ACADEMY DATES & TIMES 2026

Term Dates 2025–2027 & The School Day

 

The academy is open for all. Key daily timings, entry arrangements and confirmed/draft term dates are set out below.

 

1. Timings of the school day (2025–26)

 

The inner site opens to students at 8.00am. A receptionist is usually available from 7.30am for urgent needs.

Before 9.00am: Reception Gate only is open to students (all years). From January 2025, students arriving from 9.00am should use the gate closest to their route.

All students must be on site by 9.20am. Staggered movement to form rooms 9.20–9.25am. Legal registration at 9.30am.

Time Activity
8.00–9.00am Site opens to students. Reception Gate in use for arrivals before 9.00am. Limited duty staff before 8.30am; more staff from 8.30am.
8.30am Formal start to the day for Period 0 / extra‑curricular (where scheduled).
9.00am Use the nearest gate to your route. Stay on pathways and use the footbridge if approaching from the A4/Bath Road side.
9.20–9.25am All students on site by 9.20am. Staggered movement to tutor rooms.
9.30am Registration / assemblies (as per rota). Arrivals after 9.30am are late and students will normally be placed in the RAP room for the day.
9.50am Period 1
10.40am Period 2
11.35am Break 1 (group zoning to be introduced fully during 2025–26)
12.05pm Period 3
12.55pm Period 4
1.50pm Break 2 (group zoning to be introduced fully during 2025–26)
2.20pm Period 5
3.10pm Staggered dismissal
3.30–4.30/4.45pm Period 6 lessons & extra‑curricular activities. Most clubs end by 4.45pm. Community activities from 5.00pm.

An extended day may be introduced in future, subject to government funding.

A. Entry arrangements (morning arrivals)

 

  • Reception Gate is the only gate open before 9.00am (all years).
  • From 9.00am, use the gate closest to your route: Reception, Memorial Garden, South Gate or Bridge Gate.
  • Students must remain on designated pathways and use the A312 footbridge where applicable.
  • All students are expected on site by 9.20am.

Support is available from duty staff, reception, the LMC hatch, School Shop, Main Canteen, ICT hatch and caretakers between 7.30–8.30am.

B. Assembly rota 2025–26 (year colours)

 

Day Concert Hall Upper Gym Cranford Suite
Monday — Year 8 Green Year 12 Pink
Tuesday Year 9 Yellow Year 7 White —
Wednesday — — —
Thursday Year 10 Red — Year 13 Pink
Friday Year 11 Blue — —

C. Travel to and from the academy; entering & exiting

 

  • Students and staff are encouraged to walk or cycle where possible.
  • Plan your route and time your walk in advance, especially for new Year 7s.
  • Arrive early. Entry gates close promptly to maintain safeguarding.
  • Allow extra time on days with known disruption (weather, strikes, etc.).
  • The car park is for staff only. Please do not block entrances.
  • Site is supervised by duty staff and monitored by CCTV at key times.

Students arriving before 9.00am must use the Reception Gate only. After 9.00am use the nearest appropriate gate.

D. Entry routes diagram

 

Diagram of gates and routes will appear here. In severe weather, large indoor areas (e.g. Cranford SuperDome) may be opened for additional sheltered space.

E. Breakfast

 

Breakfast is served in the Dining Hall. A reduced offer is also available from The Cube (blue outdoor servery near Study Centre 1).

  • Breakfast service ends at 9.20am (last service at 9.15am).
  • Move to tutor bases between 9.20–9.25am. Registration is at 9.30am.

$1

Subject Evening review, outcomes and next steps

 

In June and July 2024 we consulted on how we conduct our subject evenings. Thank you to all staff, parents and students who took part. We received 151 responses. The changes below apply from September 2024.

Consultation outcomes

 

  • Format preference: 74% of staff, 53% of parents and 50% of students preferred online School Cloud evenings. Each year group will therefore have one School Cloud subject evening per year.
  • Face-to-face preference: 26% of staff, 46% of parents and 50% of students preferred in-person. We will therefore also offer face-to-face subject evenings for parents and staff to meet and discuss progress. Year 11 and Year 13 Raising Achievement Evenings will now be in person. On that day, other year groups can also book in‑person appointments with class teachers.
  • Other in-person events remain: Year 7 & 12 Transition Evenings, Year 9 Curriculum Evening, Year 11 Future Focus Open Evening and Year 11 Future Focus 1‑to‑1 meetings.
  • Appointments: 87% of parents wanted more appointments. Appointments will be 8 minutes, allowing up to 22 appointments.
  • Who makes appointments: 63% of staff and 89% of parents wanted parents to be able to book. 12 appointments will be parent‑booked during a one‑week window, followed by a week where teachers complete bookings.
  • Technology & contingency: If parents experience technical difficulties on School Cloud, teachers will have up‑to‑date contact details and will make phone calls where needed.
  • Range of students: Teachers will ensure a balanced mix of appointments, including students to praise, students working at expected levels, all students with an EHCP, and those not making expected progress.

Reminder: These meetings are for parents/carers, the teacher and the student. They are not meetings for older siblings.

Schedule of contact opportunities (by year group)

 

White = virtual (School Cloud)   Blue = in person (at school)

Year group Subject Evening Other evening Other evening Other evening
Year 7 School Cloud Subject Evening (May) In person Transition Evening (October, tutors) In person Raising Achievement Evening (February) Parental request
Year 8 School Cloud Subject Evening (March)   In person Raising Achievement Evening (February) Parental request
Year 9 School Cloud Subject Evening (December) In person Curriculum Evening (February) In person Raising Achievement Evening (February) Parental request
Year 10 School Cloud Subject Evening (January)   In person Raising Achievement Evening (February) Parental request
Year 11 School Cloud Subject Evening (November) In person Raising Achievement Evening (February) In person Future Focus Open Evening (October) In person Future Focus 1‑to‑1 meetings (March)
Year 12 School Cloud Subject Evening (May) In person Transition Evening (October) In person Raising Achievement Evening (February) Parental request
Year 13 School Cloud Subject Evening (October) In person Raising Achievement Evening (February)    

2. Term dates 2025–2027

 

Download the Excel workbook (Term Dates 2025–2027) Includes tabs for each year and religious festival dates.

A. 2025–2026 (agreed)

Autumn term 2025

 

Mon 20 Oct – Fri 24 Oct 2025 Teacher Development Days 4–8
Sat 25 Oct – Sun 2 Nov 2025 Half term (9 days)
Mon 3 Nov 2025 Academy re-opens after half term for all pupils
Fri 19 Dec 2025 Academy closes (staggered) for Christmas break
Sat 20 Dec 2025 – Sun 4 Jan 2026 Christmas+ holidays (16 days)

Site closure: The academy premises will be fully closed to the community (contractor access only) from Wed 24 Dec 2025 to Sun 4 Jan 2026 inclusive. No weekend shifts at Christmas/New Year 2025–26.

AYR weekday staff must take annual leave on 24, 29, 30, 31 Dec 2025 and 2 Jan 2026. Academy re-opens to the public Mon 5 Jan 2026. Students return Mon 5 Jan 2026.

Spring term 2026

 

Mon 5 Jan 2026 Academy open for all years
Fri 13 Feb 2026 Academy closes for half term
Sat 14 Feb – Sun 22 Feb 2026 Half term (9 days)
Mon 23 Feb 2026 Academy re-opens for all pupils
Thu 19 Mar 2026 Teacher Development Day 9
Fri 20 Mar 2026 Teacher Development Day 10
Fri 27 Mar 2026 Academy closes for Spring break
Sat 28 Mar – Sun 12 Apr 2026 Spring break (16 days)

Summer term 2026

 

Mon 13 Apr 2026 Academy open for all years
Mon 4 May 2026 May Day (bank holiday)
Fri 22 May 2026 Academy closes for half term
Sat 23 May – Sun 31 May 2026 Half term (9 days)
Mon 1 Jun 2026 Academy re-opens for all pupils
Fri 17 Jul 2026 Academy closes early for pupils

B. 2026–2027 (draft)

Autumn term 2026

 

Wed 2 Sep 2026 Teacher Development Day 1
Thu 3 Sep 2026 Teacher Development Day 2
Fri 4 Sep 2026 Year 7 & Sixth Form only (induction & enrolment)
Mon 7 Sep 2026 Academy open for all years (& enrolment)
Thu 10 Sep 2026 Early closure at 1:50pm for Open Evening
Fri 11 Sep 2026 Teacher Development Day 3
Sat 24 Oct – Sun 1 Nov 2026 Half term (9 days)
Mon 2 Nov – Fri 6 Nov 2026 Teacher Development Days 4–8
Mon 9 Nov 2026 Academy re-opens after half term for all pupils
Fri 18 Dec 2026 Academy closes (staggered) for Christmas break
Sat 19 Dec 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027 Christmas+ holidays (16 days)

Site closure: Premises closed to the community (contractor access only) from Thu 24 Dec 2026 to Sun 3 Jan 2027 inclusive. No weekend shifts at Christmas/New Year 2026–27.

AYR weekday staff must take annual leave on 24, 29, 30, 31 Dec 2026. Academy re-opens to the public Mon 4 Jan 2027. Students return Mon 4 Jan 2027.

Spring term 2027

 

Mon 4 Jan 2027 Academy open for all years
Fri 12 Feb 2027 Academy closes for half term
Sat 13 Feb – Sun 21 Feb 2027 Half term (9 days)
Mon 22 Feb 2027 Academy re-opens for all pupils
Tue 9 Mar 2027 Teacher Development Day 9
Wed 10 Mar 2027 Teacher Development Day 10
Thu 25 Mar 2027 Academy closes for Spring break
Fri 26 Mar – Sun 11 Apr 2027 Spring break (17 days)

Summer term 2027

 

Mon 12 Apr 2027 Academy open for all years
Mon 3 May 2027 May Day (bank holiday)
Fri 28 May 2027 Academy closes for half term
Sat 29 May – Sun 6 Jun 2027 Half term (9 days)
Mon 7 Jun 2027 Academy re-opens for all pupils
Thu 22 Jul 2027 Academy closes early for pupils

C. Autumn 2027 draft (tentative only)

 

Thu 2 Sep 2027 Teacher Development Day 1
Fri 3 Sep 2027 Year 7 & Sixth Form only (induction)
Mon 6 Sep 2027 Academy open for all years
Thu 9 or 16 Sep 2027 Early closure at 1:50pm for Open Evening
Fri 10 or 17 Sep 2027 Teacher Development Day 2
Fri 22 Oct 2027 Academy closes for half term
Sat 23 Oct – Sun 31 Oct 2027 Half term (9 days)
+ 5 days Teacher Development Days (dates tbc)

This page summarises operational timings and term dates. Always check school communications for updates.

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