Oxfordshire half term is 26 to 30 October, Christmas break from 21 December, back 4 January. Plus the INSET days at six Banbury and Bicester schools.
October half term in Banbury, Bicester and Kidlington runs from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026. That is the date Oxfordshire County Council sets for its schools, and every Banbury state secondary we checked follows it. The Christmas holiday starts on Monday 21 December and schools go back in the week of 4 January, though many start that week with an INSET day.
The quick answer
- October half term: Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026. Several secondaries also close on Friday 23 October for INSET.
- Christmas: last day Friday 18 December, back Monday 4 January 2027. Most secondaries below use 4 January as an INSET day, so pupils return on Tuesday 5 January.
- Easter: Tuesday 30 March to Friday 9 April 2027, with the spring term ending on Thursday 25 March because Good Friday is a bank holiday.
Oxfordshire term dates 2026/27
These are the dates on Oxfordshire County Council’s term dates page and in its 2026/27 calendar. The county sets them for its own community schools. Academies, church schools and independents set their own, although in this area most secondaries follow the county closely.
| Term or holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn term, first half | Wednesday 2 September to Friday 23 October 2026 |
| October half term | Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026 |
| Autumn term, second half | Monday 2 November to Friday 18 December 2026 |
| Christmas holiday | Monday 21 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027 |
| Spring term, first half | Monday 4 January to Friday 12 February 2027 |
| February half term | Monday 15 to Friday 19 February 2027 |
| Spring term, second half | Monday 22 February to Thursday 25 March 2027 |
| Easter holiday | Tuesday 30 March to Friday 9 April 2027 |
| Summer term, first half | Monday 12 April to Friday 28 May 2027 |
| May half term | Tuesday 1 to Friday 4 June 2027 |
| Summer term, second half | Monday 7 June to Wednesday 21 July 2027 |
The county lists the Christmas holiday as 21 to 31 December, with New Year’s Day a bank holiday. It lists Easter as 30 March to 9 April, with Good Friday (26 March) and Easter Monday (29 March) as bank holidays either side, and the May half term starts after the Spring Bank Holiday on Monday 31 May.
Tuesday 1 September 2026 was the countywide INSET day. Schools choose four more themselves, which is why the return date after a holiday differs from school to school.
Banbury and Bicester schools compared
We checked the published 2026/27 calendars of the big secondaries and the two best-known independent schools near Banbury. The dates below are the days pupils are off, including INSET days next to a holiday.
| School | Last day before October half term | Back after Christmas | Other INSET days (no pupils) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Futures Institute Banbury | Thursday 22 October (INSET Fri 23) | Tuesday 5 January (INSET Mon 4) | Mon 5 Oct, Fri 27 Nov, Mon 30 Nov, Fri 25 June |
| Blessed George Napier, Banbury | Friday 23 October | Tuesday 5 January (INSET Mon 4) | Fri 9 Oct, Fri 2 July |
| North Oxfordshire Academy, Banbury | Thursday 22 October (INSET Fri 23) | Wednesday 6 January | Fri 27 Nov, Fri 25 June |
| The Warriner School, Bloxham | Thursday 22 October (INSET Fri 23) | Tuesday 5 January (INSET Mon 4) | Mon 2 Nov (back Tue 3 Nov) |
| Bloxham School (independent) | Saturday 17 October, 4pm | Tuesday 5 January | Half term runs to Sunday 1 November |
| Tudor Hall (independent) | Friday 16 October, 12.30pm | Tuesday 5 January (day girls) | Half term runs to Sunday 1 November |
Three things stand out.
The two independents have a two-week October half term. Bloxham School breaks up on Saturday 17 October and Tudor Hall at 12.30pm on Friday 16 October. Both come back on Monday 2 November, the same day as everyone else. Families with children at an independent and a state school get one shared week, 26 to 30 October.
The independents also finish earlier for Christmas. Tudor Hall ends on Friday 11 December and Bloxham School on Saturday 12 December, a week before the state schools.
North Oxfordshire Academy comes back later after both big holidays. Its spring term starts on Wednesday 6 January and its summer term on Tuesday 13 April, a day or two after the county’s dates.
Christmas 2026 at a glance
- Last day of term: Friday 18 December for the county and the state secondaries above. The Warriner finishes at 12.30pm that day.
- Bank holidays: Friday 25 December, Monday 28 December (the substitute Boxing Day) and Friday 1 January, per GOV.UK.
- Back to school: Monday 4 January on the county calendar, Tuesday 5 January at most of the secondaries listed, Wednesday 6 January at North Oxfordshire Academy.
Primary schools and other secondaries
Primary schools across Cherwell mostly follow the county’s dates, but set their own INSET days. Check your school’s website or newsletter before booking anything in the week either side of a holiday. We did not include schools whose 2026/27 calendar was not published on their own site when we checked.
Related pages
- October half term in Banbury: what’s on
- Banbury Christmas bin collections
- Parking in Banbury and the latest roadworks
We will add the 2027/28 comparison when the schools publish it. The county’s 2027/28 dates are already out: October half term 2027 is 25 to 29 October.
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