Half term in the UK is usually one week long during the middle of a school term, though the exact dates can vary by region and school.

Quick Scoop: How long is half term?

  • In most of the UK, half term is a short school holiday that lasts about 5 school days (one week).
  • There is normally one half term in each of the main terms (Autumn, Spring, Summer), so most schools have three half-term breaks per academic year.
  • The break typically falls midway through the term , giving students and teachers a pause between the start and end of term.

Example (England 2025–2026)

To make it concrete, here’s how one school-year structure is described:

  • Spring half term: 16 February 2026 – 20 February 2026 (5 school days).
  • Summer half term: 25 May 2026 – 29 May 2026 (5 school days).
  • Autumn half term: 26 October 2026 – 30 October 2026 (5 school days).

So when people ask “how long is half term?”, they almost always mean this one‑week mid‑term break , though you should always check your local council or school for exact dates.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.