First day of school in Europe

The summer ends and it is time to come back to school. Get ready! You have to organise your books, tracksuit and backpack… A new scholar year is waiting for you!

After so many days of vacation, returning the school is always a bit hard! It takes us a few days to get used to timetables, to get up early and to study. Do not worry, it is normal and it happens to everyone!

Think about the good things: the first day of school is also very exciting! You will meet your friends and fellows and you will play again with all of them. That's great! New teachers, many things to learn, fascinating adventures to live!

Do you know when do European children come back to school?

In most of Europe, the school begins on September 1. This is the case of Belgium, Slovenia or Poland, although like this year, as that day fallen on a Saturday, the first day of school was on September 3, Monday.  Schools in Russia historically begin on Knowledge Day, September 1st. In France schools opened on September 4 and in England many do on September 5.


In the south of Europe, where the summer is longer, the school begins in the middle of September. For example, in several Italian regions as Sardinia or Calabria the first day of school is September 17. The same happens in Turkey. In Spain, the majority of the children returns to school on September 10. In Portugal, the classes begin between the 10th and 14th of September.

However, in the north of Europe the autumn starts earlier and children come back to school in August, as it happens in some regions of Germany, Scotland, Holland or Sweden. Some dutch kids   began the school year on August 13!