Essex half term is 26 to 30 October, but Mayflower, Harris Billericay and Woodlands break from 19 October. Every 2026/27 term date, Christmas and INSET days.
Essex County Council’s term dates give schools in Basildon, Billericay and Wickford a one-week October half term, from 26 to 30 October 2026. Three of the borough’s biggest secondary schools have set their own calendars and are off for two weeks, from Monday 19 October.
If you have children at two different schools, check both calendars now. The county dates only bind community and voluntary controlled schools. Academies, which include most Basildon secondaries, set their own.
The quick answer
- Essex October half term: Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026. Mayflower High, Harris Academy Billericay and Woodlands School are off from Monday 19 October
- Christmas: schools break up Friday 18 December 2026 and go back on Monday 4 January 2027 under the Essex calendar
- February half term: 15 to 19 February 2027 on the county calendar and at all three schools, though Woodlands runs its break to Monday 22 February
Essex County Council term dates 2026/27
These are the dates Essex County Council publishes for community and voluntary controlled schools (Essex County Council).
| Term | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn 1 | Tuesday 1 September to Friday 23 October 2026 |
| October half term | Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026 |
| Autumn 2 | Monday 2 November to Friday 18 December 2026 |
| Christmas holiday | Monday 21 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027 |
| Spring 1 | Monday 4 January to Friday 12 February 2027 |
| February half term | Monday 15 to Friday 19 February 2027 |
| Spring 2 | Monday 22 February to Thursday 25 March 2027 |
| Easter holiday | Friday 26 March to Friday 9 April 2027 (Good Friday and Easter Monday are bank holidays) |
| Summer 1 | Monday 12 April to Friday 28 May 2027 |
| May half term | Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027 |
| Summer 2 | Monday 7 June to Wednesday 21 July 2027 |
The Early May bank holiday is Monday 3 May 2027. The county counts 195 school days and says each school takes five staff training (INSET) days of its own choosing, so those are not on the county calendar. Your school’s own calendar is the only place to find them.
Where the big local schools differ
We checked the published 2026/27 calendars of three large secondary schools in the borough. All three break a week earlier in October than the county calendar.
| October half term | Christmas | Last day of the year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essex County Council | 26 to 30 Oct | 18 Dec to 4 Jan | Wed 21 July |
| Mayflower High School, Billericay | 19 to 30 Oct | 18 Dec to 4 Jan | 21 July |
| Harris Academy Billericay | 19 to 30 Oct | 18 Dec to 4 Jan | Fri 23 July |
| Woodlands School, Basildon | 19 to 30 Oct | 18 Dec to 4 Jan | Fri 23 July |
The Christmas column shows the last day of term and the first day back.
Mayflower High School
Mayflower’s calendar gives the autumn term as 1 September to 18 December with half term 19 to 30 October; spring as 4 January to 25 March with half term 15 to 19 February; and summer as 12 April to 21 July with half term 31 May to 4 June (Mayflower High School, 2026-27 term dates PDF). The school marks its INSET days in colour on the calendar grid rather than listing them, so check the PDF itself.
Harris Academy Billericay
The former Billericay School, now Harris Academy Billericay, lists its INSET days in full (Harris Academy Billericay):
- 3 and 4 September 2026: INSET. Year 7 and Year 12 started on 7 September; all students on 8 September
- 9 October 2026: INSET
- Half term 19 to 30 October, last day of autumn term 18 December, winter holiday 21 December to 1 January
- 4 January 2027: INSET, so students return on 5 January
- 12 February 2027: INSET, the Friday before February half term (15 to 19 February)
- Summer term runs 12 April to 23 July 2027, two days later than the county calendar
Woodlands School, Basildon
Woodlands publishes its trust’s calendar (Woodlands School). Autumn term runs 2 September to 18 December, with a half term holiday from Monday 19 to Friday 30 October. Its professional development days (no students) are 1 September, and 19, 20 and 21 October, which fall inside that fortnight. The Christmas holiday is 21 December to 1 January, spring term starts 4 January, 12 February 2027 is another PD day, and the February half term runs from 15 February to Monday 22 February. The summer term ends on Friday 23 July 2027.
Why the two-week October break matters
It changes what a family can book. A holiday or childcare booked for the county half term week of 26 October will miss the first week the three schools above are off. Holiday clubs and attractions that key their dates to the county calendar may not be running in the week of 19 October.
What is on locally over both weeks is on our October half term in Basildon page.
Primary schools
Most community primaries in the borough follow the Essex calendar, but many primaries are academies too. We have not checked every one. If your child’s school is an academy or part of a trust, its website is the only reliable source.
What is still to be confirmed
- INSET days at Mayflower and at every school that does not list them on its website.
- 2027/28 dates. Essex County Council publishes a year ahead. We will add them when they appear.
More local information: Basildon Christmas bin collections, Basildon Christmas train times and Basildon roadworks.
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