Devon's 2026/27 dates for Exeter: October half term 26 to 30 October, term ends 18 December, back 4 January. Plus where Exeter's big schools break early.
Exeter’s schools break for October half term on Monday 26 October 2026, finish for Christmas on Friday 18 December, and go back on Monday 4 January 2027. Those are Devon County Council’s recommended dates, which most council-maintained schools follow. Several of the city’s biggest schools do not, and two independents take a fortnight in October.
The quick answer
- October half term: Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026 for Devon council dates.
- Christmas: term ends Friday 18 December 2026, back Monday 4 January 2027.
- Check your own school. Ted Wragg Trust secondaries keep pupils off until 9 November, and Exeter School and the Maynard School take two weeks in October.
Checked against Devon County Council’s calendar and each school’s own published dates on 25 September 2026.
Devon County Council dates for 2026/27
Devon publishes its recommended year as a colour-coded calendar (Devon County Council, 2026/27 term dates). Read off that calendar, the year runs:
| Term | Starts | Half term | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn 2026 | Thursday 3 September | Monday 26 to Friday 30 October | Friday 18 December |
| Spring 2027 | Monday 4 January | Monday 15 to Friday 19 February | Thursday 25 March |
| Summer 2027 | Monday 12 April | Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June | Tuesday 27 July |
The Christmas holiday runs from Monday 21 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027. Easter is Friday 26 March to Friday 9 April 2027, with Good Friday on 26 March and Easter Monday on 29 March.
The calendar allows 197 days. Schools then take off five training (INSET) days and two occasional days of their own choosing, which leaves the 190 days pupils must attend. Devon’s calendar does not say which days those are, so the INSET days are the part most likely to differ from one school to the next.
Devon says the dates are recommended for adoption by governors and that “term dates and holidays for individual establishments may vary” (Devon County Council, school term dates). Academies, voluntary aided church schools and independents set their own.
Where Exeter’s big schools differ
| School | Pupils start | October break | Last day before Christmas | Back in January |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devon council dates | Thu 3 Sep | 26 to 30 Oct | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Ted Wragg Trust secondaries | Mon 7 Sep | 26 Oct to 6 Nov, back Mon 9 Nov | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| St Peter's CE Aided School | Mon 7 Sep | 26 Oct to 3 Nov, back Wed 4 Nov | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Exeter School | Mon 7 Sep | Two weeks from Mon 19 Oct | Fri 18 Dec, 12 noon | Wed 6 Jan |
| The Maynard School | Mon 7 Sep | Sat 17 Oct to Sun 1 Nov | Fri 18 Dec, 12 noon | Tue 5 Jan |
Ted Wragg Trust. The trust’s secondary calendar, published by Isca Academy, marks 3 and 4 September as staff-only days, 2 November as the council date it does not follow, and 3 to 6 November as further staff-only days. Its own count of 29 pupil days from October to Christmas only adds up with pupils returning on Monday 9 November. It also marks Monday 14 December and Monday 12 April as staff-only (Ted Wragg Trust secondary term dates 2026/27). The summer term ends for pupils on Friday 23 July 2027.
St Peter’s. The school lists training days on 3 and 4 September and on Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 November, straight after half term, plus Friday 30 April 2027. Summer term ends on Friday 23 July 2027 (St Peter’s Church of England Aided School).
Exeter School. Sixth formers and pupils new to the school start on Friday 4 September, everyone else on Monday 7 September. Half term is “two weeks beginning Monday 19 October”. Spring term starts Wednesday 6 January, has a one-week half term from 15 February and two INSET days on 22 and 23 February, and ends on Thursday 25 March. The school year finishes on Wednesday 7 July 2027 (Exeter School, term dates 2026/27).
The Maynard School. Two-week half term from Saturday 17 October to Sunday 1 November, term ends at noon on 18 December, back on Tuesday 5 January. Spring half term runs from Saturday 13 February to Sunday 21 February and the summer term ends for pupils on Wednesday 7 July 2027 (The Maynard School).
The dates that catch families out
- The November INSET days. Ted Wragg secondary pupils and St Peter’s pupils are not back on Monday 2 November with everyone else. Siblings at a council-dates primary will be
- Independent school summers start three weeks early. Exeter School and the Maynard School finish on 7 July; Devon’s recommended year runs to 27 July
- Primary academies publish their own calendars. Many Exeter primaries belong to trusts. Check the school’s own term dates page, not a listings site
Still to be confirmed
- INSET days at council-dates schools. Each school chooses its own five; check the school’s website
- 2027/28 dates. Devon has already recommended the next year: autumn term from Thursday 2 September 2027, half term 25 to 29 October 2027 (Devon County Council, setting term dates)
Planning the October break? See what’s on in Exeter over October half term. For the school run, Exeter roadworks and parking in Exeter.
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