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 — what Gosforth parents need to know.
Whether you're trying to book a holiday without paying peak prices or just need to know when half term starts, here are the official school term dates for Newcastle community schools — covering the current academic year and the one ahead.
These dates apply to Newcastle City Council community schools, including Gosforth's first, middle, and high schools. Academies (including Gosforth Academy) may vary slightly — always confirm with your child's school.
Important for Gosforth families: Gosforth operates a three-tier system — first school (ages 4–9), middle school (ages 9–13), and high school (ages 13–18). All tiers follow the same Newcastle City Council term calendar.
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 differ between Gosforth's first schools, middle schools, and the high school.
Your child's school will publish its INSET days at the start of each academic year — check the school website or newsletter. If your children attend different schools in the three-tier system, their INSET days may not all fall on the same dates.
Best for: INSET days are set by each school individually. If you have children in different Gosforth schools, check each school's calendar — the INSET days may not match up.
Do Academies Follow These Dates?
Mostly, but not always. The dates above are for Newcastle community schools. Gosforth Academy, as an academy trust school, sets its own term dates but typically aligns closely with the council calendar. Always check the Gosforth Academy website to confirm.
Independent schools in the Gosforth area set their own calendars entirely — terms are often slightly shorter with longer holidays, and half terms may not align.
Summer Holiday Dates at a Glance
The dates parents most need to plan around:
| Year | Summer holidays start | Autumn term starts | |---|---|---| | 2026 | Friday 17 July 2026 | Tuesday 1 September 2026 | | 2027 | Friday 16 July 2027 | TBC (usually 1 September) |
That gives roughly 6.5 weeks of summer holiday each year — typically mid-July to early September.
Tips for Gosforth Parents
- Book holidays early — half term weeks are peak travel season. If your school's INSET day falls on a Friday before half term, you may be able to travel a day early.
- Three-tier transitions — if your child is moving from first to middle school or middle to high school, the transition happens in September. Induction days are typically held in the summer term before the move — check your child's new school for dates.
- Holiday childcare — Gosforth has several holiday clubs. Check the Gosforth Civic Theatre for holiday workshops and the leisure centres for sports camps.
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.