Purpose

From September 2026, community and voluntary
controlled schools in Surrey will have a two-week autumn half
term. To make this change, five days will be taken from the
summer holiday in July 2027.

The school year will still
have 195 days, including 5 INSET days.
This change only applies
to community and voluntary controlled schools, but other
schools are encouraged to follow the same dates.

 
Academic year 2026
to 2027
Autumn term 2026

Start of term: 1 September
Half term: 19 to 30 October
End of term: 18 December

Spring term 2027

Start of term: 4 January
Half term: 15 to 19 February
End of term: 25 March

Summer term 2027

Start of term: 12 April
Half term: 31 May to 4 June
End of term: 28 July

 

Content

It was AGREED that:
 
1.         For
academic year 2026/27 beginning in September 2026, community and
voluntary controlled schools in Surrey will have a two-week
autumn half term.
2.         To make
this change, five days will be taken from the summer
holiday in July 2027.
3.         The
start and end of term dates for community and voluntary controlled
schools in Surrey as set out above will be adopted.
 

Reasons for the decision

Reasons for Decision:
 

In 2024, Surrey County Council asked
schools and families for feedback on a longer autumn break.
60% of schools and the majority of
residents supported a two-week half term.
The change aligns with what some
other schools and councils are already doing.

Alternative options considered

For the council not to implement a 2-week
autumn half term for community and voluntary controlled schools in
Surrey for academic year 2026/27, and instead maintain a 1-week
autumn half term for community and voluntary controlled schools in
Surrey