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term dates

Term dates, school timetable and key dates

The Academy day

 

Monday timetable

Activity Time
Students move to form rooms 08:25
Extended Form Time  - 09:15
Period 1 09:15 – 10:10
Period 2 10:10 – 11:05
Break 11:05 – 11:25
Period 3 11:25 – 12:20 
Lunch

12:20 or 12:25 – 

13:10 

Period 4

13:10 – 14:05

Period 5

14:05 – 15:00 

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday timetable.

Activity  Time
Students move to form rooms 08:25
Form time - 8:50
Period 1 08:50 – 09:50
Period 2 09:50 – 10:50
Break 10:50 – 11:10
Period 3 11:10 – 12:10 
Lunch 12:10 or 12:15
 – 13:00 

Period 4

13:00 – 14:00

Period 5

14:00 – 15:00 

The typical school week is 32.5 hours per week.

2023/24 Term dates

 

Closing date (last day students attend)

Date school re-opens (for students)

Summer 2023

Friday 21st July 2023

Tuesday 5th September 2023

Autumn half-term 2023

Friday 27th October 2023

Monday 6th November 2023

Christmas break 2023

Friday 15th December 2023

Wednesday 3rd January 2024

Spring half-term 2024

Friday 16th February 2024

Monday 26 February 2024

Easter break 2024

Thursday 28th March 2024

Monday 15th April 2024

May Day 2024

School is closed Monday 6th May.

Summer half-term 2024

Friday 24th May 2024

Monday 3rd June 2024

Summer break 2024

Friday 19th July 2024

TBC

Additional teacher training days

Schools also closed for teacher training days during term-time. There are five additional days in 2023/24 when the school will be closed to students.

Hermitage Academy 2023/24 teacher training days are: 

Day 1: Monday 4th September 2023

Days 2 and 3: Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th December 2023

Days 4 and 5: Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd July 2024

2024/25 term dates

Autumn Term 2024

School reopens

School closes (last day of school)

Half term

Wednesday 4 September 2024

Friday 20 December 2024

School closes: Friday 25 October 2024

School reopens:

Monday 4 November 2024

Christmas break: 

  • School closes: Friday 20 December 2024
  • School reopens: Monday 6 January 2025

Spring Term 2025

School reopens

School closes

Half term

Monday 6 January 2025

Friday 11 April 2025

School closes: Friday 21 February 2025

School reopens: Monday 3 March 2025

Easter break:

  • School closes: Friday 11 April 2025
  • School reopens: Monday 28 April 2025

Summer Term 2025

School reopens

School closes

Half term

Monday 28 April 2025

Friday 18 July 2025

School closes: Friday 23 May 2025

School reopens: Monday 2 June 2025

School will be closed for the bank holiday on Monday 5 May 2025

Summer break: Friday 18 July 2025

School is also closed to pupils for the following professional development days:

  • Wednesday 4 September 2024
  • Friday 29 November 2024
 

Holidays and absences in term time

New Government regulations have made it clear that a school or academy may not grant any leave of absence from school during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. Our duty is to ensure all students have complete access to the education provided and we ask for parental support to ensure this happens.

This means:

  • A parent does not have the right to take a child out of school for a holiday or absence in term time.
  • The school will refuse an application for absence unless parents can demonstrate and prove there are exceptional circumstances relating to the request.
  • Absence from the Academy for any reason has a significant effect on learning and is proven to reduce student grades.
  • If a holiday or an absence is taken when permission has not been granted, it will be recorded as an unauthorised absence (truancy) and noted on the student’s record of achievement. The information will be sent to Durham County Council who will consider whether a fine of £60 should be issued. 
  • If a student already has poor attendance and an unauthorised absence is taken, the information may be sent to Durham County Council Attendance Enforcement Team who will consider legal proceedings at a magistrate’s court.