Norfolk's October half term is Friday 23 to Friday 30 October 2026 and Christmas runs 21 December to 4 January. Some Norwich schools break a week early.
Most Norwich state schools follow Norfolk County Council’s model calendar, but not all of them, and the gaps are not small. Two of the city’s best-known schools take two weeks off in October this year, and the independents finish for Christmas up to three days earlier than everyone else.
The quick answer
- October half term: Friday 23 to Friday 30 October 2026, with pupils back on Monday 2 November.
- Christmas holiday: Monday 21 December 2026 to Monday 4 January 2027. Most pupils return on Tuesday 5 January.
- The school year ends on Wednesday 21 July 2027 under the Norfolk model.
Norfolk model calendar 2026/27
These are the dates Norfolk County Council sets for its own community and voluntary controlled schools. Most academies, free schools and foundation schools adopt them too, but they do not have to (Norfolk County Council).
| Term | Term time | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn 1 | Thursday 3 September to Thursday 22 October 2026 | Half term: Friday 23 to Friday 30 October |
| Autumn 2 | Monday 2 November to Friday 18 December 2026 | Christmas: Monday 21 December to Monday 4 January 2027 |
| Spring 1 | Tuesday 5 January to Friday 12 February 2027 | Half term: Monday 15 to Friday 19 February |
| Spring 2 | Monday 22 February to Thursday 25 March 2027 | Easter: Friday 26 March to Monday 12 April |
| Summer 1 | Tuesday 13 April to Friday 28 May 2027 | Half term: Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June |
| Summer 2 | Monday 7 June to Wednesday 21 July 2027 | Summer holiday |
Monday 3 May 2027 is a bank holiday. The county suggests schools use these days for staff training: 1 and 2 September 2026, 23 October 2026, 4 January 2027 and 12 April 2027. Some schools use twilight sessions instead, so check your own school’s letters.
The October half term looks long because it starts on a Friday. That Friday, 23 October, is one of the suggested training days, so pupils get eight weekdays off in a row.
Norwich schools that differ
We checked the published calendars of several large Norwich schools on 25 September 2026.
| School | October half term | Last day before Christmas | Back in January |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk model | Fri 23 to Fri 30 Oct | Fri 18 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| City of Norwich School (CNS) | Fri 23 to Fri 30 Oct | Fri 18 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| City Academy Norwich | Mon 19 to Fri 30 Oct (two weeks) | Fri 18 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| Norwich High School for Girls | Mon 19 to Fri 30 Oct (two weeks) | Tue 15 Dec, 3pm | Thu 7 Jan |
| Norwich School | Mon 19 Oct to Sun 1 Nov; back Tue 3 Nov | Wed 16 Dec, 4pm | Thu 7 Jan |
City of Norwich School says some of its dates differ from the model. The difference is in February: it adds a staff training day on Monday 22 February 2027, so its pupils go back a day later, on Tuesday 23 February. Its training days are 1 and 2 September, 23 October, 4 January, 22 February and 12 April (CNS).
City Academy Norwich on Bluebell Road takes a two-week October break, from Monday 19 to Friday 30 October, with everyone back on Monday 2 November. It also breaks for Easter earlier, from Friday 26 March to Friday 9 April, returns on Monday 12 April, and finishes the year on Thursday 22 July 2027, a day later than the model (City Academy Norwich).
Norwich High School for Girls also has two weeks off in October, from 19 to 30 October. The autumn term ends at 3pm on Tuesday 15 December and the spring term starts on Thursday 7 January. Its summer term ends on Friday 9 July 2027 (Norwich High School for Girls).
Norwich School in the Cathedral Close breaks from Monday 19 October to Sunday 1 November, then holds a staff training day on Monday 2 November, so pupils return on Tuesday 3 November. Term ends at 4pm on Wednesday 16 December and restarts on Thursday 7 January. There is no school on Wednesday 30 June 2027, the Royal Norfolk Show, and the year ends at midday on Friday 9 July 2027 (Norwich School).
If your children are at two different schools, October is the month to check. A family with one child at a two-week school and one on the Norfolk model has both children at home on only six of the ten weekdays; from 19 to 22 October, one is at school and one is not.
Looking ahead: 2027/28
Norfolk has already set next year’s model calendar. The autumn term starts on Monday 6 September 2027, October half term is Monday 25 to Friday 29 October 2027, and the Christmas holiday runs from Monday 20 December 2027 to Tuesday 4 January 2028. Summer term ends on Friday 21 July 2028 (Norfolk County Council).
Before you book
Norfolk County Council itself advises contacting the school to confirm dates, because term and training days can differ between schools. Its School Finder lists each school’s website. Training days in particular can move during the year.
For what is on in the October break, see October half term in Norwich. For the festive bins, see Norwich Christmas bin collections.
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