School term dates in Northern Ireland 2026/27
Northern Ireland's year starts at the beginning of September and ends at the end of June, with schools setting their own dates within a Department of Education framework. Where to find yours, and the transfer test dates.
By The AskBobbie team · 29 September 20261 min read
Northern Ireland's school year runs from the start of September to the end of June, giving the longest summer holiday in the UK. Within a Department of Education framework, each school sets its own dates, so the school's website is the place to look.
The shape of 2026/27
- Autumn: from around Tuesday 1 September 2026 to around Tuesday 22 December 2026, with a Halloween break at the end of October (usually the week of 26 October, some schools two or three days).
- Spring: from around Wednesday 6 January 2027 to around Friday 26 March 2027, with a mid-term break in mid February. Easter is early in 2027, so the Easter break falls at the end of March into April.
- Summer: from around Monday 12 April 2027 to around Wednesday 30 June 2027, with the May bank holidays and often a day at the end of May.
Five staff development days are set by each school.
Finding your exact dates
Your school's website first. The Education Authority and the Department of Education publish the framework; the school's calendar is the one that counts.
National dates
The SEAG transfer test for grammar school entry in September 2027 is sat on two Saturdays in November 2026; registration closes in September. Primary 1 and post-primary applications open in January 2027 through the Education Authority's online portal, with post-primary places confirmed in late May. GCSE and A level exams through CCEA run May to June 2027.
Getting the year in
Put the year in the calendar once, staff development days included. Forward the school's newsletter to Bobbie and the dates come out on their own.
Sources: Education Authority Northern Ireland; Department of Education; SEAG. Dates vary by school; confirm with yours.
Questions people ask
- When does the Northern Ireland school year run?
- From the first days of September 2026 to the end of June 2027, with schools closing on or around Tuesday 30 June. Northern Ireland has the longest summer holiday in the UK, at about nine weeks.
- When is the transfer test in 2026?
- The SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group) test for entry to grammar schools in September 2027 is sat in November 2026, over two Saturdays, with registration closing in September. Check seagni.co.uk for the exact dates.
- Are the dates the same for every school?
- No. The Department of Education sets a minimum number of days and the main holidays; each school then sets its own calendar, including five staff development days. Check the school's website.