, 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.
