Patrick's Day (17th March): Celebrated as a bank holiday in Northern Ireland.
• Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day, 12th July): A public holiday in Northern Ireland commemorating the Battle of the Boyne.

In summary, while many public holidays are shared across the UK, each country has a few distinct holidays reflecting local traditions and history. On these public holidays, all types of schools including state school, independent (private) school and international schools will be closed. But since businesses will close as well, it's a great opportunity to spend some family time with your children!

List of Term Breaks in the UK (2024 - 2025)

In the UK, the responsibility for setting school holidays and term dates depends on the type of school and its location. Here are the three most common types of schools and their term dates:

State schools

State schools, including community and voluntary controlled schools, usually follow a standardised calendar set by local authorities, with slight regional variations. Similarly, in Scotland and Northern Ireland, local councils (similar to local authorities in England and Wales) are responsible for setting school term dates for state schools. So stay tuned to your local authority, such as Hammersmith & Fulham, to find out!

State schools include most primary and secondary schools in England and Wales. The local authority usually consults with schools and other stakeholders before finalizing the dates. In all countries in the UK, the term breaks are generally set as follows:

• Autumn Half-Term Break: 28th October 2024 (Monday) – 1st November 2024 (Friday)
• Christmas Holidays: 23rd December 2024 (Monday) – 3rd January 2025 (Friday)
• Spring Half-Term Break: 17th February 2025 (Monday) – 21st February 2025 (Friday)
• Easter Holidays: 7th April 2025 (Monday) – 21st April 2025 (Monday)
• Summer Half-Term Break: 27th May 2025 (Tuesday) – 30th May 2025 (Friday)
• Summer Holidays: Starting from 23rd July 2025 (Wednesday) (exact end dates vary by school and region)

For academies, free schools, and voluntary aided schools, the School Governing Bodies have greater autonomy and can set their own term dates and holidays. However, they often follow the term dates set by the local authority to avoid significant differences with other local schools, which could cause issues for families with children at different schools.

Independent schools

Independent schools have complete autonomy to set their own term dates and holidays through the School Governing Bodies or School Heads, resulting in more flexibility and more room to differ from state schools in break lengths and timing.

• Autumn Half-Term Break: Typically a week in late October, often the same as state schools but can vary slightly
• Christmas Holidays: Typically from mid-December 2024 – early January 2025
• Spring Half-Term Break: Typically a week in mid-February 2025, similar to state schools but may differ
• Easter Holidays: Typically two to three weeks, often starting a bit earlier or later than state schools
• Summer Half-Term Break: Usually aligned with state schools but can vary, generally around late May
• Summer Holidays: Often starts in early July 2025 and ends in early September 2025

International schools

International schools in the UK, which follow various international curriculums like the International Baccalaureate (IB) or American systems, may have term dates that differ even more, often influenced by the global calendar of their respective curriculums. It’s always best to check the specific term dates with the individual school.

Overall, international schools design their academic calendar with a much more personalised approach. As one of the Best IB Schools in the UK explains,

"Our calendar strategically balances academic rigor with well-timed breaks, allowing students to engage deeply with their studies while also having the necessary time to relax and reflect, ensuring sustained academic excellence and personal well-being."

List of Other School Holidays in the UK (2024 - 2025)

In addition to the standard term breaks, some schools in the UK observe additional holidays or closures that parents and students should be aware of. These dates are often set by the individual schools or local authorities, depending on the school's type and location. Here’s what you need to know:

• In-Service Training Days (INSET Days): Schools set aside a few days throughout the year for teacher training. These days are usually not uniform across the country and are determined by the school's governing body. They typically fall at the start or end of a term but can be scattered throughout the year.
• St. Andrew’s Day: While not a public holiday across the UK, many schools in Scotland close on or around Saturday, 30th November 2024, to celebrate their patron saint.
• St. Patrick’s Day: In Northern Ireland, schools often close on Monday, 17th March 2025, to honour St. Patrick's Day, reflecting local traditions.
• Local and Regional Holidays: Some schools may close for additional local holidays, especially in Scotland where local authorities have more flexibility. For example, some Scottish schools may close for Burns Night on Saturday, 25th January 2025 or other local celebrations.

These additional holidays and closures can vary significantly from school to school, so it's important to keep an eye on communications from your child’s school and your local community to stay updated on these specific dates.

School Holiday Activities

Looking for exciting ways to make the most of the school holidays? Here are five fantastic activities that can keep students inspired, active and ahead in studies while having fun!

• Private Tutoring: Enhance your academic skills with personalised sessions from expert tutors. Whether you need an IGCSE tutors in London or A-Level tutors in London, these professionals can help you excel in your studies.
• Explore Museums: Discover ancient artefacts or learn about space at the British Museum or the Science Museum. Both offer free entry and engaging holiday workshops for students.
• Outdoor Adventures: Spend a day at Hyde Park enjoying cycling, boating on the Serpentine, or just having a relaxing picnic with friends.
• Creative Workshops: Join an art or drama workshop at the Southbank Centre. These workshops are perfect for students looking to unleash their creativity during the holidays.
• Volunteering: Get involved in community service through Team London. Volunteering can be a rewarding way to spend your break while making a positive impact.

Holidays are not just important for decompressing, they're also vital for the overall development of children and teenagers. As an IB tutor in London said,

"Time away from regular classes allows students to develop critical thinking and independent learning skills, which are essential for excelling in the IB programme."

Conclusion

There you have it! The full list of public holidays are currently online and the school term break dates and other school holidays should be accessible as well. Make sure, however, to check with your children's school to confirm the dates before booking your next trip, as the dates could vary from school to school.