West Sussex County Council: Term Dates

Links to Sections

• Introduction
• 2009-2010
• 2010-2011
• How term dates are decided

The following dates are those on which all schools are open - please contact individual schools for details of their In-Service Training (INSET) days or see our school closure listings.

The County Council has traditionally set the first day of the Autumn Term as a school INSET day, while all other INSET days have been determined by each school. It has been a case of good custom and practice that the beginning of the Autumn Term has started on the same day in order to provide consistency across the County for parents, carers, children, young people, teachers and school staff, as well as for the Council's Learning Service. However, recognising that there may be valid reasons for some schools wanting to set alternative dates, the compulsory nature of the INSET day at the beginning of the school year has been lifted. Schools are therefore now free to set all INSET days during the school year. When setting INSET days, schools may, however, wish to consider the impact that diverging from established good practice may have on customers at this crucial time of the academic year.

Past term dates are only held by the authority for three years as part of our disposal policy. You can see past term dates in the 'downloads' area of this page. If you need any other dates, please contact your child's school.

The Local Government Association (LGA) Standing Committee on the school year meet and make a recommendation for term and holiday dates across the country.  The LGA Standing Committee is made up of representatives of the national executives of all main teacher professional associations and officers of the LGA.  Local Authorities do not have to abide by their recommendations but most are supportive of a nationally agreed pattern, which still permits local flexibility, as the best route towards harmony and coherence in the establishment of dates.    The majority of south east local authorities have indicated that they intend to abide by these recommendations, although some may not.

Locally, term dates are consulted on through school and teaching representative bodies before being finalised.

You can contact us on 0845 0751007 to receive a copy of term dates in the post.