There are 5 main Highland School Holidays during the academic year. The school term dates for the Highland Council area are set and include in-service days, the October break, February break, Easter break, Christmas break, May Day holiday, and summer break dates.
This academic calendar ensures you know exactly when schools are closed, when pupils return, and how to plan.
Highland School Holidays 2026/2027
Here are the complete Highland school holidays and term dates for the 2026/2027 academic year.
Term 1 – August to October
- Starts: Monday 17 August 2026
- Ends: Friday 9 October 2026
- In-service days (teachers’ in-service days): Monday 17 August, Tuesday 18 August, and Monday 14 September 2026
- October holidays: Monday 12 October to Friday 23 October 2026 (pupils return Monday 26 October)
Term 2 – October to December
- Starts: Monday 26 October 2026
- Ends: Tuesday 22 December 2026
- Christmas and New Year holidays: Wednesday 23 December 2026 to Tuesday 5 January 2027 (pupils return Wednesday 6 January)
Term 3 – January to March
- Starts: Wednesday 6 January 2027
- Ends: Thursday 25 March 2027
- February break: Monday 15 February and Tuesday 16 February 2027
- In-service day: Wednesday 17 February 2027
- Easter holidays: Friday 26 March to Friday 9 April 2027 (pupils return Monday 12 April)
Term 4 – April to July
- Starts: Monday 12 April 2027
- Ends: Thursday 1 July 2027
- May Day holiday: Monday 3 May 2027
- In-service day: Thursday 6 May 2027
- Summer holidays: start Friday 2 July 2027
Key return dates for 2026/2027:
- After October break: Monday 26 October 2026
- After Christmas: Wednesday 6 January 2027
- After Easter: Monday 12 April 2027
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Highland School Holidays 2027/2028
Here are the complete Highland school holidays and term dates for the 2027/2028 academic year.
Term 1 – August to October
- Starts: Wednesday 18 August 2027
- Ends: Friday 8 October 2027
- In-service days: Monday 16 August, Tuesday 17 August, and Monday 13 September 2027
- October holidays: Monday 11 October to Friday 22 October 2027 (pupils return Monday 25 October)
Term 2 – October to December
- Starts: Monday 25 October 2027
- Ends: Tuesday 21 December 2027
- Christmas and New Year holidays: Wednesday 22 December 2027 to Tuesday 4 January 2028 (pupils return Wednesday 5 January)
Term 3 – January to March
- Starts: Wednesday 5 January 2028
- Ends: Friday 31 March 2028
- February break: Monday 14 February and Tuesday 15 February 2028
- In-service day: Wednesday 16 February 2028
- Easter holidays: Monday 3 April to Monday 17 April 2028 (pupils return Tuesday 18 April)
Term 4 – April to July
- Starts: Tuesday 18 April 2028
- Ends: Thursday 29 June 2028
- May Day holiday: Monday 1 May 2028
- In-service day: Monday 5 June 2028
- Summer holidays: start Friday 30 June 2028
Key return dates for 2027/2028:
- After October break: Monday 25 October 2027
- After Christmas: Wednesday 5 January 2028
- After Easter: Tuesday 18 April 2028
Public Holidays & School Closure Dates
In addition to term breaks, the Highland Council observes public holidays that affect school closures. These include:
- May Day holiday – 3 May 2026 (2026/2027) and 1 May 2028 (2027/2028)
- School closure dates align with in-service days and all holiday periods listed above
Unlike some other regions, Scottish schools do not typically have a May half-term week; instead, the May Day bank holiday and occasional in-service days provide the only closures in May.
Download Printable School Calendar PDF
You can download official printable school calendars directly from the Highland Council website. These printable school calendar PDFs include all school term dates, in-service days, and holiday periods.
Explore Official UK Public Holiday Dates
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View UK Public HolidaysAlso Check: Glasgow School Holidays
FAQs
When do schools in Highland return after the October break?
Schools return on the Monday following the October holiday period as dates are inclusive.
Are in-service days the same for all Highland schools?
Yes, in-service days are set by Highland Council and apply across all Highland local education authority schools.
Do Highland schools have a February half-term?
Yes, a two-day February break is scheduled in both academic years.
When is the Easter break in Highland schools?
Easter holidays are late March to early April, varying slightly between years.
Are these term dates the same across Scotland?
No, each Scottish local authority sets its own term dates, though many are similar.
Useful Resources
For the official term dates and holidays, always check the Council website.