The schools still deciding on two week half term

From October 2026, schools which come under the responsibility of Surrey County Council (SCC) will have a two week half term and fewer days in the 2027 summer break.

But with many state schools being run in different ways and making their own decisions about term dates, the BBC's Political Reporter in Surrey, Jack Fiehn, looks at the current system and what is happening across the area.

SCC carried out a survey and also asked schools for feedback on the plan for a two week half term in the autumn term.

Afterwards, it said there is a "clear appetite" for the change, with 60% of schools in favour of the change, 30% against and a further 10% being undecided.

The two week break for community and voluntary controlled schools will begin in the 2026/27 academic year.

Five days will be taken away from the summer holiday which starts in July 2027.

Councillor Jonathan Hulley, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning at SCC, said: "While the majority of feedback we have received supports this change, we appreciate that this is not the preferred option for some families, which is why we are allowing plenty of time to plan for the new arrangements."

There is a legal limit of a minimum of 190 school days each year.

The majority of schools in Surrey are academies, which are independent, state-funded schools, receiving their funding directly from central government, rather than through SCC.

There are also 10 free schools, which are schools set up as academies by groups of parents, teachers, charities, trusts, religious and voluntary groups.

Along with foundation and voluntary aided schools, they are able to set their own term dates, so it is up to trust boards and governors to make final decisions.

Part of the reason that SCC is making the change is because several schools already have a two week half term and the aim is to have more consistency.

For example, Engage Enrich Excel Academies, which runs five schools in Surrey, has had one for several years.

Also the Pioneer Academy, which runs Holland Junior School, said it has been happening since 2018, while Bramley Oak Academy has had the longer autumn break since 2020, when it joined the London South East Academies Trust.

Neil Miller, deputy CEO of London South East Academies Trust said: "All the schools in our Trust have a two week October half term - which we find to be extremely beneficial for staff and pupils.

"We have taken this approach following many years of research. This has shown that an extended break in October improves staff wellbeing and reduces absence rates in the second half of the long autumn term, which greatly benefits pupils.

"Crucially, there is no loss of learning time. We add 10 minutes of extra learning into the school day, which adds up to a full week over the year."

It is not yet clear exactly what will ultimately happen in the 2026/27 academic year.

Many schools have already said that they will follow the SCC dates and have a two week half term.

But in response to a Freedom of Information request from the BBC, more than 60 schools said the dates had not been finalised or a decision had not been made.

Peaslake Free School near Guildford, for example, said it is collecting parent views and discussions with staff and governors are taking place this summer term, with a final decision happening in the autumn.

Several schools said that, although the term dates have not been confirmed, it is the usual practice to follow the ones set by SCC.

But it should not be assumed that a two week half term will happen everywhere.

For example, on its website, St. Dunstan's Catholic Primary School in Woking has published details of a one week break in October 2026.

Private and independent schools have always had autonomy to set their own term dates, according to their own individual preferred times.

They often have longer school days, but shorter terms and longer holidays.

Some private schools have said they do take local authority dates into account when setting them, in order to help meet the potential needs of parents, who also have children in state schools.

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