Medway council schools have October half term 26 to 30 October 2026, but the three grammars we checked break on 16 October. Every date and INSET day.
Medway Council’s term dates for 2026/27 put the October half term at 26 to 30 October 2026, the Christmas break at 21 December to 1 January and the end of the school year on Wednesday 21 July 2027. That is the answer for the council’s maintained schools. It is not the answer for a large share of Medway pupils, because the grammar schools and academies set their own dates, and the three we checked all break for autumn half term a week earlier.
The quick answer
- Council dates: October half term is Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026. Christmas break is Monday 21 December to Friday 1 January, back on Monday 4 January 2027. February half term is 15 to 19 February. The year ends on Wednesday 21 July 2027.
- The grammars break a week earlier in October: Rochester Grammar, the Maths School and Rainham Mark all finish on Thursday 15 or Friday 16 October and come back on Monday 2 or Tuesday 3 November, a two-week autumn break.
- INSET days differ by school. Rainham Mark and the Maths School both take Monday 4 January 2027 as an INSET day, so their pupils return on Tuesday 5 January.
Medway Council term dates 2026/27
These are the dates the council sets for its community and voluntary controlled schools, published on its school term dates page. The council notes that maintained schools must provide 190 teaching days, with the remaining five used for staff development, and that academies have the authority to set their own dates.
| Term | Starts | Ends | Break that follows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Tuesday 1 September 2026 | Friday 23 October 2026 | Autumn break, Mon 26 to Fri 30 October |
| Term 2 | Monday 2 November 2026 | Friday 18 December 2026 | Christmas, Mon 21 December to Fri 1 January |
| Term 3 | Monday 4 January 2027 | Friday 12 February 2027 | February break, Mon 15 to Fri 19 February |
| Term 4 | Monday 22 February 2027 | Thursday 25 March 2027 | Easter, Tue 30 March to Fri 9 April |
| Term 5 | Monday 12 April 2027 | Friday 28 May 2027 | Late spring break, Mon 31 May to Fri 4 June |
| Term 6 | Monday 7 June 2027 | Wednesday 21 July 2027 | Summer holiday |
Term 4 ends on a Thursday because Good Friday falls on 26 March 2027 and Easter Monday on 29 March, so the Easter break starts on the Tuesday.
Where the grammar schools differ
Medway’s grammar schools are academies and publish their own calendars. We checked three of the biggest on 25 September 2026. All three take a two-week autumn break, and two of them use the first Monday back in January as an INSET day.
| School | Last day before October break | Back after October break | Last day before Christmas | Pupils back in January | Last day of the year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medway Council (maintained schools) | Fri 23 October | Mon 2 November | Fri 18 December | Mon 4 January | Wed 21 July 2027 |
| Rochester Grammar School | Thu 15 October (Fri 16 is a staff day) | Tue 3 November (Mon 2 is a staff day) | Fri 18 December | Mon 4 January | Fri 16 July 2027 |
| Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School | Fri 16 October | Mon 2 November | Fri 18 December | Tue 5 January (Mon 4 is INSET) | Wed 21 July 2027 |
| Rainham Mark Grammar School | Fri 16 October | Mon 2 November | Fri 18 December, 1.20pm finish | Tue 5 January (Mon 4 is INSET) | Wed 21 July 2027, 1.20pm finish |
Rochester Grammar School runs Term 1 from Thursday 3 September to Thursday 15 October, with an autumn break of 19 to 30 October, and lists seven staff development days when pupils are absent: Wednesday 2 September, Friday 16 October, Monday 2 November, and 19 to 22 July 2027, two of which are days in lieu for the open day and a statutory training day. Its spring break starts on Good Friday, 26 March, rather than the Tuesday after (Rochester Grammar School term dates).
Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School (the Maths School, Rochester) has INSET days on 27 and 28 August 2026, Monday 4 January 2027 and Friday 12 February 2027, so its pupils finish for February half term on Thursday 11 February. Its Christmas break is listed as 21 to 31 December, followed by the bank holiday and the INSET day. It also takes Monday 5 July 2027 off in lieu of its Foundation Day on Saturday 3 July (SJWMS term dates).
Rainham Mark Grammar School takes Tuesday 1 September, Monday 4 January and Friday 9 July as INSET days, with 22 and 23 July 2027 as staff-only days. Pupils are dismissed at 1.20pm on the last day of Term 2 and Term 6 (Rainham Mark Grammar School term dates).
If your child is at another academy, including the primaries in the big multi-academy trusts, check the school’s own calendar rather than the council’s. The council page itself says academies can set their own dates.
October half term: two answers for one town
The practical effect is that Medway has two half terms this autumn. Families at council-run schools have 26 to 30 October. Families at the grammars have 19 to 30 October, and the first of those weeks is one where most of the town’s children are still in school. Our October half term page lists what is on locally across both weeks.
Dates that need a second look
- Friday 18 December 2026 is the last day before Christmas everywhere we checked, but Rainham Mark sends pupils home at 1.20pm.
- Monday 4 January 2027 is a school day for council schools and Rochester Grammar, and an INSET day at the Maths School and Rainham Mark.
- Thursday 25 March 2027 ends Term 4 for council schools, with the break running from Tuesday 30 March. Rochester Grammar’s break starts on Good Friday itself.
- The 2027/28 dates have not been published by the council yet. It consulted on the 2026/27 calendar in the autumn of 2025 before adopting it.
Frequently asked questions
When is October half term 2026 in Medway?
Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026 for Medway Council’s maintained schools. Rochester Grammar, the Maths School and Rainham Mark Grammar break a week earlier, from 19 October, and return on 2 or 3 November.
When do Medway schools break up for Christmas 2026?
Friday 18 December 2026 at every school we checked. Council schools return on Monday 4 January 2027; the Maths School and Rainham Mark return on Tuesday 5 January because of an INSET day.
When is February half term 2027?
Monday 15 to Friday 19 February 2027 at every school we checked. The Maths School finishes a day early, on Thursday 11 February.
When does the school year end in 2027?
Wednesday 21 July 2027 for council schools, the Maths School and Rainham Mark. Rochester Grammar’s pupils finish on Friday 16 July.
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