Purpose

Following consultation to fully approve the school term and holiday dates for the 2025/26 academic year.

Decision

The Cabinet Member agrees to approve the Council’s preferred calendar of school term and holiday dates and to recommend these to all schools for the 2025-26 academic year.

Reasons for the decision

Following consultation, local authorities are expected to approve a calendar of school term and holiday dates for schools within their area.

Multi Academy Trusts (MATs), Academies, Foundation, Free Schools and Voluntary Aided Schools have the power to determine their own dates.

The Council proposes a 195-day model for term dates with 5 in-service days being taken outside of these dates.

The Council endeavours to set dates in line with neighbouring local authorities where this is possible.

Following approval of the agreed school term and holiday dates these will be circulated to all schools and published on the Council’s website

Alternative options considered

None – to ensure the proposed dates align as closely as possible to neighbouring local authorities.