Luton's October half term is 26 to 30 October and schools break up on 18 December. Cardinal Newman takes two weeks in October. Every date, school by school.

Luton’s community schools break for October half term from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026, finish for Christmas on Friday 18 December, and go back on Monday 4 January 2027. Those are the council’s dates, and most of the town’s academies match them for the holidays.

The differences are in the days around them. Cardinal Newman takes a two-week October half term, and several secondaries close to pupils on extra training days in September, October and January.

The quick answer

October half term is Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026. The Christmas holidays run from Monday 21 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027. February half term is 15 to 19 February 2027, and Easter is 26 March to 9 April 2027. Cardinal Newman Catholic School breaks from 19 October, a week earlier than everyone else.

Luton Council’s dates for community schools, 2026/27

These are set by Luton Borough Council for its community schools. The council says each school also has its own training days on top, and that academies, free schools, foundation and voluntary aided schools set their own dates (Luton Council, 2026; 2027).

Term Starts Half term Ends
Autumn 2026 Tuesday 1 September 2026 Monday 26 to Friday 30 October Friday 18 December
Spring 2027 Monday 4 January 2027 Monday 15 to Friday 19 February Thursday 25 March
Summer 2027 Monday 12 April 2027 Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June Wednesday 21 July

The holidays in between:

  • Christmas: Monday 21 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027
  • Easter: Friday 26 March to Friday 9 April 2027 (Good Friday is 26 March)
  • Summer: Thursday 22 July to Tuesday 31 August 2027

The council’s printable academic calendar for 2026/27 was approved by its Executive on 2 June 2025.

School by school: where the dates differ

We checked the published 2026/27 calendars of the big secondaries and the sixth form college on 25 September 2026.

School October half term Extra days pupils are off Back after Christmas
Council calendar (community schools) 26 to 30 Oct Set by each school Mon 4 Jan
Cardinal Newman Catholic School 19 to 30 Oct (two weeks) Mon 4 Jan (INSET) Tue 5 Jan
Challney High School for Boys 26 to 30 Oct Fri 16 Oct, Mon 4 and Tue 5 Jan Wed 6 Jan
The Stockwood Park Academy 26 to 30 Oct Mon 4 Jan, Mon 12 Apr Tue 5 Jan
The Chalk Hills Academy 26 to 30 Oct Mon 4 Jan, Tue 9 Mar (Eid), Mon 12 Apr Tue 5 Jan
Luton Sixth Form College 26 to 30 Oct Not listed Not stated

What that means in practice:

  • Cardinal Newman breaks on Friday 16 October and returns on Monday 2 November, then finishes for Christmas on 18 December like everyone else. Its summer term ends earlier too, on Friday 16 July 2027 (Cardinal Newman term dates).
  • Challney High School for Boys has a staff development day on Friday 16 October, so its half term effectively starts a day early, and its boys go back on Wednesday 6 January after two training days (Challney High School for Boys).
  • The Chalk Hills Academy has set an INSET day on Tuesday 9 March 2027 for Eid (The Chalk Hills Academy).
  • The Stockwood Park Academy starts back on 4 January for staff only, with an INSET day that Monday, and pupils return on Tuesday 5 January (The Stockwood Park Academy).
  • Luton Sixth Form College matches the council for every holiday, but teaching ends on Friday 2 July 2027, nearly three weeks before the schools (Luton Sixth Form College).

If your child’s school is not in the table, check its own website: the council is clear that it cannot vouch for anyone else’s dates.

Looking further ahead: 2027/28

The council has already published its community school calendar for 2027/28 as a PDF, which is useful if you are booking a holiday a year out.

Still to be confirmed

  • Primary school INSET days. Every community school adds its own, and they are published school by school, not centrally.
  • Denbigh High and the other Chiltern Learning Trust schools. Their term dates page was not reachable when we checked; we will add them.
  • Luton Sixth Form College’s return date in January. The college lists holidays only.

Sources