When American families imagine the differences between going to boarding school in the UK versus the US, they often picture uniforms, accents, and architecture. But the most impactful difference is one that might not be on their radar: the academic calendar.
In the US, boarding schools follow a straightforward rhythm: a long stretch of classes from late August through mid-November, broken only by the occasional long weekend. Thanksgiving marks the first real break – a much-needed breather from the marathon of the first quarter of the year. After that, it’s slightly more reasonable, with a winter break in December over the Christmas and New Year holidays, a spring break in March, and summer in early June. Simple. Sparse. Long stretches of grind with a week thrown in just as it feels as if you’re about to collapse.
Now compare the UK model, and it’s like stepping into an entirely different environment. Like a traditional corporate office worker suddenly landing a job at a unicorn company where brand-name snacks are free in the break room and requesting PTO is more of a formality than a gamble. Boarding schools in the UK operate on a three-term system, each neatly divided by a generous “half-term” break. Every six to eight weeks, students and teachers get a week of regenerative rest. Adding in longer breaks at Christmas, Easter and summer, and you have a school year that – while just as academically rigorous – feels more purposeful in its planning.
In my first year teaching in the UK, I taught at a small, all-girls Catholic school in North London. In a meeting with my colleague, I commented on how nice it was that we got a break at the end of October. My mentor teacher was curious about what the US schedule was like. I told him that, other than a couple of bank-holiday weekends, we didn’t get a break until Thanksgiving in late November. No one said anything for a few seconds, until a cacophony of disbelief burst from each colleague. “That’s barbaric!” “I couldn’t manage that.” “Oh my days!”
From a pragmatic standpoint, the UK model has clear advantages. Regular breaks create natural opportunities for families to take vacations, for international students to travel home, or simply for students and teachers to rest and reset. For American families, that structure could be particularly appealing: instead of waiting months for a breather, there are several built-in chances to reconnect throughout the year.
Of course, academics, cultural immersion, and centuries of tradition are all powerful reasons to consider a UK boarding school. But the calendar makes a tangible difference in a student’s wellbeing and in family life. Knowing that a break is never far off gives students a chance to recharge, stay engaged, and return to their studies with focus. For families, the regular rhythm of holidays creates natural opportunities to visit, travel together, or simply reconnect—benefits that can make the whole boarding school experience feel more balanced and rewarding.
It’s often the practical details that define the school experience. And sometimes, simply knowing when the next holiday arrives can make all the difference.
