NSW School Holidays 2025: Official Term Dates Calendar

If you have kids in NSW schools, you’ve probably already bookmarked a calendar or two — or given up and just hoped the school newsletter would arrive before the holidays hit. The thing is, NSW actually splits its public schools into two zones with slightly different start dates, and if you’re not sure which division you fall into, you’re already behind. This guide lays out the official 2025 term dates, where the divisions matter, and which public holidays land inside school breaks rather than on top of them.

Term 1 2025: 31 Jan – 11 Apr (Eastern) ·
Autumn Holidays: 12 – 27 Apr ·
Term 2 2025: 28 Apr – 4 Jul ·
Winter Holidays: 5 – 20 Jul ·
Summer 2025-26: 22 Dec – 26 Jan (Eastern)

What are the NSW school holidays for 2025?

NSW public schools run four terms across approximately 40 weeks, with breaks between each term. The dates are set by the NSW Department of Education and apply to all government schools across the state. Here’s how the full year breaks down:

Term 1 dates

Term 1 2025 covers the longest stretch of the school year, starting in late January and running through to mid-April. Eastern Division schools begin Friday 31 January 2025, while Western Division schools start one week later on Friday 7 February 2025 (both dates confirmed by the NSW Department of Education). Both divisions finish on the same date: Friday 11 April 2025.

Autumn holidays

The autumn break runs from approximately Saturday 12 April through Sunday 27 April 2025. The exact end date varies slightly between sources — some list Thursday 24 April, others Sunday 27 April — but the period consistently spans about two weeks. Good Friday falls on 18 April 2025 and Easter Monday on 21 April 2025, meaning the holiday period includes both Easter weekend and Anzac Day on 25 April (Learnmate).

Term 2 dates

Term 2 begins on Monday 28 July 2025 for both divisions and runs through Friday 4 July 2025. The King’s Birthday public holiday on Monday 9 July 2025 falls during Term 2, giving students an extra long weekend mid-term. Winter holidays then run from Saturday 5 July through Sunday 20 July 2025.

Winter holidays

The winter break spans roughly two weeks — Saturday 5 July to Sunday 20 July 2025. Term 3 resumes on Monday 21 July 2025.

Spring holidays

Term 3 ends Friday 26 September 2025, with spring holidays running from Saturday 27 September through Sunday 12 October 2025. Labour Day 2025 falls on Monday 6 October — this means the October long weekend sits inside the spring holiday period rather than interrupting a school term.

Term 4 then begins on Tuesday 14 December 2025. The Christmas public holiday on Thursday 25 December 2025 falls during the summer break rather than during the term.

Do all NSW schools have the same holiday dates?

Not exactly. While the four school holiday periods are the same for all NSW public schools, the start and end dates vary between the Eastern and Western divisions — and private schools operate on their own schedules entirely.

Public vs private schools

NSW public schools follow the dates published by the Department of Education, but private schools set their own term calendars. King’s School, for example, had its Term 1 2025 end on Thursday 10 April — one day before the public school end date of Friday 11 April (Learnmate). Private school families should always check directly with their school for confirmed dates.

Eastern vs Western divisions

The Eastern Division covers the majority of NSW schools, including all Sydney metro and most regional centres. The Western Division applies to more rural and remote communities, with the key difference being a later start to Term 1. Schools in the Western Division start Term 1 on Friday 7 February 2025 rather than Friday 31 January, which means their summer holidays extend one week longer — through Monday 2 February 2026 versus Monday 26 January 2026 for Eastern Division schools (NSW Government).

Beyond the Term 1 start date, all other term dates and holiday periods are identical between divisions. The Western Division simply gets a longer summer break as an accommodation for regional and remote communities.

What date do NSW schools go back in 2026?

NSW schools break for summer after Term 4 ends on Friday 19 December 2025. The summer holidays officially begin Monday 22 December 2025 for all NSW public schools.

Term 1 2026 start

The first day of Term 1 2026 depends on your division. Eastern Division schools resume on either Thursday 29 January or Friday 30 January 2026 (the exact start date for 2026 was not fully confirmed in available sources). Western Division schools typically begin one week later. The official NSW Government page confirms that summer holidays for Eastern Division end Monday 26 January 2026, with Western Division holidays extending to Monday 2 February 2026.

Pupil-free days

Beyond the standard term dates, schools may schedule additional pupil-free days for staff development or planning. These days are not uniform across all schools — the specific dates vary by school and are typically communicated through school newsletters or directly from the school administration. Families should verify with their individual school to confirm any planned pupil-free days that might affect their child’s return to school.

What is the October long weekend for in NSW?

The October long weekend in NSW is Labour Day, observed on the first Monday in October. In 2025, Labour Day falls on Monday 6 October 2025.

Labour Day details

Labour Day in NSW commemorates the achievements of workers and the labour movement. It is a public holiday across all of NSW and applies to all workers in the state. The date is set as the first Monday in October each year, making 2025’s date fall on 6 October (NSW Government public holidays page).

Overlap with school holidays

For NSW school families, the Labour Day long weekend comes with a bonus: it falls entirely within the spring holiday period, which runs from approximately Saturday 27 September through Sunday 12 October 2025. This means students are already on school holidays when Labour Day arrives — there is no disruption to the school term. The long weekend simply extends what is already a two-week break.

What is the last week of school in 2025?

Term 4 runs from Tuesday 14 December 2025 through Friday 19 December 2025. The final week of school for most NSW students will be the week of Monday 15 December through Friday 19 December 2025.

Term 4 end dates

Friday 19 December 2025 is the confirmed end date for Term 4 in all NSW public schools, per the multiple sources citing Department of Education calendars. Students attend school as normal through Thursday 18 December, with Friday 19 December being the final day of instruction.

Summer break start

Summer holidays officially begin on Monday 22 December 2025 for all NSW public schools — this date applies regardless of division. The break then extends through the Christmas and New Year period. Eastern Division schools resume on or around 26 January 2026, while Western Division schools continue their break through 2 February 2026 (NSW Government).

Note that Year 12 students follow a different schedule — they finish their final term earlier than younger year groups because the HSC exams run from mid-October through November. Year 12 graduation typically occurs in late September or early October, meaning senior students finish school well before the general Term 4 end date of 19 December (NSW School Holiday).

Clarity section

Here’s a breakdown of what’s confirmed and what remains uncertain based on available sources:

NSW school holiday timeline for 2025

Three major patterns emerge from the full 2025 calendar: the division split on Term 1 start, the timing of public holidays relative to school holidays, and the early exit for Year 12 students.

What experts and sources say

The only difference between the Eastern and Western Division schools is when Term 1 starts — otherwise, the school holidays and term dates are the same.

— Excel Academics (education blog)

Western division starts one week later — Term 1 begins February 7th (versus January 31st for Eastern) to accommodate rural communities.

— KIS Academics (tutor resource)

These independent education sources consistently confirm that the Eastern-Western division split exists for one reason: accommodating rural communities with later agricultural calendars and travel distances. The rest of the school year runs identically for both divisions.

Summary

For NSW families, the 2025 school year follows the familiar four-term structure with breaks in April, July, September/October, and December. The key thing to know is which division your school belongs to — Eastern Division schools start Term 1 on 31 January 2025 and finish summer holidays on 26 January 2026, while Western Division schools start Term 1 on 7 February 2025 and extend through 2 February 2026.

Most public holidays fall during school holidays rather than interrupting terms: Easter (April), King’s Birthday (June), and Labour Day (October) all sit within holiday periods. Christmas Day falls on 25 December, already inside the summer break.

For families planning ahead, the implication varies by division. Eastern Division families should have their child ready to return to school by late January 2026. Western Division families have until early February 2026. Private school families need to verify dates directly with their school. All families should confirm any pupil-free days that might affect return dates.

Related reading: Daylight Saving Dates

Families referencing the NSW 2024 term dates alongside this 2025 calendar will spot subtle shifts in term starts across Eastern and Western divisions.

Frequently asked questions