School Holidays in Newcastle: Term Dates 2025–2027
The complete guide to Newcastle school term dates, half terms, and holidays for 2025–26 and 2026–27 — including key differences for academies and independent schools.
Planning ahead? Here are the official school term dates for Newcastle community schools, covering the current academic year and the one ahead. Whether you're booking holidays, arranging childcare, or just trying to remember when half term falls — this is the page to bookmark.
These dates apply to Newcastle City Council community schools, including West Jesmond Primary. Academies (including Jesmond Park Academy) and independent schools may vary slightly — always confirm with your child's school.
2025–2026 Academic Year
Autumn Term 2025
| | Date | |---|---| | Term starts | Monday 1 September 2025 | | Half term | Monday 27 October – Friday 31 October 2025 | | Term ends | Friday 19 December 2025 |
Spring Term 2026
| | Date | |---|---| | Term starts | Monday 5 January 2026 | | Half term | Monday 16 February – Friday 20 February 2026 | | Term ends | Thursday 2 April 2026 |
Summer Term 2026
| | Date | |---|---| | Term starts | Monday 20 April 2026 | | Half term | Monday 25 May – Friday 29 May 2026 | | Term ends | Friday 17 July 2026 |
2026–2027 Academic Year
Autumn Term 2026
| | Date | |---|---| | Term starts | Tuesday 1 September 2026 | | Half term | Monday 26 October – Friday 30 October 2026 | | Term ends | Friday 18 December 2026 |
Spring Term 2027
| | Date | |---|---| | Term starts | Monday 4 January 2027 | | Half term | Monday 15 February – Friday 19 February 2027 | | Term ends | Thursday 25 March 2027 |
Summer Term 2027
| | Date | |---|---| | Term starts | Monday 12 April 2027 | | Half term | Monday 31 May – Friday 4 June 2027 | | Term ends | Friday 16 July 2027 |
INSET Days
Newcastle City Council allocates 5 INSET days (teacher training days) per academic year. These are set by individual schools, not the council, so the dates vary. Your child's school will publish its INSET days at the start of each academic year — check the school website or newsletter.
INSET days are typically placed at the start of the autumn term (1–2 days), either side of a half term, or at the start of the spring term.
Best for: INSET days are set by each school individually. Check your school's website for the specific dates — they're often published by July for the following year.
Do Academies and Independent Schools Follow These Dates?
Not always. The dates above are for Newcastle community schools. Other school types have more flexibility:
- Academies (including Jesmond Park Academy) — set their own term dates but typically align closely with the council calendar. Check the school website to confirm.
- Independent schools (RGS, Newcastle High, Newcastle Prep) — set their own calendars entirely. Terms are often slightly shorter with longer holidays, and half terms may not align with the state sector.
If your children attend different types of school, the misaligned holidays can catch you out. Check all calendars early and plan accordingly.
Tips for Parents
- Book holidays early — half term weeks are peak travel season and prices spike. If your school's INSET day falls on a Friday before half term, you may be able to fly out a day earlier at a lower cost.
- Childcare planning — Jesmond has several holiday clubs and activities. Plantpots Jesmond runs during some holidays, and Newcastle Prep offers a summer club open to the community.
- University term impact — Newcastle University's terms don't align with school terms. When the university is in session (October–June), Jesmond is busier and parking is harder. University holidays bring a noticeable change in the neighbourhood's pace.
Official Source
These dates are published by Newcastle City Council. The council updates the page annually, usually confirming the following year's dates by spring.
Something out of date? Let us know and we'll update this page.