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Academic year 2026/27

Shetland Islands School Holidays

The full 2026/27 school calendar for Shetland Islands schools. The new term starts 19 August 2026 and the year ends 2 July 2027. The summer holiday runs from 3 July 2027 to 17 August 2027 — 46 days. Shetland Islands has 2 in-service days when schools are closed to pupils for staff training.

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Shetland Islands school holidays 2026/27 — at a glance

October break
12 Oct – 23 Oct
Christmas
21 Dec – 4 Jan
February break
12 Feb – 15 Feb
Summer
3 Jul – 17 Aug

Academic year at a glance

Term time
Holiday
In-service day

Term dates summary

Autumn term

19 Aug – 11 Oct

38 school days

Winter term

24 Oct – 20 Dec

38 school days

Spring term

5 Jan – 24 Mar

53 school days

Summer term

7 Apr – 2 Jul

62 school days

PeriodStartsEndsDaysTypevs England
October Holiday12 October 202623 October 202612HolidayAligns with English half-term
October In-Service Days26 October 202627 October 20262In-service—
Christmas Holiday21 December 20264 January 202715HolidaySimilar dates to England
Occasional Holiday27 January 202727 January 20271Holiday—
February Holiday12 February 202715 February 20274HolidayEngland doesn't have this
February In-Service Day16 February 202716 February 20271In-service—
Spring Holiday25 March 20276 April 202713HolidayRoughly aligns with English Easter
Occasional Holiday (May)21 May 202721 May 20271HolidaySame across UK
Summer Holiday3 July 202717 August 202746HolidayStarts 3–4 weeks earlier than England

Money & school admin for Shetland Islands parents

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

School clothing grant

£120–£150 per child

Shetland Islands 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: Shetland Islands school holidays 2027/28

Term is expected to start 16 August 2027 and end 23 June 2028.

PeriodStartsEndsType
Autumn In-Service13 September 202714 September 2027In-service
October Holiday11 October 202715 October 2027Holiday
Christmas Holiday20 December 20275 January 2028Holiday
February Holiday14 February 202815 February 2028Holiday
February In-Service16 February 202816 February 2028In-service
Easter Holiday3 April 202814 April 2028Holiday
May Day1 May 20281 May 2028Holiday
May In-Service4 May 20284 May 2028In-service
Summer Holiday26 June 202811 August 2028Holiday

Clothing grant

£120 – £150

Primary: £120 · Secondary: £150

Apply at Shetland Islands

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 Shetland Islands for 2026/27?

Schools in Shetland Islands return for the 2026/27 academic year on 19 August 2026. This is the official term-start date used by council-managed primary and secondary schools across Shetland Islands.

When is the October break in Shetland Islands 2026/27?

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

When are the Christmas school holidays in Shetland Islands?

Shetland Islands schools close for the Christmas holiday from 21 December 2026 and return on the school day after 4 January 2027.

When does the summer holiday start in Shetland Islands?

Shetland Islands schools break up for the summer on 3 July 2027 and return for the new academic year on 17 August 2027 or the school day after, depending on in-service day scheduling.

How many in-service days does Shetland Islands have in 2026/27?

Shetland Islands has 2 published in-service days in the 2026/27 academic year. On an in-service day schools are closed to pupils but staff are in for training and planning.

Related guides

Shetland Islands 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 Shetland Islands

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 Shetland Islands regional pattern. Always confirm with Shetland Islands before booking holidays, flights or childcare. See our editorial policy for how we source this data.