School term dates can be found by clicking the links below. Please bear in mind that schools plan five additional INSET days which are not included in the calendars.

School term dates
pdf icon School term and holiday dates 2011-2012 [111kb]

pdf icon School term and holiday dates 2012-2013 [103kb]

pdf icon School term and holiday dates 2013-2014 [43kb]

Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools
Responsibility for setting the school term and holidays dates rests with the Local Authority. Community and Controlled schools are therefore expected to adhere to the agreed term dates for 2013/14 as presented.

Voluntary Aided schools and Academies
These schools have the discretion to set their own term dates, but many do not usually depart significantly from the pattern established for other schools in the authority.

Enquiries should be made with individual schools/academies to ascertain their holiday pattern.

INSET days
Schools must open for 380 half-day sessions (190 days) in each school year, beginning with the first term to start after July. This is consistent with the 195 days a year required by a teacher's statutory conditions of service - the additional five days are for in-service training. Please check with your child's school to find out the INSET dates they have planned.

Sunderland City Council is responsible for setting holiday term dates in the case of community and voluntary controlled schools. The term dates of foundation and voluntary aided schools are decided by their governing bodies.

Unavoidable school closures
For the latest information on unavoidable school closures please telephone (0191) 520 5555.

Schools also notify local radio stations (Radio Newcastle, Real, Metro and Sun FM and Spark FM).

Holidays
Sunderland City Council has teamed up with Hays Travel to offer you the opportunity of saving 10% off your next holiday, as long as it is during the correct school breaks. The scheme is open to parents/carers of nursery, primary and secondary school pupils to reduce the cost of your holiday and ensure your children are in school as much as possible.

For further information, visit Hays Travel Holiday Discount Scheme.

If term-time holidays are the only option
Unfortunately some jobs do not always allow as much flexibility as others and term time holidays are the only option. Under education law parents may request absence for pupils from school due to a family holiday. It is for schools to determine whether or not they agree to a family holiday during term time.

You won't qualify for the 10% discount with Hays Travel, but in order to minimise disruption for your child and school you should consider:

  • Requesting a leave of absence form from school before booking your holiday
  • When school tests or other important events take place
  • Taking a one-week break rather than two
  • Informing school well in advance so teachers can plan for the absence
  • Attaching holidays either side of school holidays
  • Avoiding the first week of a new academic year in September