Where primary and post-primary school calendars differ in Ireland
School year 2026/27: primary and post-primary dates
| Break | Primary schools | Post-primary schools |
|---|---|---|
| October mid-term break | to inclusive, 5 days All schools. | |
| Christmas holidays | Last day of termSchools re-open All schools. | |
| February mid-term break | to inclusive, 2 days Or, with three discretionary days, the full week from to (5 days). | to inclusive, 5 days |
| Easter holidays | Last day of termSchools re-open All schools. | |
The 2026/27 school year in full.
Primary schools share the October, Christmas and Easter dates with secondary schools, called post-primary schools in the circular. February differs: primary schools close on Thursday and Friday, with the option of taking the full week. The table compares the current school year's breaks. The circular also sets different minimum numbers of school days and rules for starting the year, including shorter days for junior infants and staggered returns at post-primary level.
| Topic | Primary schools | Post-primary schools |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum school days | 182 (primary and special schools) | 166 |
| February mid-term | Thursday and Friday of mid-term week; optionally the full week using three discretionary days | The full week, Monday to Friday |
| Easter contingency | Who the circular allows to keep the school open up to and including the Wednesday before the Easter weekend, year by year: 2025/26: a school authority; 2026/27: a primary school authority; 2027/28: a primary school authority; 2028/29: a primary school authority | |
| Start of the school year | Junior infants may be sent home early at the start of the school year for no more than ten school days. | A staggered start is limited; all students return on the third day |
| End of the school year | Not standardised | Not standardised; tuition does not run beyond the Friday before the June bank holiday |
February mid-term, every school year
- 2025/26: primary and (or from with discretionary days); post-primary to
- 2026/27: primary and (or from with discretionary days); post-primary to
- 2027/28: primary and (or from with discretionary days); post-primary to
- 2028/29: primary and (or from with discretionary days); post-primary to
The February mid-term page quotes each year from the circular.
The rules in the circular's words
Minimum school days, primary and special schools
Primary schools and special schools must be open for all pupils for a minimum of 182 school days.
Minimum school days, post-primary
Post-primary schools must be open for all students and all year groups for a minimum of 166 school days.
Junior infants sent home early at the start of the year
The practice of sending children in junior infants home early from school at the commencement of the school year is permissible for a period of no more than ten school days.
Staggered start at post-primary
Staggering, at the commencement of the school year, is limited to a minimum of two days, and all students must return for tuition on the third day of the school year without exception.
Post-primary last tuition day before State examinations
it is recognised the commencement of State examinations will mean that post-primary schools will not be open for tuition beyond the Friday preceding the June bank holiday in any year.
Contingency: Easter break may be shortened at primary level
the Easter break, in primary schools, may be reduced by up to three days by the school remaining open up to and including the Wednesday immediately preceding the Easter weekend.
Closure on days required by religious observance
The above arrangements are agreed without prejudice to closure on specific days, subject to the overall requirement of 166 days at post-primary level and 182 days at primary level, dictated by religious observance that is required in schools under the patronage of different denominations or faiths.
Questions parents ask
Which school breaks are the same at both levels?
For 2026/27, October mid-term, Christmas and Easter share their standardised dates across primary and post-primary schools. February has different required closures, and Easter remains subject to the applicable contingency permission.
Why is the minimum number of school days lower at post-primary level?
The minimum is 166 days for post-primary schools, compared with 182 days for primary schools. The cited provision sets these requirements without giving a reason for the difference.
Do special schools follow the primary arrangements?
Special schools share the primary minimum of 182 days. The circular groups them with primary schools for this requirement and applies standardised breaks to all schools.
Official documents
- Department of Education: Circular 0072/2022 Standardisation of the school year ... 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 (DOCX, 10 November 2022) (first read on 26 October 2026; checked again on 2 November 2026, unchanged)
- Department of Education and Youth: Circular 0018/2026 Standardisation of the school year ... 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29 (PDF, February 2026) (first read on 26 October 2026; checked again on 2 November 2026, unchanged)
Every date on this page was checked against these documents on . If anything here differs from the circular or the Act, the official text applies. How the dates are checked.