North East England school holidays 2025: Full list of term dates - including February half term and Easter

• Most English schoolchildren will have breaks both between and during their school terms
• Council areas can set their own term dates, which means they can vary depending on where you live
• It’s also down to schools to set their own exact term dates - and one North East council lets local parents search by school

Families across the North East are still feeling the winter chill, but for the region’s schoolchildren, the new spring term is just days away.

The English school year usually begins in the early days of September, and has three distinct terms. Each one has a one to two-week break between them, often covering major holidays like Christmas and Easter. Terms aren’t a solid block of school days either, with each also having a half-term break.

Although they typically follow the same pattern, each local authority has the power to set its own term dates - meaning they might vary a little depending on where you live. These council term dates apply for maintained, voluntary controlled and special schools only.

Academies, foundation and voluntary aided schools are usually able to set their own term dates, so parents are advised to check their school website - although they are typically very similar to council-run schools in the area. Schools are also allocated five in-service training (INSET) days per school year by their council, which may give guidance to local schools on when they should take them.

Here is the full list of term and school holiday dates across the North East’s council areas for 2025:

Darlington Borough Council

Spring term

• Monday, 6 January: Start of spring term
• Monday, 24 February - Friday, 28 February: February half-term
• Friday, 11 April - Friday, 25 April: End of term (Easter holidays)

Summer term

• Monday, 28 April: Summer term begins
• Monday, 5 May: May Day
• Monday, 26 May - Friday, 30 May: Half-term holiday
• Friday, 18 July: End of 2024/25 school year - summer holidays begin

Autumn term 2025/26

• Monday, 1 September 2025: Start of new school year
• Monday, 27 October - Friday, 31 October: October half-term
• Friday, 19 December - Friday, 2 January 2026: End of autumn term (Christmas holidays)

Durham County Council

Spring term

• Monday, 6 January: Start of spring term
• Monday, 23 February - Friday, 28 February: February half-term
• Friday, 11 April - Friday, 25 April: End of term (Easter holidays)

Summer term

• Monday, 28 April: Summer term begins
• Monday, 5 May: May Day
• Monday, 26 May - Friday, 30 May: Half-term holiday
• Friday, 18 July: End of 2024/25 school year - summer holidays begin

Autumn term 2025/26

• Tuesday, 2 September 2025: Start of new school year
• Monday, 27 October - Friday, 31 October: October half-term
• Friday, 19 December - Friday, 2 January 2026: End of autumn term (Christmas holidays)

Gateshead Council

Spring term

• Monday, 6 January: Start of spring term
• Monday, 24 February - Friday, 28 February: February half-term
• Friday, 11 April - Friday, 25 April: End of term (Easter holidays)

Summer term

• Monday, 28 April: Summer term begins
• Monday, 5 May: May Day
• Monday, 26 May - Friday, 30 May: Half-term holiday
• Friday, 18 July: End of 2024/25 school year - summer holidays begin

Autumn term 2025/26

• Monday, 1 September 2025: Start of new school year
• Monday, 27 October - Friday, 31 October: October half-term
• Friday, 19 December - Friday, 2 January 2026: End of autumn term (Christmas holidays)

Hartlepool Borough Council

Spring term

• Monday, 6 January: Start of spring term
• Monday, 24 February - Friday, 28 February: February half-term
• Friday, 11 April - Friday, 25 April: End of term (Easter holidays)

Summer term

• Monday, 28 April: Summer term begins
• Monday, 5 May: May Day
• Monday, 26 May - Friday, 30 May: Half-term holiday
• Monday, 21 July: End of 2024/25 school year - summer holidays begin

Autumn term 2025/26

• Monday, 1 September 2025: Start of new school year
• Monday, 27 October - Friday, 31 October: October half-term
• Friday, 19 December - Friday, 2 January 2026: End of autumn term (Christmas holidays)

Middlesbrough Council

Spring term

• Monday, 6 January: Start of spring term
• Monday, 24 February - Friday, 28 February: February half-term
• Friday, 11 April - Friday, 25 April: End of term (Easter holidays)

Summer term

• Monday, 28 April: Summer term begins
• Monday, 5 May: May Day
• Monday, 26 May - Friday, 30 May: Half-term holiday
• Monday, 21 July: End of 2024/25 school year - summer holidays begin

Autumn term 2025/26

• Monday, 1 September 2025: Start of new school year
• Monday, 27 October - Friday, 31 October: October half-term
• Friday, 19 December - Friday, 2 January 2026: End of autumn term (Christmas holidays)

Newcastle City Council

Spring term

• Monday, 6 January: Start of spring term
• Monday, 24 February - Friday, 28 February: February half-term
• Friday, 11 April - Friday, 25 April: End of term (Easter holidays)

Summer term

• Monday, 28 April: Summer term begins
• Monday, 5 May: May Day
• Monday, 26 May - Friday, 30 May: Half-term holiday
• Friday, 18 July: End of 2024/25 school year - summer holidays begin

Autumn term 2025/26

• Monday, 1 September 2025: Start of new school year
• Monday, 27 October - Friday, 31 October: October half-term
• Friday, 19 December - Friday, 2 January 2026: End of autumn term (Christmas holidays)

Northumberland County Council

Spring term

• Monday, 6 January: Start of spring term
• Monday, 24 February - Friday, 28 February: February half-term
• Friday, 11 April - Friday, 25 April: End of term (Easter holidays)

Summer term

• Monday, 28 April: Summer term begins
• Monday, 5 May: May Day
• Monday, 26 May - Friday, 30 May: Half-term holiday
• Friday, 18 July: End of 2024/25 school year - summer holidays begin

Autumn term 2025/26

• Monday, 1 September 2025: Start of new school year
• Monday, 27 October - Friday, 31 October: October half-term
• Friday, 19 December - Friday, 2 January 2026: End of autumn term (Christmas holidays)

North Tyneside Council

Spring term

• Monday, 6 January: Start of spring term
• Monday, 24 February - Friday, 28 February: February half-term
• Friday, 11 April - Friday, 25 April: End of term (Easter holidays)

Summer term

• Monday, 28 April: Summer term begins
• Monday, 5 May: May Day
• Monday, 26 May - Friday, 30 May: Half-term holiday
• Friday, 18 July: End of 2024/25 school year - summer holidays begin

Autumn term 2025/26

• Monday, 1 September 2025: Start of new school year
• Monday, 27 October - Friday, 31 October: October half-term
• Friday, 19 December - Friday, 2 January 2026: End of autumn term (Christmas holidays)

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council

Spring term

• Monday, 6 January: Start of spring term
• Monday, 24 February - Friday, 28 February: February half-term
• Friday, 11 April - Friday, 25 April: End of term (Easter holidays)

Summer term

• Monday, 28 April: Summer term begins
• Monday, 5 May: May Day
• Monday, 26 May - Friday, 30 May: Half-term holiday
• Monday, 21 July: End of 2024/25 school year - summer holidays begin

Autumn term 2025/26

• Monday, 1 September 2025: Start of new school year
• Monday, 27 October - Friday, 31 October: October half-term
• Friday, 19 December - Friday, 2 January 2026: End of autumn term (Christmas holidays)

South Tyneside Council

Rather than having set overarching term and holiday dates, the South Tyneside Council has an online directory families can use to get term dates for their child’s specific school. You can find it here.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Spring term

• Monday, 6 January: Start of spring term
• Monday, 24 February - Friday, 28 February: February half-term
• Friday, 11 April - Friday, 25 April: End of term (Easter holidays)

Summer term

• Monday, 28 April: Summer term begins
• Monday, 5 May: May Day
• Monday, 26 May - Friday, 30 May: Half-term holiday
• Monday, 21 July: End of 2024/25 school year - summer holidays begin

Autumn term 2025/26

• Monday, 1 September 2025: Start of new school year
• Monday, 27 October - Friday, 31 October: October half-term
• Friday, 19 December - Friday, 2 January 2026: End of autumn term (Christmas holidays)

Sunderland City Council

Spring term

• Monday, 6 January: Start of spring term
• Monday, 24 February - Friday, 28 February: February half-term
• Friday, 11 April - Friday, 25 April: End of term (Easter holidays)

Summer term

• Monday, 28 April: Summer term begins
• Monday, 5 May: May Day
• Monday, 26 May - Friday, 30 May: Half-term holiday
• Wednesday, 23 July: End of 2024/25 school year - summer holidays begin

Autumn term 2025/26

• Thursday, 4 September 2025: Start of new school year
• Monday, 27 October - Friday, 31 October: October half-term
• Friday, 19 December - Friday, 2 January 2026: End of autumn term (Christmas holidays)

Term and school holiday dates can vary depending on where you live, and even which school you attend. The government has an online tool you can use here to find the exact dates in your postcode - no matter where in the country you might be.