Watford half term is 26 to 30 October, but Parmiter's breaks on 21 October and Future Academies Watford takes two weeks. Every date for 2026/27.
Most Watford schools follow Hertfordshire County Council’s calendar: October half term is Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026 and the Christmas holiday runs from Monday 21 December to Friday 1 January 2027. But several of the town’s biggest secondaries set their own dates, and the gaps are wide enough to wreck a family holiday booking.
The quick answer
- County half term: 26 to 30 October 2026. Christmas: 21 December to 1 January, so the last day of term is Friday 18 December.
- Future Academies Watford takes a two-week October half term, 26 October to 6 November. Parmiter’s breaks on Wednesday 21 October and returns on 2 November.
- Friday 27 November is a day off at Watford Grammar School for Girls, Westfield Academy and Parmiter’s.
Hertfordshire’s dates for 2026/27
These are the county dates. Community and voluntary-controlled schools must use them; academies, voluntary-aided, foundation and free schools do not have to. The source is Hertfordshire County Council’s school term dates page, read on 25 September 2026.
| Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Start of term | Tuesday 1 September 2026 |
| October half term | Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026 |
| Christmas | Monday 21 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027 |
| February half term | Monday 15 to Friday 19 February 2027 |
| Easter | Friday 26 March to Friday 9 April 2027 |
| May half term | Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027 |
| Summer | Friday 23 July to Tuesday 31 August 2027 |
On top of those dates, schools add five INSET days and one occasional day of their own choosing, when pupils stay at home. Those vary school by school, which is why the table below matters.
Watford’s secondary schools, side by side
Each row is from the school’s own published calendar.
| School | October half term | Christmas | Summer term ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hertfordshire county dates | 26 to 30 Oct | Last day Fri 18 Dec; back Mon 4 Jan | Thu 22 Jul |
| Watford Grammar School for Boys | 23 Oct to 1 Nov (off from Friday 23rd) | Last day Fri 18 Dec; back Mon 4 Jan | Fri 16 Jul |
| Watford Grammar School for Girls | 26 to 30 Oct | Last day Fri 18 Dec (early finish); back Mon 4 Jan | Fri 16 Jul |
| Parmiter's School | Last day Wed 21 Oct; back Mon 2 Nov | Last day Fri 18 Dec (12 noon); back Mon 4 Jan | Fri 16 Jul |
| Westfield Academy | 26 to 30 Oct | Last day Fri 18 Dec; back Tue 5 Jan | Wed 21 Jul |
| Future Academies Watford | Last day Thu 22 Oct; two weeks off, 26 Oct to 6 Nov; back Mon 9 Nov | Last day Fri 18 Dec; back Tue 5 Jan | Thu 22 Jul |
Three things stand out.
Future Academies Watford is the outlier. Its October break is two full weeks, with a staff INSET day on Friday 23 October in front of it, so pupils are off from 23 October to 6 November. Families with children at two schools should check this first.
Parmiter’s has the longest autumn gap of the rest. The first half ends at 3.20pm on Wednesday 21 October, with staff INSET on 22 and 23 October, and lessons restart on Monday 2 November. Parmiter’s is in Garston, just over the borough boundary in Three Rivers.
Both grammar schools finish the year a week early, on Friday 16 July 2027, against the county’s Thursday 22 July.
INSET and closure days to put in the diary
These are the days in the autumn and spring terms when pupils are not in school, from each school’s calendar:
- Watford Grammar School for Boys: Tuesday 1 September and Thursday 24 September 2026; Tuesday 8 June 2027
- Watford Grammar School for Girls: INSET on Friday 27 November and Monday 28 June 2027; the last day of the year, Wednesday 21 July, is an occasional day
- Parmiter’s: 22 and 23 October; Friday 27 November (occasional day); Monday 22 February 2027; Friday 28 May 2027 for everyone not sitting exams
- Westfield Academy: Friday 2 October (staff administration day); Thursday 26 November; Friday 27 November (occasional day); Monday 4 January and Friday 29 January 2027
- Future Academies Watford: Friday 23 October; Monday 7 December; Monday 4 January and Monday 12 April 2027
So Thursday 26 and Friday 27 November is the weekend to watch: Westfield closes for both days, and the Girls’ School and Parmiter’s close on the Friday.
Primary schools
Community and voluntary-controlled primaries use the county dates, with their own five INSET days on top. Academy, foundation and voluntary-aided primaries can differ. Check your school’s own website; Hertfordshire’s school directory links to each one.
Still to be confirmed
- Watford Grammar School for Boys has not yet confirmed its September 2027 return date
- Saint Michael’s Catholic High School calendar was not readable on 25 September; check with the school
- The county publishes future term dates by 31 January each year
What to do over the October break is on our October half term in Watford page.
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