Norfolk schools break for half term on Friday 23 October and return on 2 November. Christmas runs 21 December to 4 January. Every 2026/27 date and INSET day.
Norfolk’s October half term starts on Friday 23 October 2026 and pupils go back on Monday 2 November. The Christmas holiday runs from Monday 21 December to Monday 4 January 2027, with most schools back on Tuesday 5 January.
Those are Norfolk County Council’s dates, and most Broadland schools follow them. Some academy trusts do not, and one big local secondary tells parents in writing not to assume the county calendar applies. The school-by-school checks are below.
The quick answer
- October half term: Friday 23 to Friday 30 October 2026. Back Monday 2 November.
- Christmas: Monday 21 December 2026 to Monday 4 January 2027. Back Tuesday 5 January.
- Last day of the year: Wednesday 21 July 2027.
Norfolk’s 2026/27 term dates
These are the dates Norfolk County Council sets for community, community special, voluntary controlled and nursery schools. They are also the days school transport runs (Norfolk County Council term dates).
| Period | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn term, first half | Thursday 3 September to Thursday 22 October 2026 |
| October half term | Friday 23 to Friday 30 October 2026 |
| Autumn term, second half | Monday 2 November to Friday 18 December 2026 |
| Christmas holiday | Monday 21 December 2026 to Monday 4 January 2027 |
| Spring term, first half | Tuesday 5 January to Friday 12 February 2027 |
| February half term | Monday 15 to Friday 19 February 2027 |
| Spring term, second half | Monday 22 February to Thursday 25 March 2027 |
| Easter holiday | Friday 26 March to Monday 12 April 2027 |
| Summer term, first half | Tuesday 13 April to Friday 28 May 2027 |
| May half term | Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027 |
| Summer term, second half | Monday 7 June to Wednesday 21 July 2027 |
Monday 3 May 2027 is the early May bank holiday, so there is no school that day.
INSET days
The county suggests five staff training days: 1 and 2 September 2026, 23 October 2026, 4 January 2027 and 12 April 2027. Each falls on a day already marked as a pupil holiday, which is why October half term starts on a Friday and Easter ends on a Monday. Schools choose their own, and some replace them with twilight sessions.
Schools that publish their own calendar
Academies, free schools and foundation schools can set their own dates. Most copy the Norfolk model, but it is worth checking. Here is what the big Broadland secondaries publish.
| School | Trust | Matches Norfolk? | What differs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hellesdon High School | Wensum Trust | Yes | INSET on 1 and 2 September, 4 January and 12 April |
| Taverham High School | Academy | Yes | INSET on 1 and 2 September and 12 April |
| Reepham High School | Synergy Multi-Academy Trust | No | Back after Easter on Monday 12 April, not Tuesday 13 |
| Thorpe St Andrew School | Broad Horizons Education Trust | Check with the school | Dates set by the trust |
Hellesdon High School’s 2026/27 calendar is the Norfolk model with the Wensum Trust’s logo on it (Hellesdon High term dates).
Taverham High School’s calendar shows the same holidays as the county, and notes that its dates “may differ from our feeder schools”. It also gives provisional results days: A level on Thursday 12 August 2027, GCSE on Thursday 19 August 2027 (Taverham High term dates 2026/27).
Reepham High School follows the Synergy trust calendar, which says its dates “differ slightly” from neighbouring schools. Holidays match the county, but staff training days sit on 1 and 2 September, 23 October, 4 and 5 January and 1, 2 and 21 July. The calendar says the 23 October, 2 July and 21 July sessions will be spread over twilights instead. The practical differences for parents: pupils go back after Christmas on Wednesday 6 January, after Easter on Monday 12 April, and the calendar does not show 1, 2 or 21 July as school days (Synergy calendar 2026/27).
Thorpe St Andrew School says its dates are agreed by Broad Horizons Education Trust and asks parents not to assume the county dates apply. Its term dates page does not list the dates in a form we could read, so ring the office on 01603 497711 or check the school app (Thorpe St Andrew School term dates).
Looking ahead to 2027/28
Norfolk has already set the following year. The autumn term starts on Monday 6 September 2027, October half term is 25 to 29 October 2027 and Christmas runs from Monday 20 December 2027 to Tuesday 4 January 2028 (Norfolk County Council).
What is on over the holidays
For the first break, read our October half term page: dates, and what is on at Blickling, Wroxham Barns, BeWILDerwood and the Bure Valley Railway that week. Our Christmas bin collections page covers the festive rounds.
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