When do schools break up for summer 2021? Date of UK summer holidays - and when autumn term will start

School term dates differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

School children across the UK are on the final stretch of the academic year before reaching the summer break.

Many families will be looking forward to a holiday once schools break up and those hoping to head abroad will have more options to choose from following a recent update to the foreign travel list.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

We want to hear from you: let us know what you think about this story and be part of the debate in our comments section below

Schools break up at different times across the UK (Photo: Shutterstock)Schools break up at different times across the UK (Photo: Shutterstock)
Schools break up at different times across the UK (Photo: Shutterstock)

The update saw Malta, Spain’s Balearic islands and various Caribbean destinations, including Bermuda, Antigua, Barbados and Grenada, added to the green list from on 30 June.

But while some foreign travel is now possible, many families may opt for a staycation over the summer holidays this year instead

Here are all the school holiday dates you need to know across the UK for the summer break.

England

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In England, most schools will break up for the summer on Friday 23 July.

However, term dates can differ by council areas, so some schools may break up slightly earlier or later than others.

To check the term dates where you live, simply enter your postcode on the government website.

The autumn term is due to start on Friday 3 September.

Wales

In Wales, schools break up a week earlier than in England, with the summer term starting on Friday 16 July.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Again, the term dates may differ depending on which council area you live in.

To check the dates where you live, simply check the website of your local council.

The autumn term is due to start on Thursday 2 September.

Scotland

In Scotland, schools break up a month earlier, with most closing for the summer on Wendesday 23 June.

School term and holiday dates vary across Scotland, so you will need to check the relevant council area on the Scottish government website.

The autumn term is due to start on Wednesday 18 August.

Northern Ireland

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In Northern Ireland, most schools finished for the summer on Thursday 1 July.

You can check the dates in your local area via the government website.

The autumn term is due to start on Wednesday 1 September.

A message from the editor:

Thank you for reading. NationalWorld is a new national news brand, produced by a team of journalists, editors, video producers and designers who live and work across the UK. Find out more about who’s who in the team, and our editorial values. We want to start a community among our readers, so please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and keep the conversation going.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.