Hampshire's October half term is 26 to 30 October 2026, but Everest and Sherfield School break a week early and Costello pupils stay off until 4 November.

Hampshire County Council sets one calendar for the schools it runs, and most Basingstoke primaries follow it: October half term is Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026 and the Christmas holiday is Monday 21 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027. Academies and independent schools can set their own, and several near Basingstoke do. Everest Community Academy and Sherfield School both take a two-week October break from 19 October, and The Costello School keeps pupils off until Wednesday 4 November. If you have children at two schools, check both calendars before booking anything.

The quick answer

  • Hampshire’s 2026/27 October half term: Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026. Autumn term ends Friday 18 December.
  • Christmas holiday: Monday 21 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027, with spring term starting Monday 4 January 2027.
  • Not every school matches. Everest and Sherfield School break from 19 October; Costello returns on 4 November and 5 January.

Hampshire’s term dates for 2026/27

These are the dates on Hampshire County Council’s school holiday dates page, checked on 25 September 2026. The council says they apply to “Hampshire Community and Controlled schools only”, and that voluntary aided schools, foundation schools and some academies “may also use these dates”.

Period Dates
Autumn term Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026
October half term Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026
Christmas holiday Monday 21 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027
Spring term Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027
February half term Monday 15 to Friday 19 February 2027
Easter holiday Friday 26 March to Friday 9 April 2027
Summer term Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027
May half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027
Summer holiday Thursday 22 July to Tuesday 31 August 2027

On top of these, every school has five days for staff training (INSET) or professional closures during term time, chosen by the headteacher and governors. Those are not on the county list, so they are the dates that catch parents out. The council publishes the same dates as a PDF and as a calendar file you can add to your phone from its page.

Where Basingstoke schools differ

We read the published calendars of four schools in and around Basingstoke on 25 September 2026. Each one is different from the county somewhere.

School October half term Christmas break Staff training days named
Hampshire maintained schools Mon 26 to Fri 30 Oct Mon 21 Dec to Fri 1 Jan Five, set by each school
The Costello School Mon 26 Oct to Tue 3 Nov, back Wed 4 Nov Mon 21 Dec to Mon 4 Jan, back Tue 5 Jan 1 and 2 Sep, 25 Sep, 25 Nov, 8 Mar, 22 Jun
Everest Community Academy Mon 19 to Fri 30 Oct Mon 21 Dec to Fri 1 Jan 3 and 4 Sep, 9 Nov, 2 Jul
Queen Mary’s College Mon 26 to Fri 30 Oct Mon 21 Dec to Fri 1 Jan Not listed
Sherfield School (independent) Mon 19 to Fri 30 Oct Ends Fri 11 Dec, back Tue 5 Jan Not listed

What that means in practice:

  • The Costello School takes the county’s half term and adds Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 November. It also finishes early, at 12pm, on Friday 18 December, and has a later 9.50am start on Friday 9 October after its open evening. Year 7 and Year 11 started on 3 September, other years on 4 September.
  • Everest Community Academy, on Oxford Way (RG24 9UP), breaks for two weeks from 19 October, then has a staff training day on Monday 9 November, the week after pupils return. Its summer term ends on Tuesday 20 July 2027, a day before the county’s.
  • Queen Mary’s College, the sixth form college, follows the county’s autumn dates but finishes the summer term on Friday 9 July 2027. Its page lists the May half term as 31 May to 7 June.
  • Sherfield School in Sherfield on Loddon (RG27 0HU) breaks up for Christmas on Friday 11 December, a week before the state schools, and returns on Tuesday 5 January. Its summer term runs from Monday 19 April to Friday 9 July 2027.

Looking ahead: 2027/28

Hampshire has already set next year’s dates. Autumn term runs from Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027, with half term on Monday 25 to Friday 29 October 2027. The Christmas holiday is Monday 20 December 2027 to Monday 3 January 2028, and spring term starts on Tuesday 4 January 2028. Everest has also published 2027/28: its October break is again two weeks, 18 to 29 October 2027.

Still to be confirmed

  • Many primary schools publish their five INSET days only in their own newsletters. Check your school’s website or app.
  • Schools can change dates; the county says “circumstances beyond our control may result in changes”. We will re-check these calendars in early January before the spring term.

Planning the October break? Our October half term in Basingstoke page lists what is on locally that week. For travel over Christmas see Christmas trains from Basingstoke and roadworks and travel.