Cornwall school term dates through to 2028, in full

Uniforms are ironed, bags are packed, and by tomorrow morning playgrounds across the county will be full again. The summer holidays are almost over for families across Cornwall, and Cornwall Council has now published exactly when the next two school years run, right through to the summer of 2028.

Autumn term 2026: back tomorrow, half term at the end of October

For most Community and Voluntary-Controlled schools in Cornwall, the autumn term starts on Thursday 3 September 2026, a 72-day stretch running through to Friday 18 December 2026. Pupils get a break in the middle for half term, which falls from Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026.

Spring and summer 2027: shorter terms, later Easter

Spring term picks up on Monday 4 January 2027 and runs to Thursday 25 March 2027, a 54-day term with half term from Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027.

Summer term then runs from Monday 12 April to Friday 23 July 2027, 69 days in total, with the final half term of the year from Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027.

Looking ahead to 2027/28

Cornwall Council has also confirmed the following academic year. Autumn term 2027 starts on Thursday 2 September and runs to Wednesday 22 December, 75 days, with half term from Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027.

Spring term 2028 runs from Thursday 6 January to Friday 31 March, 57 days, with half term from Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028.

Summer term 2028 closes out the year, running from Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July, 63 days, with half term from Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028.

Why your child’s school might run different dates

These dates apply to Community and Voluntary-Controlled schools, which follow the calendar set by the council. Foundation, Trust and Voluntary Aided schools, along with academies, are allowed to set their own term dates. Cornwall Council recommends all schools stick to the same dates to keep things consistent across the county, but there is no requirement for them to do so. If in doubt, check with your own child’s school or its website.

What INSET days actually are

INSET days, short for In-Service Training, are the days schools use to train staff without pupils in the building. Maintained schools are permitted to take five of these a year, and each school decides for itself when to schedule them, so two schools a few miles apart can end up with different closure days even when they are both following the council’s term dates. Contact your school directly to find out how it has spread its five days across the year.