Northern vs Southern Hemisphere calendar
Most international schools globally follow Northern Hemisphere academic calendars: August/September start, June/July end, with main summer break in July-August. This applies regardless of school location. international schools in Sydney, Auckland, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo typically run Northern Hemisphere calendar to align with global mobility patterns and university calendars in the US/UK/Europe.
Local-curriculum schools (NZ NCEA schools, Australian state schools, Brazilian schools) follow local academic calendars (NZ: late January start; Australia: late January; Brazil: February start). For Australian/NZ-based families considering international schools, this can create alignment challenges if siblings are in different curriculum systems.
Typical international school holiday structure
Standard international school year structure: 36-38 weeks of teaching, 13-15 weeks of holiday across the year.
Autumn term (September-December): 14-16 weeks. Mid-term break in October (1 week). Winter break around 22 December - 7 January (2-3 weeks).
Spring term (January-April): 11-13 weeks. Mid-term break in February (1 week). Easter/spring break (1-2 weeks).
Summer term (April/May - June/July): 10-12 weeks. May half-term (1 week at British-curriculum schools). End of academic year typically last week of June.
Summer break (July-August): 6-8 weeks.
How holidays vary by curriculum
British-curriculum schools tend to have longer Christmas and Easter breaks (3 weeks each), shorter summer (6 weeks). American-curriculum schools tend to have shorter Christmas (2 weeks), shorter Easter (1 week), longer summer (8-9 weeks). IB schools tend to align with British calendars in primary and middle years, with adjusted secondary calendar around IB exam dates (May).
Local public holiday alignment
International schools typically observe major local public holidays alongside their own calendar. UAE schools observe Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha (1-3 days each); Singapore schools observe Chinese New Year (2 days), Hari Raya, Deepavali; China schools observe Chinese New Year (1 week typically); Saudi Arabia schools observe Eid (1 week), Saudi National Day. Worth checking specific schools' published calendars when planning travel. local holiday dates shift annually based on lunar calendars.
The exam-period calendar
IB Diploma exams run early-mid May. A-Level exams run May-June. AP exams run early-mid May. For sixth-form students, this concentrates exam stress around late April/May regardless of school. After exams, sixth-form students typically have lengthy breaks before graduation. Many schools end formal teaching for Year 13/Grade 12 in April, with graduation ceremonies in late May/early June.
School-specific holiday days
Most schools add 4-8 "in-service days" or "professional development days" per year where school is closed for staff training. These typically appear scattered across the year. sometimes attached to public holidays to create longer weekends. Worth requesting specific calendar before signing on, particularly for working parents who need to plan childcare around closure days.
Travel planning implications
Northern Hemisphere calendar means premium travel periods (Christmas, Easter, summer) align with peak global travel demand and prices. Schools' October half-term creates good shoulder-season travel opportunities. February half-term (British-curriculum schools) offers winter sports timing. School calendars are typically published 12-18 months in advance. worth booking flights and accommodation early for major holidays.
Holiday alignment when changing schools
Family relocations between cities can create holiday alignment challenges. Most cities' international schools share roughly aligned calendars (within 2-3 weeks of each other). but exact dates vary. For families with children in different schools (different cities, different curricula), planning family time during shared holiday windows can be harder than expected. Worth confirming specific calendars early.