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North Ayrshire school holidays 2026/27

Every holiday, in-service day and early finish for North Ayrshire Council schools in 2026/27 and 2027/28. North Ayrshire has a one-week October break this year, and the usual five in-service days.

Checked against North Ayrshire Council, School holidays and in-service dates 2026/27 (all schools except Arran) and 2027/2028 (all schools) on 1 October 2026

The school year at a glance

School openHolidayIn-service dayPublic holiday

Term dates 2026/27

DateWhat happensType
Autumn term
Wed 19 Aug 2026Teachers return (in-service)In-service
Thu 20 Aug 2026Pupils returnTerm starts
Mon 21 Sep 2026In-service dayIn-service
Mon 12 to Fri 16 Oct 2026October holidayHoliday
Fri 20 and Mon 23 Nov 2026November long weekendHoliday
Tue 24 Nov 2026In-service dayIn-service
Fri 18 Dec 2026Last day before ChristmasTerm ends
Christmas
Mon 21 Dec 2026 to Mon 4 Jan 2027Christmas holidayHoliday
Spring term
Tue 5 Jan 2027Pupils return after ChristmasTerm starts
Mon 15 Feb 2027February holidayHoliday
Tue 16 Feb 2027In-service dayIn-service
Thu 25 Mar 2027Last day before spring holidayTerm ends
Easter
Fri 26 Mar to Fri 9 Apr 2027Spring holidayIncludes Good Friday 26 March and Easter Monday 29 MarchHoliday
Summer term
Mon 12 Apr 2027Pupils return after spring holidayTerm starts
Mon 3 May 2027May Day holidayPublic holiday
Mon 31 May 2027In-service dayIn-service
Wed 30 Jun 2027Last day of sessionTerm ends
Summer
Thu 1 Jul 2027 to Sun 15 Aug 2027Summer holidaysPupils return Monday 16 August 2027Holiday
School openHolidayIn-service dayPublic holiday

Term dates 2027/28

DateWhat happensType
Autumn term
Thu 12 and Fri 13 Aug 2027Teachers return (in-service)In-service
Mon 16 Aug 2027Pupils returnTerm starts
Mon 4 to Fri 15 Oct 2027October holidayTwo weeks, all schoolsHoliday
Fri 19 and Mon 22 Nov 2027November long weekendHoliday
Tue 23 Nov 2027In-service dayIn-service
Wed 22 Dec 2027Last day before ChristmasTerm ends
Christmas
Thu 23 Dec 2027 to Wed 5 Jan 2028Christmas holidayHoliday
Spring term
Thu 6 Jan 2028Pupils return after ChristmasTerm starts
Thu 17 Feb 2028In-service dayIn-service
Fri 18 and Mon 21 Feb 2028February holidayHoliday
Fri 31 Mar 2028Last day before spring holidayTerm ends
Easter
Mon 3 to Mon 17 Apr 2028Spring holidayIncludes Good Friday 14 April and Easter Monday 17 AprilHoliday
Summer term
Tue 18 Apr 2028Pupils return after spring holidayTerm starts
Mon 1 May 2028May Day holidayPublic holiday
Mon 29 and Tue 30 May 2028May long weekendHoliday
Fri 30 Jun 2028Last day of sessionTerm ends
Summer
Sat 1 Jul 2028Summer holidaysNext session not published yetHoliday

Keep these dates in your phoneSubscribe once and your calendar updates if the council changes a date.

Get the calendar file

North Ayrshire's 2026/27 calendar in brief

North Ayrshire Council covers towns such as Irvine, Kilwinning, Saltcoats, Ardrossan and Largs. It also covers Arran and Cumbrae. In 2026/27 Arran schools follow a separate calendar.

The dates here are for all other schools, including Cumbrae. Pupils return on Thursday 20 August 2026, after an in-service day on 19 August. A second in-service day falls on Monday 21 September.

The October holiday is one week, from 12 to 16 October. A November long weekend runs from Friday 20 to Monday 23 November. Tuesday 24 November is an in-service day.

Christmas runs from Monday 21 December to Monday 4 January. The spring holiday covers Good Friday, 26 March, to Friday 9 April 2027. There are five in-service days in 2026/27.

The session ends on Wednesday 30 June 2027. Big changes arrive in 2027/28. Mainland, Cumbrae and Arran schools will share one calendar.

Pupils go back earlier, on Monday 16 August 2027. The October break grows to two weeks, from 4 to 15 October 2027. The 2027/28 session ends on Friday 30 June 2028.

Schools in North Ayrshire

From the September 2025 pupil census.

60council schools: 50 primary, 9 secondary, 1 special
16,801pupils, about 2.4% of Scotland's total
22.1average primary class size (Scotland 23.1)

Quick answers

When do North Ayrshire schools go back after the summer 2026?

Pupils return on Thursday 20 August 2026. Wednesday 19 August is an in-service day for staff.

When is the October week in North Ayrshire in 2026?

Mainland and Cumbrae schools close from Monday 12 to Friday 16 October 2026.

How many in-service days are there in North Ayrshire in 2026/27?

There are five: 19 August, 21 September and 24 November 2026, then 16 February and 31 May 2027.

When do North Ayrshire schools go back after the summer 2027?

All schools, including Arran, return on Monday 16 August 2027. Staff in-service days are Thursday 12 and Friday 13 August.

Individual schools can add their own closure days, and councils sometimes move in-service days. Your school's letter or website takes priority. North Ayrshire has five in-service days in 2026/27.