The English school year generally runs from early September to mid or late July of the following year. Most schools operate a three-term school year, each term divided in half. Autumn term runs from early September to mid December. Spring Term runs from early January to . Summer Term runs from Easter to mid July. At the end of each half term, in October, February and May, there is a holiday which lasts about one week. The Christmas holidays separate the autumn and spring terms, and the Easter holidays separate the spring and summer terms. Each holiday lasts about two weeks. The summer holiday begins in late July, and is usually about six weeks long. The local education authority sets the holiday dates for all schools under its control. Academies set their own dates, but often match the dates of other local schools. There may be days when individual schools are closed due to teacher training, bad weather, or other unplanned events. Parents are advised to contact the school directly with regards to closure, but general information can be found on local radio websites and often the local education authority website. English schools, conventionally, have 3 terms - Autumn term, Spring term and Summer term - each term is split into two. School begins in early September and finishes late October for a week half term. It resumes in early November and term 1 finishes around mid December. Between term 1 and 2 is the Christmas break from mid December to early January. Around a 2-3 week break. Term 2 begins early January and finishes mid February with a week half term. It resumes in late February and term two ends in late March or mid-April, depending on when Easter falls. Usually a 2-3 week break. N.B In 2008, Easter Sunday fell on the Sunday 23 March, so most regions in England did not have its Easter Weekend inside its break. The term continued for another two weeks until the first Friday in April in 2008, in order to equal the school days in Term 2 and Term 3. The schools in England still closed on Friday 21 March and Monday 24 March 2008 as these were bank holidays. Term 3 begins in April and finishes mid May with a week half term. It resumes in late May and finishes usually the end of July. Between term 3 and the next academic year is the Summer break from July to early September. A 6-9 week break, varying between regions and school types.
Impact of school holidays on tourism and the economy
The timing of the English school holidays has a major impact on traffic. During holidays there is a marked reduction in traffic congestion at peak periods on many routes, leading to faster journey times. Another important consequence of the timing of English school holidays is the pricing of holiday accommodation. There is generally a steep rise in the cost of accommodation during the school holidays, due to increased demand. The English tourism industry closely monitors various websites that provide up-to-date school holiday information, and sets its prices accordingly. Prices often drop by hundreds of pounds just one week into the new school term. Since most schools have a strict policy against children being taken out of school, parents who decide to save money by taking a family holiday during the school term risk not only damaging their children's education but also fines or warnings from their school. Parents can be issued with a penalty notice whenever they take their children on holiday during term time without getting authorisation from the school. Penalty notices can be issued by local councils, headteachers and the police. Generally, schools will agree to no more than 10 school days of absence in any school year.
The Swallows and Amazons series of children’s novels by Arthur Ransome are all set in the school holidays, generally the long summer holidays although some are set in Easter or winter. For example, in "Pigeon Post", he wrote: Term time was gone as if it had been wiped out. Real life was beginning again.
