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Academic year 2026/27

Highland School Holidays

The full 2026/27 school calendar for Highland schools. The new term starts 18 August 2026 and the year ends 2 July 2027. The summer holiday runs from 5 July 2027 to 16 August 2027 — 43 days.

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Highland school holidays 2026/27 — at a glance

October break
12 Oct – 23 Oct
Christmas
21 Dec – 5 Jan
February break
8 Feb – 9 Feb
Easter
5 Apr – 16 Apr
Summer
5 Jul – 16 Aug

Academic year at a glance

Term time
Holiday
In-service day

Term dates summary

Autumn term

18 Aug – 11 Oct

39 school days

Winter term

24 Oct – 20 Dec

40 school days

Spring term

6 Jan – 4 Apr

61 school days

Summer term

17 Apr – 2 Jul

54 school days

PeriodStartsEndsDaysTypevs England
October Holiday12 October 202623 October 202612HolidayAligns with English half-term
Christmas Holiday21 December 20265 January 202716HolidaySimilar dates to England
February Break8 February 20279 February 20272HolidayEngland doesn't have this
Easter Holiday5 April 202716 April 202712HolidayRoughly aligns with English Easter
May Day3 May 20273 May 20271HolidaySame across UK
Summer Holiday5 July 202716 August 202743HolidayStarts 3–4 weeks earlier than England

Money & school admin for Highland parents

While you have the calendar open, three things worth sorting for the year ahead.

School clothing grant

£140–£150 per child

Highland pays a school clothing grant — check if you qualify and how to claim it.

Clothing grant guide
Catchment checker

Which school is yours?

Enter your postcode to find your catchment school and confirm your council.

Open the checker
Scottish Child Payment

£28.20/week per child

A weekly payment for every child under 16 in families on qualifying benefits.

Check eligibility

Looking ahead: Highland school holidays 2027/28

Term is expected to start 17 August 2027 and end 30 June 2028.

PeriodStartsEndsType
October Holiday11 October 202722 October 2027Holiday
Christmas Holiday20 December 20275 January 2028Holiday
February Break7 February 20288 February 2028Holiday
Easter Holiday3 April 202814 April 2028Holiday
May Day1 May 20281 May 2028Holiday
Summer Holiday3 July 202814 August 2028Holiday

Clothing grant

£140 – £150

Primary: £140 · Secondary: £150

Apply at Highland

Council links

Nearby councils

Need childcare during the holidays? Holiday clubs, childminders, costs — and what the 1,140 funded hours cover outside term time.
See options
Filling the holiday weeks? Our sister site TripSCOT covers family days out and free museums across Scotland — with train fares and honest costs.
Family days out Free museums

Frequently asked questions

When do schools go back in Highland for 2026/27?

Schools in Highland return for the 2026/27 academic year on 18 August 2026. This is the official term-start date used by council-managed primary and secondary schools across Highland.

When is the October break in Highland 2026/27?

The October break in Highland runs from 12 October 2026 to 23 October 2026 inclusive. Schools return the following school day.

When are the Christmas school holidays in Highland?

Highland schools close for the Christmas holiday from 21 December 2026 and return on the school day after 5 January 2027.

When is the Easter holiday in Highland 2026/27?

The Easter holiday in Highland runs from 5 April 2027 to 16 April 2027 inclusive.

When does the summer holiday start in Highland?

Highland schools break up for the summer on 5 July 2027 and return for the new academic year on 16 August 2027 or the school day after, depending on in-service day scheduling.

Related guides

Highland schools & grantsBack to school checklistSchool clothing grantsFree school mealsP7 to S1 transitionSummer holiday childcareFunded childcare (1,140 hours)Early years & childcare hub

Places to stay in Highland

Book a break around the school holidays.

The School Bell

Weekly Scottish-education updates

Deadlines, benefit rate changes and the stuff you actually need to know — no spam.

Dates last checked April 2026.

Dates follow the typical Highland regional pattern. Always confirm with Highland before booking holidays, flights or childcare. See our editorial policy for how we source this data.