Northern Ireland school holidays 2025: Full list of term dates - including February half term and Easter

• In Northern Ireland, young people have slightly shorter Christmas holidays than their peers across the UK
• The new school term will begin slightly after the new year does
• There are a number of bank holidays and half term breaks parents should be aware of early in the year

At long last, the Christmas holidays are here for Northern Ireland’s schoolchildren.

They had to wait a little longer this year than their counterparts in England, Wales, and Scotland for school to let out for the term. The break itself will be a little shorter too, with students heading back for the start of the spring term in the very first days of 2025.

Pupils here get an extra long eight-week summer holiday, two weeks more than their peers from the rest of the UK, which helps make up for the fact that some of their other breaks throughout the year are shorter. The dates for these holidays are laid out by the Department of Education, and are usually pretty consistent across most schools in Northern Ireland - although it does specify that schools can operate on those dates at their own discretion, “to suit their individual circumstances”.

Here is a general guide to when Northern Ireland’s school terms will begin and end in the year ahead. Schools are also closed on Bank Holidays when they fall within term time, so we’ve made sure to include those as well.

Northern Ireland’s term and school holiday dates 2025

Autumn term

• Monday, 2 September 2024: Start of school year
• Thursday, 31 October 2024 - Friday, 1 November 2024: Halloween
• Monday, 23 December 2024 - Thursday, 2 January 2025: Christmas and New Year

Spring term

• Friday, 3 January: Start of spring term
• Thursday, 13 February - Friday, 14 February: February half-term
• Monday, 17 March: St Patrick’s Day
• Thursday, 17 April - Friday, 25 April: Easter holidays

Summer term

• Monday, 28 April: Summer term begins
• Monday, 5 May: May Day
• Monday, 26 May: Spring bank holiday
• Tuesday, 1 July: End of 2024/25 school year - summer holidays begin

The 2025/26 school year will then begin around the start of September 2025. The Northern Irish government will confirm these dates and publish them online here closer to the time.

What will you and your family be doing over the school holidays to keep your children entertained? Let us know by leaving a comment below.