Term dates on school websites are the single most-visited pages in most schools. Make them effortless to find, impossible to misunderstand, and always up to date.
Term dates done right
Step 1: Give them a permanent home
Create one dedicated term-dates page linked from the homepage and the parents section, with a web address that never changes year to year. A stable URL means bookmarks keep working and Google sends parents to the right place. Avoid burying dates inside newsletters or letters.
Step 2: Show, don’t just tell
Present dates as a clear calendar view with colour-coding for terms, holidays and INSET days, alongside a simple chronological list for phones. Add downloadable versions for fridges and digital calendars. Visual clarity prevents the misunderstandings that flood the office with calls.
Step 3: Keep them current
Publish next year’s dates the moment governors agree them, and remove last year’s promptly to avoid confusion. Assign one person ownership of the page with a calendar reminder each time dates are set. Stale dates erode trust in everything else on the site.
Formats parents love
Calendar view
Terms, half terms, bank holidays and INSET days colour-coded at a glance. This is the fastest possible answer to “when are we off?”, and it works beautifully on both desktop and mobile when designed responsively.
Printable PDF
A tidy one-page summary designed for the fridge door. Keep the layout consistent year to year so returning parents know exactly where to look. Include the school’s contact details in the footer.
Phone-friendly list
A simple chronological list that reads perfectly on small screens with no pinching or sideways scrolling. Many parents will only ever see this version, so make it flawless.
Calendar downloads
One-click files that add term dates straight to parents’ phone calendars, with automatic reminders. This small feature dramatically reduces “I didn’t know” conversations.
Key takeaway: Term dates deserve prime real estate on your site. They are the pages parents visit most, so treat them like it.
Should we publish INSET days too?
Absolutely, clearly marked as pupil-free days. Parents arrange childcare and work around them, so visibility matters as much as for term dates themselves.
How far ahead should dates go?
Publish at least the full current academic year plus the next one, as soon as governors agree them. Families booking holidays a year ahead will thank you. Early publication also reduces the January rush of absence requests you cannot approve. Where your local authority publishes its own dates, link to them as well so parents see the full picture.
What if dates change?
Update the page immediately, highlight the change prominently for two weeks, and notify parents through your usual channels. Never silently edit dates. A short news post explaining the change shows respect for parents’ planning and prevents playground misinformation.
Ready to grow?
Small details like term dates pages show parents you care about their experience. We sweat those details on every school website we build. Firm fixed price once we understand your project.
