Key Dates
at John Taylor Free School
Important Dates for the School Year
This page highlights important upcoming dates and events across the school year, including term dates, key events, trips and examinations.
Full details and reminders are shared through school communications and newsletters. This page is intended to provide an at‑a‑glance overview to help families plan ahead.
Term Dates 2026/27
Autumn Term 2026
Staff INSET days
Tuesday 1 September
Wednesday 2 September
Friday 23 October
Term starts
Thursday 3 September: Year 7 and Year 12 only
Friday 4 September: All year groups
Half term
Monday 26 October – Friday 30 October
Term ends
Friday 18 December (12:30pm finish)
Holiday
Monday 21 December – Friday 1 January
Spring Term 2027
Staff INSET day
Monday 4 January
Term starts
Tuesday 5 January
Half term
Monday 15 February – Friday 19 February
Term ends
Thursday 25 March
Holiday
Friday 26 March – Friday 9 April
Summer Term 2027
May Day Bank Holiday
Monday 3 May
Staff INSET day (JTMAT Training Day)
Friday 2 July
Term starts
Monday 12 April
Half term
Monday 31 May – Friday 4 June
Term ends
Wednesday 21 July (12:30pm finish)
Holiday
Thursday 22 July – Wednesday 1 September
The School Day
Students must be on site by 8:45am each day and in their Personal Tutor room by 8:50am.
The school day runs from 8:50am to 3:20pm, with an earlier finish of 3:05pm on Wednesdays. This includes break and lunchtime, but does not include after‑school activities.
This provides a total of 32 hours and 15 minutes across the school week.
The school day is structured slightly differently depending on year group and day of the week.
Years 7, 9 and 11
| MON, TUE, THU & FRI | WED | |
|---|---|---|
| 08:50 – 09:20 | Personal Tutor Time | 08:50 – 09:05 |
| 09:20 – 10:10 | Lesson 1 | 09:05 – 09:55 |
| 10:10 – 10:30 | Break | 09:55 – 10:15 |
| 10:30 – 11:20 | Lesson 2 | 10:15 – 11:05 |
| 11:20 – 12:10 | Lesson 3 | 11:05 – 11:55 |
| 12:10 – 12:50 | Lunch | 11:55 – 12:35 |
| 12:50 – 13:40 | Lesson 4 | 12:35 – 13:25 |
| 13:40 – 14:30 | Lesson 5 | 13:25 – 14:15 |
| 14:30 – 15:20 | Lesson 6 | 14:15 – 15:05 |
Years 8, 10 and Post 16
| MON, TUE, THU & FRI | WED | |
|---|---|---|
| 08:50 – 09:20 | Personal Tutor Time | 08:50 – 09:05 |
| 09:20 – 10:10 | Lesson 1 | 09:05 – 09:55 |
| 10:10 – 11:00 | Lesson 2 | 09:55 – 10:45 |
| 11:00 – 11:20 | Break | 10:45 – 11:05 |
| 11:20 – 12:10 | Lesson 3 | 11:05 – 11:55 |
| 12:10 – 13:00 | Lesson 4 | 11:55 – 12:45 |
| 13:00 – 13:40 | Lunch | 12:45 – 13:25 |
| 13:40 – 14:30 | Lesson 5 | 13:25 – 14:15 |
| 14:30 – 15:20 | Lesson 6 | 14:15 – 15:05 |
Upcoming Events
September 2026
Tuesday 1st September and Wednesday 2nd September: INSET Days (school closed to students)
Thursday 3rd September: Year 7 and Year 12 return to school
Friday 4th September: All students return to school
Monday 7th September: Year 12 Geography Trip – Field Studies, Cranedale
Thursday 10th September: School photos
Wednesday 16th September: Post 16 Welcome Evening, 5-5:45pm
Thursday 17th September: Year 11 Road to Success Evening, 5:30-6:30pm
Wednesday 23rd September: Year 12 Transition Trip – Lane 7, Birmingam
Wednesday 23rd September: Year 6 Open Evening, 5-7pm
Thursday 24th September: APF Forestry Exhibition
Wednesday 30th September: Year 8 Trip – Twycross Zoo
October 2026
Wednesday 7th October: Senior Maths Challenge, 9-10:30am
Wednesday 14th October: Year 11 Drama Trip – Theatre Royal, Nottingham
Wednesday 14th October: Years 7 and 10 Settling In/Meet the Tutor Evening, 3:35-6:35pm
Monday 19th October: Post 16 Open Evening, 5-7pm
Wednesday 21st October: Year 11 University Visits
Friday 23rd October: INSET Day (school closed to students)
Half Term
Monday 26th – Friday 30th October
November 2026
Tuesday 3rd-9th November: External GCSE Maths and English resits
Thursday 5th November: JTMAT History Subject Excellence Event
Tuesday 10th November: Post 16 Trip – Othello, Derby Playhouse
Tuesday 10th November: Post 16 Trip – Holocaust Memorial, Auschwitz
Thursday 19th November: Year 12 Settling In/Meet the Tutor Evening, 3:50-6:50pm
Monday 23rd November: Year 11 Geography Trip – Birmingham
Friday 27th November: Year 11 Geography Trip – Birmingham
December 2026
Wednesday 9th December: GCSE Celebration Evening (times TBC)
Friday 11th December: Christmas Fair
Tuesday 15th December: Christmas Lunch and Non-Uniform Day
Wednesday 16th December: Christmas Concert (times TBC)
Friday 18th December: Last Day of Term 12:30pm finish
Christmas Holiday
Monday 21st December – Friday 1st January 2027
January 2027
Monday 4th January: INSET Day (school closed to students)
Tuesday 5th January: Return to school
Friday 4 September: All students return to school
Monday 7 September: Year 12 Geography Trip – Field Studies, Cranedale
Wednesday 23rd September: Year 12 Transition Trip – Lane 7, Birmingam
Wednesday 23rd September: Year 6 Open Evening, 5-7pm
Thursday 24th September: APF Forestry Exhibition
Wednesday 30th September: Year 8 Trip – Twycross Zoo