Bury Council's 2026/27 term dates with every half term, the Christmas break and 2027/28. Where Holy Cross, Woodhey, Bury CE and Bury College differ.

Bury’s council-pattern schools break up for October half term on Friday 23 October 2026 and go back on Monday 2 November. The Christmas holiday starts on Friday 18 December, with pupils back on Monday 4 January 2027. Two local exceptions catch families out every year: Holy Cross College takes a two-week October break, and Woodhey High School returns a day later in January because it puts a training day on the 4th.

The quick answer

  • October half term: Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026.
  • Christmas: last day Friday 18 December, back Monday 4 January 2027.
  • February half term: 15 to 19 February. Easter: last day Thursday 25 March, back Monday 12 April. May half term: 31 May to 4 June. Year ends Wednesday 21 July 2027.

Every date on this page is from Bury Council’s term dates page or the named school’s own published calendar, checked on 24 September 2026.

Bury Council pattern 2026/27

Term Starts Half term Ends
Autumn 2026 Tuesday 1 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 Wednesday 21 July

Good Friday is 26 March 2027 and Easter Monday is 29 March, both inside the Easter holiday. The May Day bank holiday is Monday 3 May 2027.

The council’s holiday pattern sheet allows 195 pupil days. Schools then choose five of those as training or “occasional” days, when they close to pupils, which is why two schools on the same pattern can have different first and last days. The council is explicit that its calendar “is only a guide” and that dates should be checked with the school.

Bury Council pattern 2027/28

Published already, for anyone booking a year ahead.

Term Starts Half term Ends
Autumn 2027 Wednesday 1 September Monday 25 to Friday 29 October Friday 17 December
Spring 2028 Tuesday 4 January Monday 14 to Friday 18 February Friday 31 March
Summer 2028 Tuesday 18 April Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June Friday 21 July

Good Friday 2028 is 14 April and Easter Monday 17 April. The May Day bank holiday is 1 May 2028.

Where the big schools differ

School First day for pupils October half term Last day before Christmas Back in January
Council pattern Tuesday 1 September 26 to 30 October Friday 18 December Monday 4 January
Woodhey High Wed 2 Sept (Year 7), Thu 3 Sept (Years 8 to 11) 26 to 30 October Friday 18 December Tuesday 5 January
Bury CE High Wednesday 2 September 26 to 30 October Friday 18 December Monday 4 January
Holy Cross College Monday 7 September 16 October to 1 November Thursday 17 December Monday 4 January
Bury College Friday 4 September 26 to 30 October Friday 18 December Monday 4 January
Bury Grammar School Friday 4 September See the school’s PDF See the school’s PDF See the school’s PDF

Woodhey High School, Ramsbottom. Its 2026-27 holiday pattern has training days on Tuesday 1 September and Monday 4 January, so pupils return on Tuesday 5 January. It also closes for a “December holiday” from Friday 27 November to Monday 30 November, reopening on Tuesday 1 December. Its Easter and May half term match the council. An assessment week is pencilled for 14 to 17 December, with a catch-up session on the Thursday afternoon and no attendance required on the Friday, though the school says those dates were to be confirmed.

Bury Church of England High School. Its holiday arrangements sheet names all five closure days: Tuesday 1 September 2026, Friday 27 November 2026, and Monday 19, Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 July 2027. So the school year for pupils ends on Friday 16 July.

Holy Cross College, Bury. The sixth-form college’s term dates are the biggest departure. Lessons start on Monday 7 September after induction days on 3 and 4 September. October half term is two weeks: students finish on Thursday 15 October and return on Monday 2 November. They finish for Christmas on Thursday 17 December. February half term runs from Friday 12 to Monday 22 February, with students back on Tuesday 23. The Easter break is Thursday 25 March to Monday 12 April, May half term is Friday 28 May to Monday 7 June, and the last day for students is Wednesday 7 July 2027.

Bury College. Its term dates start the programme on Friday 4 September. The three half terms match the council. The college closes from Monday 21 December to 1 January, the Easter holiday is Friday 26 March to Friday 9 April, and the scheduled programme ends on Friday 18 June 2027.

Bury Grammar School. The independent school’s online calendar shows staff training on 1 and 2 September, induction for Reception, Year 7 and Year 12 on 3 September, and the whole school in session from Friday 4 September 2026. Its full term dates are published as a PDF on the term dates page that our tools could not read; check it directly for half terms and exeat weekends.

Elton High School, Tottington High School and St Monica’s. All three publish a 2026-27 calendar as a colour-coded PDF rather than a list: Elton (190 pupil days, so five closure days), Tottington and St Monica’s, which posted its 2026-27 calendar in June. The holiday weeks match the council; the training days are only readable in the colour key, so check your school’s copy.

Half term and holiday planning

Our October half term page lists what is on locally that week. The East Lancashire Railway Santa Specials run on the first weekend of the Christmas holiday, 19 and 20 December, and daily to Christmas Eve.

Term-time absence is a fine matter in Bury. The council’s holidays in term time page is linked from the term dates page.

What is still to be confirmed

The training days at Elton, Tottington, St Monica’s, Bury Grammar and the primary schools, which each school publishes on its own site. We will re-check the big secondaries in early January 2027 for any spring-term changes.