Surrey council introduces two week half-term break for schools
Schools in Surrey will have a two-week long half-term break in the autumn of 2026, following a council decision.The change by Surrey County Council (SCC) means that the October half term will be extended by one week and the summer holiday will be shortened by five days.A public opinion survey carried out from December 2024 received 3,775 responses.Clare Curran, SCC Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning said the results from recent public consultation exercises with schools and residents show "there is a clear appetite" for the new system.
'Term dates that are consistent'
She said 60% of schools that responded were in favour of a two-week autumn half term - 30% were against and a further 10% were undecided. "The majority of resident respondents were also in favour," she said.The two week autumn half-term break for community and voluntary controlled schools will begin in the 2026/27 academic year.The additional five days will be taken from the 2026/27 summer break.Ms Curran said: "This work is in response to the national conversation regarding school term times, and the feedback received by the council from schools, school staff, and families regarding the challenges of differing term dates."It is our intent to facilitate the council, schools and multi academy trusts working in partnership to set term dates that are consistent across the county."SCC said that nationally around one in ten state-funded schools have already made the switch, including schools and education settings in Surrey.The school year will still be 195 days, including the five inset staff training days.The dates for the 2026/27 academic year have been published.
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