Under Department of Education rules, there is a requirement for a school to be open for a minimum of 166 days at post primary level and 182 days at primary level. So, while the school year is standardised for holidays and mid-term breaks, schools have discretion to arrange teaching days outside these periods. Many schools will use their discretionary days to determine the start and end of the school year. Some schools use their discretionary days for extended bank holiday breaks and others extend the May bank holiday break to a full week. Parents, therefore need to check with their own schools for details of school holidays and closures extra to those shown in the school calendar above.

Contingency arrangements are also in place in the event that schools need to make time due to unforeseen school closures – view contingency arrangements here.