Redbridge schools break up on Friday 18 December and return on 4 January. Half term is 26 to 30 October, but Bancroft's and Seven Kings stop earlier.

Redbridge Council’s school year for 2026-27 runs from Wednesday 2 September 2026 to Thursday 22 July 2027. Most community and voluntary-aided schools in the borough follow it. A lot of the big names do not: the grammars, the secondary academies and the independents set their own calendars, and two of them start October half term days or a week early.

Everything below comes from the council’s school holidays and term dates page and from each school’s own published calendar, all checked on 25 September 2026.

The quick answer

October half term is Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026. Schools break up for Christmas on Friday 18 December and go back on Monday 4 January 2027. February half term is 15 to 19 February 2027.

The exceptions worth knowing: Bancroft’s takes two weeks at October half term (19 to 30 October) and breaks up on 11 December. Seven Kings School starts half term on Thursday 22 October. INSET days are set school by school, so check your own school’s list.

Redbridge Council term dates 2026-27

Term Starts Half term Ends
Autumn 2026 Wednesday 2 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 Thursday 22 July

That gives a Christmas break from Saturday 19 December to Sunday 3 January, and an Easter break from Friday 26 March to Friday 9 April 2027.

The council’s page says in plain terms that “Wohl Ilford Primary School, secondary academies, primary free schools and private schools will have their own school holiday and term dates”, and that INSET days vary by school. Its list is the frame, not the answer for every family.

How the big local schools differ

These are the calendars published by five schools that set their own dates. Where a school matches the council on a date, the table says so.

School Autumn term October half term Breaks up for Christmas Back in January
Redbridge Council From Wed 2 Sept 26 to 30 Oct Fri 18 Dec Mon 4 Jan
Bancroft’s School (Woodford Green, independent) From Thu 3 Sept Mon 19 to Fri 30 Oct Fri 11 Dec Wed 6 Jan
Seven Kings School From Fri 4 Sept Thu 22 to Fri 30 Oct Fri 18 Dec Mon 4 Jan
Woodford County High School Students from Fri 4 Sept 26 to 30 Oct Fri 18 Dec Mon 4 Jan
Ilford County High School From Fri 4 Sept 26 to 30 Oct Fri 18 Dec Mon 4 Jan
Valentines High School From Wed 2 Sept 26 to 30 Oct Fri 18 Dec Mon 4 Jan

Bancroft’s is the one that catches people out. Its October break is a fortnight, its Christmas holiday starts a week before everyone else’s, and its summer term ends on Friday 2 July 2027, almost three weeks before the council’s 22 July. The school’s calendar notes that the senior school finishes at 12 noon on the last day of the autumn and summer terms.

INSET days that close schools to pupils

Only the days each school has published. None of these are borough-wide.

School INSET or closure days 2026-27
Woodford County High School Wed 2 and Thu 3 September, Mon 12 October, Fri 29 January, Thu 22 July. Friday 18 September is a remote learning day for the 11+ exams.
Valentines High School Wed 2 September, Fri 2 October, Mon 2 and Tue 3 November (straight after half term), Mon 22 February
Ilford County High School Fri 27 November, Fri 5 February, Fri 30 April
Seven Kings School Fri 22 January 2027

Two of those make half term longer in practice: Valentines High pupils are off until Wednesday 4 November, and Seven Kings pupils break up on Wednesday 21 October.

Woodford County’s calendar also has the last day for students as Wednesday 21 July 2027, with the 22nd an INSET day.

The bank holidays inside term

The early May bank holiday falls on Monday 3 May 2027, which Seven Kings and Valentines both mark on their calendars. The late May bank holiday is inside the summer half term.

What is still to be confirmed

  • Your own school’s INSET days, if it is not one of the five above. Most primaries publish them on their own websites.
  • Holiday clubs. The council’s free Holiday Activities and Food programme is advertised for the summer only so far. For what is on during October half term, see our October half term in Ilford page.

2027-28 is already published

The council has set next year’s dates as well: autumn term Thursday 2 September to Friday 17 December 2027, with half term 25 to 29 October 2027; spring term Tuesday 4 January to Friday 7 April 2028; summer term Monday 24 April to Friday 21 July 2028.

Sources