Lynne Neagle, Cabinet Secretary for Education
Today I announce the outcome of the school term dates 2026 to 2027 consultation.
I am grateful to the many individuals and organisations who took the time to respond to this consultation. I know that variations in school term dates and school holidays can cause difficulties for many families and businesses across Wales and I fully acknowledge there are both advantages and disadvantages to aligning school term dates.
The Education (Notification of School Term Dates) (Wales) Regulations 2014 provide that local authorities must inform Welsh Ministers of the term dates set for all maintained schools within their areas by the final working day in August two years prior to the school year to which they relate.
I considered that the term dates submitted by local authorities for 2026-27 were not the same or as similar as can be. Therefore, I considered using the powers of direction under the Education Act 2002 to ensure that term dates are as similar as can be across Wales.
A 12-week consultation which closed on 25 May 2025 sought views on the proposed dates for 2026-27 and the related direction. I am pleased to report that most respondents supported the proposed school term dates for 2026 to 2027, as well as the draft direction.
Consequently, I have decided to proceed with the proposed dates and will today issue the direction to local authorities to finalise the dates and make the necessary arrangements with their schools.
A summary of responses to the consultation can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.wales/school-term-dates-2026-2027.