How Many Days Are in a School Year in the UK?(2023/24)

According to official reports, 9 million students attended around 24,400 public and private schools in England, as of January 2022.

But, how many days are in a school year in the UK? Also, how many terms does it include, and what are the main school holidays?

Read about a slice of life of UK’s students below!

How Many Days and Weeks in the UK School Year?

Per local regulations, schools must be open for at least 190 school days per year in the UK (380 sessions), and each school year must begin after July.

2023/24 Academic Year

For the 2023/24 school year, local laws require schools to be open for 195 days (around 390 sessions). This equates to 39 weeks.

How Many Terms in a UK School Year?

As far as terms are concerned, most schools in the UK have three terms, and each of them is divided into half terms.

• Autumn term – End of August – Middle of December;
• Spring term – Beginning of January – End of March;
• Summer term – Middle of April – End of June.

Can Schools Shorten Their Working Week?

According to the Schools Minister, educational institutions can shorten their working week only if this action supports the educational needs of their pupils.

Who Determines the Length of a School Day?

While head teachers in public schools recommend the duration of school days (including sessions and breaks) to the corresponding government body, private academies are free to set the length of the school day, as well as the term dates, on their own.

School Holidays and Inset Day Rules

Unlike pupils, who must attend 190 school days, teachers have additional five days of work.

What are INSET Days?

Short for “In-Service Training”, this mandatory working period is reserved for the teachers’ professional development (or administrative tasks) outside of the regular 190 teaching days.

Dates of English School Holidays for 2023/24

Note: Contact your school for the most up-to-date school term weeks and holidays, or check the official UK government website.

School Years in The Rest of the UK

Now that we’ve covered the inset days, holiday dates, and primary and secondary school hours in England, let’s look at the rest of the UK.

Scotland

Each local Scottish authority determines its school terms and vacations. The school year lasts at least 38 weeks (190 days) divided into three terms. The school week lasts from 25 hours for primary schools to 27 hours for secondary schools for most schools.

Wales

Akin to the English school year specifics, in Wales, a school day is divided into two sessions, and all pupils must attend 380 sessions (190 days). The Welsh school holidays are very similar to those in England, including the number of inset days.

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, schools must be open for 200 days, and they have three terms. The year starts on the 1st of September and ends by the end of July. Schools in Northern Ireland also take different holidays, agreed every year by school sectors.

Class Dismissed

We hope that this article provided you with valuable information on the school years in England and across the UK. However, note that the dates can change under unexpected circumstances, so keep in touch with the school your kid is currently attending for the latest updates.