School term dates in Wales 2026/27: how they are set, and how to find yours
Wales harmonises term dates across councils more than England does, but not completely. The shape of 2026/27, where to find your council's dates, and the national dates.
By The AskBobbie team · 29 September 20261 min read
Wales has done what England has not: the councils agree harmonised term dates, so most schools across the country share them. There are still local differences, and INSET days are still the school's, but the year is easier to pin down.
The shape of 2026/27
- Autumn term: from Tuesday 1 September 2026 (with INSET days making the pupils' first day later at many schools) to Friday 18 December 2026, half term the week of 26 October.
- Spring term: from Monday 4 January to around Friday 26 March 2027, half term the week of 15 February. Easter is early in 2027.
- Summer term: from around Monday 12 April to around Tuesday 20 July 2027, half term the week of 31 May.
Finding your exact dates
Your council's website ("Term dates" / "Dyddiadau tymor") or your school's. Welsh Government publishes the harmonised dates each year at gov.wales. Then the school's website for its INSET days.
National dates
Secondary and primary application deadlines are set by each council in Wales rather than nationally; most secondary deadlines fall in November or December 2026 and primary in January 2027. GCSE and A level exams through WJEC run from May to June 2027, with results in August.
Getting the year in
Put the year in the calendar once, INSET days and all. Forward the school's newsletter to Bobbie and the dates are pulled out for you, in Welsh or English.
Sources: Welsh Government, school term dates; WJEC. Dates vary locally; confirm with your school.
Questions people ask
- Are term dates the same across Wales?
- Nearly. Welsh councils agree harmonised dates through the Welsh Local Government Association, so most of Wales shares them, with a few local differences. Voluntary-aided and foundation schools can set their own.
- How many INSET days do Welsh schools have?
- Five, plus an additional day in some years for national training. The school places them; check the school's website.