When do kids go back to school after half term? 2022 school holiday and term dates

Though currently enjoying the May half term, many parents are wondering when do kids go back to school after the break.

It just so happens that for this half term, kids broke up from school (opens in new tab) just in time for the special Jubilee weekend. Meaning an opportunity for parents to spend quality time with their children during the annual week off and special extra bank holiday in 2022 (opens in new tab). Thankfully May brings with it some hopefully warmer weather and sunnie skies - so a fun family day out (opens in new tab) could be on the cards during their time off. Though there's plenty of indoor activities with kids (opens in new tab) to enjoy too, should the weather not work out either.

As is so often the case - their school break has a habit of whizzing by, with kids and parents having to prepare for a return to school before they know it. With this in mind, we've shared the all important back to school dates to note in your diaries.

When do kids go back to school?

Children in England and Wales go back to school on Monday 6 June after the May half term. This means they return after the Platinum Jubilee (opens in new tab) weekend, where all Brits have a rare four days off to celebrate the Queen's historic reign.

Pupils in Scotland and Northern Ireland are also expected back at school on Monday 6 June. However this is after the two bank holidays (opens in new tab) off for the royal celebration. Schoolchildren in these countries do not have a May half term because their summer holidays start earlier than kids in England and Wales.

Term dates throughout Great Britain often vary from school to school, so it's advised to check dates with your child's school just to be safe.

When do secondary schools go back?

Like primary schools, community secondary schools in England and Wales go back on Monday 6 June 2022. However, private schools, academies, voluntary aided and foundation schools may possibly have different return dates so it's important to check with children's individual schools.

A sense of normality has returned to schools since the government told secondary pupils they can stop wearing face masks (opens in new tab) in the classroom. This was part of their new Living with Covid plan (opens in new tab) introduced in late February.

The twice-weekly lateral flow tests (opens in new tab) that students have been carrying out throughout the pandemic has also been scrapped - as of April 1, 2022. So this means that kids no longer have to do any Covid testing.

"We don’t expect pupils or staff in education settings to routinely test themselves for COVID-19," clarified a statement on the Department of Education website (opens in new tab).

This being said if your child does develop suspected Omicron symptoms (opens in new tab) they should still do a test to see if they are negative or positive (opens in new tab). And they definitely shouldn't go to school with Covid (opens in new tab) if it's the latter. Whilst official Covid legislation has been dropped - it's hoped that a duty of care for others will prevent positive people from carrying on with life and spreading the virus.

2022 school holidays and term dates

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson initially proposed a five-term school year (opens in new tab) for children to catch up on disrupted learning from the pandemic. However, these plans were never finalised and UK school term dates for 202/2022 have remained unchanged.

The following school holiday and term dates for 2022 represent the majority of schools. Though it's always advised to check these dates directly with your child's school.

England:

• Half term: Monday 30 May – Friday 3 June 2022.
• Summer school term: Monday 6 June to Friday 22 July 2022.
• Summer holidays: Friday 22 July – Wednesday 31 August 2022.
• New school year starts: Thursday 1 September – Friday 21 October 2022.

Check individual school term dates in England here (opens in new tab).

Wales:

• Half term: Monday 30 May – Friday 3 June 2022.
• Summer school term: Monday 6 June to Friday 22 July 2022.
• Summer holidays: Monday 25 July – Friday 3 September 2022.
• New school year starts: Monday 5 September – Friday 28 October 2022.

Check individual school term dates in Wales here (opens in new tab).

Scotland:

• Summer school term: Monday 18 April – Thursday 30 June 2022. (*exception of bank holidays – 2 & 3 June).
• Summer holidays: Friday 1 July – Monday 15 August 2022.
• New school year starts: Tuesday 16 August – Friday 7 October 2022.

Check individual school term dates in Scotland here (opens in new tab).

Northern Ireland:

• Summer school term: Monday 25 April – Thursday 30 July 2022. (*exception of bank holidays – 2 & 3 June).
• Summer holidays: Friday 31 July – Wednesday 31 August 2022
• New school year starts: Thursday 1 September – Friday 28 October 2022.

Check individual school term dates in Northern Ireland here (opens in new tab).

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