Many children across the UK will return to school next month for the start of a new academic year, despite concerns about safety amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said that parents who refuse to send their children back to school could end up facing a fine, emphasising that ‘education recovery is critical for this generation’.
‘Returning to normal educational routines as quickly as possible is critical to our national recovery too,’ he added.
So with kids facing a return to the classroom in a matter of weeks, when are the school holidays meant to fall for the next academic year?
Schools in England are set to go back at the beginning of September, with many institutions planning to re-open their doors to pupils on Thursday 3 September.
During the autumn term, most schools in the UK are set to have a half-term break between Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2020, before breaking up for the winter holidays on Monday 21 December.
Schools will go back after their winter breaks on Monday 4 January 2021.
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In spring next year, schools will break up for half term on Friday 12 February and pupils will return on Monday 22 February 2021, which is followed by the Spring holiday starting on Thursday 1 April 2021.
Children normally have two weeks off over the Easter period, with the Spring holiday ending on Friday 16 April 2021.
After returning on Monday 19 April, the final half term of the academic year is set to start on Monday 31 May and last for one week.
Students will then be back in class until the end of the school year, which will be around Monday 26 July 2021.
Autumn term 2020
- Half-term holiday: Monday 26 October 2020 – Friday 30 October 2020
- Christmas holiday: Monday 21 December – Friday 1 January 2021
Spring term 2021
- Half-term holiday: Monday 15 – Friday 19 February 2021
- Easter holiday: Thursday 1 April – Friday 16 April 2021
Summer term 2021
- Half-term: Monday 31 May – Friday 4 June 2021
- Summer holiday: Thursday 22 July/Friday 23rd July – Friday 3 September 2021
It is advisable to double check with your local council or with your local school to confirm the exact dates of the school holidays in 2021, as term dates can vary depending on the region and educational institution.
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