Highland school term dates & holidays 2026/27 and 2027/28

Compiled from The Highland Council's published calendar · last checked 12 September 2026

These are the official school term dates and holidays set by The Highland Council for the 2026/27 and 2027/28 academic years: term start and finish dates, half terms, and the Christmas, Easter and summer breaks. We take the dates straight from the council's own published calendar (linked below), convert them into one consistent format, and recheck them each academic year. School-day counts exclude weekends and half term but not inset days, which individual schools choose themselves.

Highland term dates 2026/27

PeriodStartsEndsLength
Autumn term 2026 termWednesday, 19 August 2026Tuesday, 22 December 202680 school days
October half term holidayMonday, 12 October 2026Friday, 23 October 2026
Christmas holiday holidayWednesday, 23 December 2026Tuesday, 5 January 2027
Spring term 2027 termWednesday, 6 January 2027Thursday, 25 March 202754 school days
February half term holidayMonday, 15 February 2027Wednesday, 17 February 2027
Easter holiday holidayFriday, 26 March 2027Sunday, 11 April 2027
Summer term 2027 termMonday, 12 April 2027Thursday, 1 July 202759 school days
Council notes for 2026/27:
  • Pupils return Wednesday 19 August 2026; in-service days Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 August 2026.
  • In-service day Monday 14 September 2026.
  • Christmas holiday: Wednesday 23 December 2026 to Tuesday 5 January 2027.
  • February: break Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 February, in-service Wednesday 17 February 2027; pupils back Thursday 18 February.
  • Easter holiday: Friday 26 March to Friday 9 April 2027.
  • May Day holiday Monday 3 May; in-service day Thursday 6 May 2027.
  • Summer holiday starts Friday 2 July 2027.

Highland term dates 2027/28

PeriodStartsEndsLength
Autumn term 2027 termWednesday, 18 August 2027Tuesday, 21 December 202780 school days
October half term holidayMonday, 11 October 2027Friday, 22 October 2027
Christmas holiday holidayWednesday, 22 December 2027Tuesday, 4 January 2028
Spring term 2028 termWednesday, 5 January 2028Friday, 31 March 202860 school days
February half term holidayMonday, 14 February 2028Wednesday, 16 February 2028
Easter holiday holidaySaturday, 1 April 2028Monday, 17 April 2028
Summer term 2028 termTuesday, 18 April 2028Thursday, 29 June 202853 school days
Council notes for 2027/28:
  • Pupils return Wednesday 18 August 2027; in-service days Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 August 2027.
  • In-service day Monday 13 September 2027.
  • Christmas holiday: Wednesday 22 December 2027 to Tuesday 4 January 2028.
  • February: break Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 February, in-service Wednesday 16 February 2028.
  • Easter holiday: Monday 3 April to Monday 17 April 2028.
  • May Day holiday Monday 1 May; in-service day Monday 5 June 2028.
  • Summer holiday starts Friday 30 June 2028.
Source: these dates come from The Highland Council's official term dates page, last checked by us on 12 September 2026. If the council amends its calendar mid-year, its page is the authority; tell us and we'll correct ours. Read how we compile term dates.

Common questions

When is October half term in Highland?

October half term in Highland runs from Monday, 12 October 2026 to Friday, 23 October 2026. Pupils return the following school day.

When do Highland schools break up for Christmas?

The autumn term in Highland ends on Tuesday, 22 December 2026, so that is the last day of school before the Christmas holiday.

When do Highland schools break up for summer?

The summer term ends on Thursday, 1 July 2027. The summer holiday starts the next day.

Is Highland's October half term the same as neighbouring councils?

Partly. Of the 31 other Scotland councils we cover, 10 share Highland's October half term week in 2026/27, while Angus, Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverclyde, Midlothian, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Orkney, Renfrewshire, Scottish Borders, Shetland, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian, Western Isles differ. If your children attend schools under different councils, check both pages before booking.

Do all schools in Highland follow these dates?

No. These are The Highland Council's published dates for community and voluntary-controlled schools. Academies, free schools, foundation schools and private schools set their own calendars, and every school adds its own inset days. Check with your school before booking anything you can't refund.

Tempted by term-time prices? Taking children out of school during term can mean a penalty notice, and the rules differ across the UK. How school fines work, nation by nation.

Nearby councils