Sussex school term dates 2026/27: East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton & Hove holidays and half-terms

Most school holiday dates align across Sussex in 2026/27, but the East Sussex council calendar finishes one day later in July than the West Sussex and Brighton & Hove calendars. The first pupil day can also differ because schools publish their own INSET arrangements.

For most families, the council calendar is only the starting point. The school’s own timetable, INSET schedule and class arrangements determine when pupils are actually expected in lessons.

That is especially important for families with children at different institutions, because an academy, voluntary-aided school or independent school may publish a different school calendar from the local authority.

Families planning childcare, travel, holidays or days out should check the calendar published by their child’s school before making a booking.Council dates provide a framework for the schools covered by each local authority. Academies, free schools, voluntary-aided and foundation schools, sixth-form colleges, further-education colleges and independent schools may use different dates.

Individual schools also publish their own INSET or staff-training days, which can change the dates on which pupils actually attend.

Sussex school term dates at a glance

The practical half-term breaks are closely aligned across all three authority areas. The clearest difference comes at the end of the school year: the East Sussex council calendar runs to Thursday 22 July 2027, one day later than the West Sussex and Brighton & Hove calendars.

East Sussex school term dates 2026/27

East Sussex County Council divides the academic year into six terms. Its dates apply to community and voluntary-controlled schools. Other schools may set their own calendars.

The council webpage lists Term 1 from Wednesday 2 September 2026. Its downloadable 2026/27 calendar uses that date as the recommended common INSET day and shows Thursday 3 September as the standard first pupil day.

Because schools remain responsible for their INSET arrangements, parents should confirm the actual return date with their school.

East Sussex’s web calendar sometimes displays complete holiday periods including weekends. The table above uses school weekdays or clear finish-and-return dates where that is more useful for family planning.

East Sussex transition week: the council also identifies Monday 28 June to Friday 2 July 2027 as its primary-to-secondary transition week.

West Sussex school term dates 2026/27

West Sussex County Council publishes a standard school year of around 195 days. Individual schools can use five of those days for staff training, so the first and last pupil days may differ from the headline term dates.

The West Sussex calendar starts on Tuesday 1 September 2026, but that does not necessarily mean pupils attend on that date. Families should check their school’s published INSET days.

Brighton & Hove school term dates 2026/27

Brighton & Hove is a separate unitary authority and is not covered by the East Sussex County Council school calendar.

Brighton & Hove City Council says the autumn term starts on Wednesday 2 September 2026 for most pupils. Tuesday 1 September is usually an INSET day so just the teachers are expected in, but families should check the dates published by the individual school.

In practical terms, the May break begins after school on Friday 28 May and pupils return on Monday 7 June.

Brighton & Hove lists Tuesday 1 to Friday 4 June as the school half-term because Monday 31 May is already the spring bank holiday.

Which schools use the council term dates?

A council calendar is not automatically the calendar for every school in that area.

Why INSET days can change the pupil start date

A standard school year normally contains 195 teacher days, including five staff-training or INSET days. Pupils usually attend for 190 days.

Councils can publish a common framework, but schools publish their own training dates. Two nearby schools may therefore share the same half-term dates while pupils return on different days in September or finish a term on different dates.

INSET days are usually used for teacher training, curriculum planning, safeguarding updates and school administration. They can also be placed at the start or end of a term, which is why the first pupil day may differ from the headline council term date.

Parents should check the school website, newsletter, parent portal or office for the latest PDF calendar or published timetable.

Bank holidays during the 2026/27 school year

The following England and Wales bank holidays fall between the beginning of the autumn term and the end of the summer term. Current and future dates are published on the GOV.UK bank-holidays page.

Can parents take children on holiday during term time?

Parents should normally arrange family holidays during school holidays rather than term time.

Under the Department for Education’s statutory school-attendance guidance, schools may grant leave of absence at their discretion where there are exceptional circumstances.

Applications should be made in advance. A desire for a holiday or other leisure trip would not normally be regarded as an exceptional circumstance.

State-funded schools must consider whether a penalty notice is appropriate when a pupil reaches 10 unauthorised sessions within a rolling period of 10 school weeks.

Ten sessions are equivalent to five full school days, but they do not have to be consecutive. The 10-school-week period can also cross terms or school years.

A penalty notice is issued to an individual parent in respect of a particular child. Local codes of conduct and the circumstances of the case also affect the decision.

Parents should speak to the school before arranging any absence during term time.

Frequently asked questions

Do all Sussex schools use these dates?

No. Council dates apply to specified local-authority schools. Academies and several other types of school can set their own calendars, and individual INSET days can also change the dates on which pupils attend.

When do East Sussex pupils return in September 2026?

East Sussex’s standard calendar uses Wednesday 2 September as the recommended common INSET day and shows Thursday 3 September as the standard first pupil day. Schools control their own INSET arrangements, so parents should confirm the date directly with the school.

When do West Sussex schools return in September 2026?

The West Sussex term calendar begins on Tuesday 1 September 2026, but the first day pupils attend depends on the school’s INSET arrangements. Check the individual school calendar before assuming children return on 1 September.

When do Brighton & Hove schools return in September 2026?

Brighton & Hove lists Wednesday 2 September as the start of term for most pupils, with Tuesday 1 September usually used as an INSET day. Individual schools can vary.

Are the half-term dates the same across Sussex?

The practical weekday breaks align closely in 2026/27: 26 to 30 October 2026, 15 to 19 February 2027 and a May break beginning after school on 28 May, with pupils returning on 7 June.

Why does Brighton & Hove list May half-term from Tuesday?

Monday 31 May 2027 is the spring bank holiday. Brighton & Hove therefore lists the school half-term as Tuesday 1 to Friday 4 June. In practical terms, pupils finish on Friday 28 May and return on Monday 7 June.

Which Sussex school calendar finishes latest in July 2027?

The East Sussex council calendar finishes on Thursday 22 July 2027. West Sussex and Brighton & Hove finish on Wednesday 21 July.

How many INSET days are there?

The standard school year provides five staff-training or INSET days alongside 190 pupil days. The exact dates on which those training days take place should be checked with the individual school.

Can academies choose different school holidays?

Yes. Academies can set term dates independently of the local authority, so their dates may differ from the council calendar.

Is a school-absence fine automatic after five days?

No. Ten unauthorised sessions within a rolling period of 10 school weeks create the national threshold at which a state-funded school must consider a penalty notice. The individual circumstances still need to be considered before a notice is issued.

Where can I find my child’s exact dates?

Use the school’s own website, parent portal, newsletter or office. That is the most reliable source for pupil start dates, INSET days and any changes to the local-authority framework.

Official sources

The dates and attendance information in this guide were checked against the three local authorities, GOV.UK bank-holiday information and Department for Education attendance guidance.

• East Sussex County Council school term dates
• East Sussex 2026/27 term-date calendar
• West Sussex County Council school term dates
• Brighton & Hove school term and holiday dates
• GOV.UK bank holidays
• Department for Education school-attendance guidance

Dates and attendance guidance checked on 8 September 2026. Council calendars and national guidance can change. The individual school’s published calendar takes precedence for pupil attendance and INSET days.

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