England and Wales

In England and Wales the school year generally runs from early September to mid July of the following year. Most schools operate a three-term school year, each term divided in half by a week-long break known as ‘half term’, and are structured as:

* Autumn term: Early September to mid December (half term: late October)
* Spring Term: Early January to Easter (half term: mid February)
* Summer Term: Easter to mid July (half term: late May/early June)

The terms are separated by two holidays each consisting of approximately two weeks: the Christmas holidays separating the autumn term and spring term, and the Easter holidays separating the spring term and the summer term. The period between the end of one school year and the start of the next is known as the summer holidays consisting of six weeks.

* Autumn Term: August to December (mid-term: mid- to late October)
* Spring Term: January to Easter (mid-term: mid- February)
* Summer Term: Easter to June/ July (mid-term: late May)

The terms are separated by two holidays each consisting of approximately two weeks: the Christmas Holidays separating Autumn term and Spring term, and the Easter Holidays separating Spring term and Summer term. The period between the end of one school year and the start of the next is known as the Summer Holidays consisting of six or seven weeks.

First Term

* Begins mid-January and ends before Good Friday (Usually in March or April).
* Followed by the Easter Holidays, which usually lasts 10 days.

Second Term

* Begins mid-April and ends June
* Followed by the Winter Holidays, which usually lasts 21 days.

Third Term

* Begins mid-July and ends September
* Followed by the September Holidays, also sometimes called the Spring Holidays, and usually lasts 10 days.

Fourth Term

* Begins early October and ends early December
* Followed by the Christmas Holidays, also sometimes called the December or Summer Holidays, and usually lasts approximately 40 days.

The academic year is approximately 200 school days in duration and runs from January to December. Private schools follow a similar calendar, but slightly alter it according to their academic and religious needs. The dates of the school year for coastal schools is slightly different to that for inland schools.

The National Education Department has proposed a five-week long school break in June-July when South Africa hosts the 2010 Soccer World Cup to avoid pupil and teacher absenteeism and a chaotic transport system.

* Term 1: January to March (Term 1 holidays: one week)
* Term 2: March to May (Term 2 holidays: four weeks)
* Term 3: July to September (Term 3 holidays: one week)
* Term 4: September to November (Long holidays: seven weeks)

Terms 1 and 2 are known as Semester 1, and terms 3 and 4 as Semester 2. The first year of Junior College begins in February to accommodate the release of the O level results.

International schools in Singapore operate on a different system, often similar to the system in their home countries.

The academic year at universities also starts on 1 September. It consists of two terms (1 September–circa 20 December followed by a five-week winter exams session and 7 February–circa 20 May followed by a five-week summer exams session).

* 1st Term: From middle September until middle December
* 2nd Term: From the beginning of January until Easter (March–April)
* 3rd Term: From the week after Easter (April) until the end of June (except for 9th and 12th grades, who finish early due to exams)

During the school year there are several breaks or holidays

* Christmas Break: Usually beginning in the 3rd week of December and lasts for two weeks including Christmas and New Year holidays. The 2nd term then begins, often in the first Monday of January.
* Carnival Break: Three days (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) during Carnival. This break used to be one week long but in recent years it has been reduced.
* Easter Break: Two weeks including Easter. It varies form year to year, but it is usually around late March or middle April.
* Summer Break: Usually known as “Férias Grandes” (Big Holidays) it lasts during the summer from late June to middle September and it separates one school year from another.

Universities and colleges follow a different academic year, which consists of two semesters.

Most universities start their courses on October 1 (at some institutions late September), and ending in January. The first semester of the academic year is commonly referred to as the “winter term”. In February or March starts the second term, called also “summer term”, which finishes in June. Each semester is usually 15 or 16 weeks long. After each of them there is an “examination session”, when no courses are taught, which lasts up to one month. Summer break starts after the exams and lasts until the start of the next academic year. In September there is an extra examination session during which students can retake failed exams.

For primary and secondary schools, an academic year is divided in quarters. Each quarter consists of two and one-half months, and there is a one-week break between the second and third quarters. The one-week break commonly coincides with All Saints Day. For universities and colleges, an academic year is divided into 2 semesters. The first semester is followed by a break consisting of two to four weeks before the second semester. The semester break for all universities and colleges usually happens between the second week of October to the first week of November. Also private schools use the semester system which has one-week semestral break to coincide with All Saints Day.

The summer break usually lasts for 2 months, from the first week of April to the last week of May. Christmas break usually begins in the third week of December, and class resumes the Monday after New Year’s Day. Most schools end their school year before the Holy Week. Commencement ceremonies are often held in late March or early April.