Term dates and INSET dates for Academic Year 2025-2026

27^th June 2025

RE: Term dates and INSET dates for Academic Year 2025-2026

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope this message finds you well and that your child is looking forward to the summer holidays. The term dates for the next academic year are:

Autumn term 2025

• Term starts: Tuesday 2nd September 2025
• Half-term holiday: Monday 27th October to Friday 31th October 2025
• Term ends: Friday 19th December 2025
• Christmas holiday: Monday 22nd December 2025 to Friday 2nd January 2026 

Spring term 2026

• Term starts: Tuesday 6th January 2026
• Half-term holiday: Monday 16th February to Friday 20th February 2026
• Term ends: Friday 27th March 2026
• Easter Holiday: Monday 30th March to Friday 10th April 2026

Summer term 2026

• Term starts: Monday 13th April 2026
• Half-term holiday: Monday 25th May to Friday 29th May 2026 (there is also a Bank Holiday on Monday
• 4th May 2026)
• Term ends: Friday 17th July 2026
• Summer holiday starts: Monday 20^th July 2026

At the heart of everything we do — both here at George Salter Academy and across Ormiston Academies Trust — is a shared commitment to providing every student with the very best education. As part of this commitment, we are excited to be introducing a new, Trust-wide curriculum that reflects the highest standards and is designed to support excellent teaching in every classroom.

To ensure this important development is implemented successfully, we will be increasing the number of INSET (staff training) days to a maximum of eight for the 2025/2026 academic year. This one-year change will provide staff with the dedicated time they need to plan, collaborate and prepare outstanding learning experiences for all students.

We understand the importance of balancing staff development with family routines, and this decision has been made with careful consideration. The additional INSET days will directly support improvements in teaching and learning — changes we believe will make a lasting and positive difference to your child’s education.

As you may know, INSET days are a required part of the school year and must take place during term time, in line with guidance from the Department for Education. As an academy trust, we have flexibility in setting our school calendar, and many trusts across the country allocate up to 10 INSET days annually. By introducing eight, we believe we are striking a thoughtful balance.

As part of this, I would like to inform you of two additional INSET days that will take place during the autumn term of the 2025/2026 academic year:

• Friday 17^th October 2025
• Friday 5^th December 2025

These days will be used to deliver high-quality professional development for our middle leaders — including subject leads — who play a key role in shaping the teaching and learning that happens every day in your child’s classroom.

The remainder of the INSET dates for next academic year will be as follows;

• Monday 1^st September 2025
• Monday 3^rd November 2025
• Monday 5^th January 2026
• Monday 23^rd February 2026
• Friday 20^th March 2026 (TBC)
• Monday 20^th July 2026

We are sharing these dates now to give you as much notice as possible and to support your planning.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and understanding.

Mrs Bellingham                        

Head of School