School term dates · 2026/27

Highland school holidays and term dates

Every term date, half term and school holiday for Highland, 2026/27 — taken from Highland's published calendar.

From Highland's published calendar, last verified 8 July 2026 · the source document · How we source and verify these dates

Next school holiday in Highland: October break, 12–23 October 2026. All term dates, half terms and holidays for 2026/27 are below.

School holidays and term dates 2026/27

Autumn term: first day back for pupils 19 August 2026, last day for pupils 22 December 2026.
Spring term: first day back for pupils 6 January 2027, last day for pupils 25 March 2027.
Summer term: first day back for pupils 12 April 2027, last day for pupils 1 July 2027.

Published in-service days: 17–18 August 2026, 14 September 2026, 17 February 2027, 6 May 2027 — school is closed to pupils on these days.

Half terms and holiday weeks are where co-parenting plans wobble. Map out who has the children for each break in a calendar you both see.

See the shared calendar

These dates are set by Highland. In-service days are set locally and can vary by school — always check your child's school calendar too.

When is half term in Highland?: The next break is October break, 12–23 October 2026. All half terms for 2026/27 are in the tables above.
What are in-service days?: In-service days are staff-training days when schools close to pupils. Dates can vary school to school — check your school's own calendar.
Do all Highland schools follow these dates?: Council-run schools follow them; in-service days and occasional local variations differ by school, so check your school's calendar.
Why is your first day back sometimes later than the council's?: Because we list the first day pupils go back. Some councils count a staff training day as the first day of term, which makes their published start a day earlier than ours. Children are not in school on those days.

See every council we cover in Scotland, or all UK council term dates.