When do Scottish schools go back?

After Christmas 2026

Monday 4 January 2027 is a bank holiday in Scotland, the substitute day for 2 January. Most schools stay closed that day. Return dates fall into four groups.

• Monday 4 January: Inverclyde, whose published dates have pupils back on the bank holiday. Check this date with your school.
• Tuesday 5 January: 19 councils, including Glasgow, Aberdeen, Falkirk and North Lanarkshire.
• Wednesday 6 January: Edinburgh, Fife, Highland, Moray, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.
• Thursday 7 January: Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross and Midlothian.

In Edinburgh, Midlothian and Dumfries and Galloway, teachers return a day earlier for an in-service day.

After Easter 2027

• Wednesday 7 April: Shetland, which breaks earliest, from Thursday 25 March.
• Monday 12 April: 15 councils, including Fife, Highland, Dundee, Angus and Orkney.
• Monday 19 April: 13 councils with a 5 to 16 April spring break, including Glasgow, North Lanarkshire and Stirling.
• Tuesday 20 April: Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian, which also close on Monday 19 April.

Most councils then close for the May Day bank holiday, Monday 3 May 2027.

After the summer 2027

Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling go back first, on Wednesday 11 August 2027. Most councils return between Monday 16 and Wednesday 18 August. Dumfries and Galloway returns on Monday 23 August and Aberdeen last, on Tuesday 24 August.

Teachers go back one or two days before pupils for in-service training. In Glasgow, for example, teachers return on Monday 16 August and pupils on Wednesday 18 August 2027.

Five councils had not published 2027/28 dates that we could check on 1 October 2026. They are Aberdeenshire, East Lothian, Inverclyde, Orkney and the Western Isles. The Western Isles has proposed Thursday 19 August 2027 for pupils.

After the October and February breaks

After October week 2026, Glasgow pupils return on Monday 19 October and Edinburgh pupils on Tuesday 20 October. In Fife, Highland and Aberdeen, pupils return on Monday 26 October.

February breaks are short and vary the most. In 2027 Fife pupils return on Monday 15 February and Dundee pupils on Wednesday 17 February. Glasgow and Highland pupils return on Thursday 18 February, and Edinburgh pupils on Monday 22 February.

What to do next

Check your council's page for in-service days near the return date. These are the days most likely to catch parents out.

Quick answers

When do schools go back after Christmas in Scotland?

Most councils return on Tuesday 5 January 2027. Some return on Wednesday 6 January, and Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross and Midlothian on Thursday 7 January. Inverclyde returns earlier, on Monday 4 January.

When do Scottish schools go back in August 2027?

Between Wednesday 11 August and Tuesday 24 August 2027. Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling are first and Aberdeen is last.

Why do schools go back on a Tuesday or Wednesday?

Teachers usually have one or two in-service days first. Pupils then start once those days are over, which often lands midweek.

Is 4 January 2027 a school day?

Not in most councils. Monday 4 January 2027 is the substitute bank holiday for 2 January, and most schools are closed. Inverclyde is the exception, with pupils due back that day.