Kent's half term is 26 to 30 October, but Invicta, Valley Park, SST and Cornwallis take two weeks from 19 October. Every Maidstone date, school by school.
Kent County Council sets one calendar for the schools it runs, and several of Maidstone’s biggest secondaries do not follow it in October. Invicta Grammar, Valley Park, the School of Science and Technology (SST) and Cornwallis Academy all take a two-week October break from Monday 19 to Friday 30 October 2026, a week earlier than Kent’s single week of 26 to 30 October. Maidstone Grammar, Maidstone Grammar School for Girls, Oakwood Park and St Simon Stock keep to the county week. Every date below comes from the council’s or the school’s own published calendar, read on 25 September 2026.
The quick answer
- Kent’s dates: Term 1 ends Friday 23 October 2026, half term is Monday 26 to Friday 30 October, and Term 2 runs Monday 2 November to Friday 18 December. Schools reopen on Monday 4 January 2027.
- Two weeks in October at four schools: Invicta Grammar, Valley Park, SST Maidstone and Cornwallis are off from 19 to 30 October. Sutton Valence School’s half term is 17 October to 1 November.
- Christmas: every state school we checked finishes on Friday 18 December. Invicta, Valley Park, SST and Cornwallis all have a training day on Monday 4 January, so pupils go back on Tuesday 5 January.
Kent County Council’s dates for 2026/27
These are the dates Kent has set for its maintained schools, from its term dates page. The council’s own warning applies: “Term dates for some schools may be different. Contact your child’s school to check staff training days, individual half term breaks or if your child’s school is private or independent.”
| Term | Starts | Ends | Holiday that follows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Tuesday 1 September 2026 | Friday 23 October 2026 | Mon 26 to Fri 30 October |
| Term 2 | Monday 2 November 2026 | Friday 18 December 2026 | Mon 21 December to Fri 1 January |
| Term 3 | Monday 4 January 2027 | Friday 12 February 2027 | Mon 15 to Fri 19 February |
| Term 4 | Monday 22 February 2027 | Thursday 25 March 2027 | Fri 26 March to Fri 9 April |
| Term 5 | Monday 12 April 2027 | Friday 28 May 2027 | Mon 31 May to Fri 4 June |
| Term 6 | Monday 7 June 2027 | Wednesday 21 July 2027 | Thu 22 July to Tue 31 August |
The bank holidays inside the year are Friday 25 December, Monday 28 December and Friday 1 January, then Good Friday 26 March, Easter Monday 29 March, Monday 3 May and Monday 31 May 2027.
October half term, school by school
This is the date to check before you book anything. The four schools in the Valley Invicta Academies Trust and Cornwallis split from the county and take a fortnight.
| School | Last day for pupils | Half term | Back |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invicta Grammar School | Fri 16 October | 19 to 30 October | Mon 2 November |
| Valley Park School | Fri 16 October | 19 to 30 October | Mon 2 November |
| SST Maidstone | Fri 16 October | 19 to 30 October | Mon 2 November |
| Cornwallis Academy | Thu 15 October (training day Fri 16) | 19 to 30 October | Mon 2 November |
| Sutton Valence School (independent) | Half term from Sat 17 October | 17 October to 1 November | Mon 2 November |
| Maidstone Grammar School | Fri 23 October | 26 to 30 October | Mon 2 November |
| Maidstone Grammar School for Girls | Thu 22 October (training day Fri 23) | 26 to 30 October | Mon 2 November |
| Oakwood Park Grammar School | Fri 23 October | 26 to 30 October | Mon 2 November |
| St Simon Stock Catholic School | Thu 22 October (training day Fri 23) | 26 to 30 October | Wed 4 November |
Two things in that table are easy to miss. St Simon Stock has two staff development days on Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 November, so its pupils get an extra two days and return on Wednesday 4 November (St Simon Stock term dates). And for Invicta, Valley Park and SST the trust’s calendars list half term as Monday 19 to Friday 30 October (Invicta, Valley Park, SST); Valley Park’s calendar says Term 1 ends on Friday 16 October; neither Invicta’s nor SST’s list of staff days includes that Friday, so it is their last day too. Cornwallis Academy’s dates are from its own calendar, and Sutton Valence’s from the school’s term dates page.
Christmas and January
| School | Last day | Pupils return |
|---|---|---|
| Kent County Council dates | Fri 18 December | Mon 4 January |
| Maidstone Grammar School | Fri 18 December | Mon 4 January |
| Maidstone Grammar School for Girls | Fri 18 December | Mon 4 January |
| Oakwood Park Grammar School | Fri 18 December | Mon 4 January |
| St Simon Stock Catholic School | Fri 18 December (1pm finish) | Mon 4 January |
| Invicta Grammar School | Fri 18 December | Tue 5 January |
| Valley Park School | Fri 18 December | Tue 5 January |
| SST Maidstone | Fri 18 December | Tue 5 January |
| Cornwallis Academy | Fri 18 December | Tue 5 January |
| Sutton Valence School (independent) | Fri 11 December (half day) | Tue 5 January |
Training (INSET) days to note
- Maidstone Grammar School: Tuesday 1 September, Friday 9 October and Monday 7 June 2027 (MGS term dates 2026/27).
- Maidstone Grammar School for Girls: Tuesday 1 September, Friday 23 October, and 19 to 21 July 2027 at the end of the year (MGGS term dates).
- Oakwood Park Grammar School: 1 and 2 September, Friday 2 July 2027, and 19 to 21 July 2027. The school is also closed on Monday 5 October, after a Saturday open morning on 3 October when all students are expected in (OPGS term dates PDF).
- Invicta Grammar: Friday 2 October and Monday 4 January. Valley Park: Friday 9 October and Monday 4 January. SST Maidstone: Friday 25 September and Monday 4 January.
- Cornwallis Academy: 1 and 2 September, Friday 16 October and Monday 4 January.
- St Simon Stock: Tuesday 1 September, Friday 23 October, Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 November, and Monday 22 February 2027.
When the summer term ends
The end of the year varies more than any other date. Kent’s calendar runs to Wednesday 21 July 2027, and St Simon Stock stays to then (1pm finish). Invicta, Valley Park and SST finish on Wednesday 14 July. Maidstone Grammar, MGGS, Oakwood Park and Cornwallis finish on Friday 16 July. Sutton Valence ends on Friday 9 July.
Primary schools
Most maintained primaries in the borough use Kent’s dates, but academy primaries and church schools can set their own, and training days are always chosen by the school. Check your child’s school website before booking a holiday. For what is on locally in the October break, see our October half term in Maidstone page.
Sources
- Kent County Council, School term dates
- Maidstone Grammar School, Term dates 2026/27
- Maidstone Grammar School for Girls, Term dates
- Oakwood Park Grammar School, Term dates 2026 to 2027 (PDF)
- Invicta Grammar School, Term dates
- Valley Park School, Term dates
- SST Maidstone, Term dates
- Cornwallis Academy, Term dates
- St Simon Stock Catholic School, Term dates
- Sutton Valence School, Term dates
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