School Year

Our School Year is extended and reflecting the professional workplace, involves student choice as to when they take holidays and time away from their studies.

We understand how important it is for our students to have a school year which is aligned as closely as possible to other schools to ensure they have time with siblings, family, friends and out of school commitments, so we have kept a similar structure but with some key differences to offer our students exciting and extended opportunities.

‘Half term’ holidays - Students choose two from the three Half Term options for a week-long holiday during the year. One of the Half Term options will be selected by the student to take part in an Enrichment Week where students will participate in work placements, service learning, UK and overseas visits.

Term 4 - Term 4 is a three week term.

Academic Year 2024/2025

Chester International School half term holidays fall in line with Cheshire West and Chester school half term dates.

Return to school for 2025/26: Monday 1st September 2025

Academic Year 2025/2026

Chester International School half term holidays fall in line with Cheshire West and Chester school half term dates.

Return to school for 2026/27: Tuesday 1st September 2026

Taking Holidays during Term Time

The Government discourages the taking of holidays in term time and schools must adhere to their guidelines as follows:

As of September 2013, the law has restricted a Headteacher’s ability to authorise holidays during term time. Headteachers are now only empowered to approve a leave of absence when it is requested in advance by the parent or carer with whom the child resides and when circumstances of the requested leave are ‘exceptional’. Following the decision of the Supreme Court on the matter of ‘regular attendance’ in the case of Isle of Wight v Platt, if a parent or carer chooses to take their child out of school during term time when the circumstances are not ‘exceptional’, from September 2017, the Local Authority will be informed as this will constitute an unauthorised absence. A Fixed Penalty Notice will then be issued in accordance with Section 444 of the Education Act 1996.