halfterm

Halfterm, often written half-term, is a school holiday that occurs in the middle of a school term. It provides a break for students and staff between periods of teaching and assessment. The term is most closely associated with the education system of the United Kingdom, but similar mid-term breaks exist in other countries under different names.

In the UK, halfterms are common but the exact schedule varies by country, local authority, and school. The autumn half-term typically falls in late October and lasts about one week. The spring half-term usually occurs in late February or early March and lasts about a week. A summer or late spring half-term is observed by some schools, often in late May or early June, but its existence and timing are not universal.

Etymology-wise, half-term derives from the notion of a break occurring halfway through a term. In Scotland, the term half-term is less frequently used; holidays are generally described by specific dates without the standard “half-term” label. Outside the UK, the concept appears in various forms, sometimes called mid-term breaks or fall breaks, with scheduling that depends on local or institutional calendars.

Economic and social roles of halfterm include giving students time to rest, travel, or catch up on coursework, as well as allowing teacher professional development days in some schools. The exact practices and length of the break can differ widely between regions and schools.