Northern Ireland School Holidays and Term Dates

Planning around Northern Ireland school holidays saves you from last-minute chaos. Over the academic years, NI schools have roughly 380 non-operational days, including summers, bank holidays, and unique TransformED closures. Unlike England, Northern Ireland school term dates give individual school circumstances—headteachers decide final school closures, so always double-check locally.

NI School Term Dates: The Complete Calendar

Whether you need term dates for childcare, work, or holidays, this NI school calendar covers everything. Northern Ireland Council areas follow the same regional pattern, but the discretion of schools means training days vary. Below are the non-operational dates when pupils do not attend – note that staff training and school development days are additional.

Northern Ireland School Holidays 2025/2026

Northern Ireland School Holidays 2026/2027

Overview of Non-Operational Dates for NI Schools

“Non-operational” simply means no classes, but bank holidays (schools) like May Day and Spring Bank Holiday are automatic. Others, like Easter break and Halloween break, are set regionally, yet schools can choose to open on those dates for exam prep or catch-up sessions.

• The summer holiday always starts on 1 July and ends on 31 August.

• Christmas holidays run approx two weeks over the New Year.

• St. Patrick’s Day is a guaranteed closure (17 March).

The Education Authority of Northern Ireland publishes these as minimum guidelines. Always confirm with your specific school.

Staff Training & School Development Days in NI

Staff training days in Northern Ireland and school development days in NI are not listed in the tables above because each school chooses its own. On average, schools in Northern Ireland have five inset days per academic year.

• These are pupil-free days – children stay home.

• Common for curriculum planning, safeguarding training, or new systems.

• Individual school circumstances determine exact dates.

Northern Ireland School Holidays Printable Calendar

Download your free PDF printable (coming soon to Calendar Times UK). Our NI school calendar includes:

• All 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 dates

• TransformED NI closure days

• Space to add your school’s own inset days

👉 Want instant access? Subscribe to our newsletter at Calendar Times UK—we’ll email you the high-res printable version.

TransformED NI: Additional Closure Days Explained

TransformED NI is a major teaching and learning reform programme. To give teachers time to train, the minister granted three extra closure days in 2026/27 only:

On these dates, pupils do not attend – treat them like regular school closure days. No other year has these extra days unless the programme extends.

Also Read: UK School Holidays

FAQs

Q1. Do all Northern Ireland schools follow the same holiday dates?

Yes, the non-operational dates for schools are set regionally, but schools can choose to open on those days for their own events.

Q2. How many school holidays are there in NI per year?

Around 12–14 separate break periods, including summer, Christmas, Easter, Halloween, February mid-term, St Patrick’s Day, and three bank holidays.

Q3. When do schools resume after the summer holiday in Northern Ireland?

Always 1 September, unless that falls on a weekend – then it’s the next weekday. For 2025 and 2026, it’s 1 September.

Q4. What is the difference between a bank holiday and a school closure day?

Bank holidays are automatic no-school days. School closure days include training days, TransformED NI days, or discretionary days chosen by the headteacher.

Q5. Where can I find my local school’s exact inset days?

Check your school’s website, parent app, or call the office. The Education Authority Northern Ireland does not publish individual school inset days.

You now have the complete roadmap for Northern Ireland school holidays. Bookmark this page, subscribe to your printable NI school calendar, and always confirm staff training days with your child’s school. Less stress, better planning – that’s the Calendar Times UK promise.

Official links for verification:

• Education NI

• UK Government

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