East Sussex School Term and Holiday Dates for 2023/2024

Overview

East Sussex County Council would like to know your views on the proposed school term and holiday dates for the academic year 2023/2024.  It is proposed that schools would begin the academic year on 1 September 2023 and continue through until 23 July 2024 (last day of term).

Term 1: 
*Friday 1 September 2023 to Friday 20 October 2023 (36 school days)

Term 2:
Monday 30 October 2023 to Friday 15 December 2023 (35 school days)

Term 3:
Tuesday 2 January 2024 to Friday 9 February 2024 (29 school days)

Term 4:
Monday 19 February 2024 to Thursday 28 March 2024 (29 school days)

Term 5:
Monday 15 April 2024 to Friday 24 May 2024 (29 school days)

Term 6:
Monday 3 June 2024 to Tuesday 23 July 2024 (37 school days)

Total:  195 school days

*INSET Day

A calendar format of these dates is available to view below or can be downloaded in the 'Related' section below.

Why your views matter

The local authority (LA) has a duty to determine school term and holiday dates for local authority maintained schools.  Foundation, trust and voluntary aided schools and academies are responsible for setting their own dates and may choose dates that do not match those set by the LA.

A number of 'guiding principles' are used to set the pattern of term and holiday dates.  These include:

• Schools must be open for 190 days in an academic year, 195 days for teachers (a legal requirement).
• Five In-Service Education Training (INSET) days (a legal requirement).  The proposal recommends a common INSET day on Friday 1 September 2023.  Schools decide four further training days.
• In proposing dates the LA liaises with neighbouring authorities about proposals for school term and holiday dates in their areas.  In doing this the LA seeks to ensure dates coincide where possible across borders to minimise the potential disruption and attendance issues that may arise for families with children attending different schools and school staff with children at schools in areas other than where they are working. 

We have shared our proposal with our neighbouring authorities in Brighton & Hove, Kent, West Sussex and Surrey.  Where possible we will align with neighbouring authorities by prioritising the following principles:

• The need to maximise learning and revision time in the terms before SATs (Standard Attainment Tests in Year 2 and Year 6), GCSEs and post 16 exams.
• Easter and bank holiday dates.  Working parents often rely on these being part of school holidays to use annual leave efficiently.

Foundation, trust and voluntary aided schools and academies decide their own term time and holiday dates so there may be variations across the county.  We are consulting all schools to unify dates across East Sussex as far as possible. Unifying dates helps to facilitate good attendance and minimises the implications for families with children who attend different schools.

Your views on the proposal for school term and holiday dates for 2023/2024 are important to us.  We welcome any suggestions on improving the school calendar in East Sussex.

The final calendar will be agreed following the consultation in May 2022. The final agreed calendar will then be publicised to all schools and will also be displayed on the East Sussex County Council website.

To comment, click on ‘Online Survey’ below or email your comments to School.Consultations@eastsussex.gov.uk

Privacy information: This survey is anonymous, although we do ask you to complete an optional 'about you' section at the end. Please ensure that any comments you make don't include any names or personal details of you or anyone else. For more information about why we collect ‘about you’ information and how the data will be stored and processed by East Sussex County Council please click here

Proposed ESCC School Holiday and Term Dates 2023/2024

What happens next

The final calendar will be agreed following the consultation in May 2022. The final agreed calendar will then be publicised to all schools and will also be displayed on the East Sussex County Council website.