South Ayrshire school holidays 2026/27
Every holiday, in-service day and early finish for South Ayrshire Council schools in 2026/27 and 2027/28. South Ayrshire has a one-week October break this year, and the usual five in-service days.
Checked against South Ayrshire Council, School and Early Years Centre term dates on 1 October 2026
The school year at a glance
Term dates 2026/27
| Date | What happens | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term | ||
| Tue 18 and Wed 19 Aug 2026 | Teachers return (in-service) | In-service |
| Thu 20 Aug 2026 | Pupils return | Term starts |
| Fri 18 and Mon 21 Sep 2026 | September weekendSchools closed Friday 18 to Monday 21 September | Holiday |
| Mon 12 to Fri 16 Oct 2026 | October holidays | Holiday |
| Mon 19 Oct 2026 | In-service day | In-service |
| Tue 22 Dec 2026 | Last day of term | Term ends |
| Christmas | ||
| Wed 23 Dec 2026 to Mon 4 Jan 2027 | Christmas holidays | Holiday |
| Spring term | ||
| Tue 5 Jan 2027 | Pupils return | Term starts |
| Fri 12 and Mon 15 Feb 2027 | Mid-term holiday | Holiday |
| Tue 16 Feb 2027 | In-service day | In-service |
| Thu 25 Mar 2027 | Last day of term | Term ends |
| Easter | ||
| Fri 26 Mar to Fri 9 Apr 2027 | Easter holidaysIncludes Good Friday and Easter Monday | Holiday |
| Summer term | ||
| Mon 12 Apr 2027 | Pupils return | Term starts |
| Mon 3 May 2027 | May holiday | Public holiday |
| Thu 6 May 2027 | In-service day | In-service |
| Fri 28 and Mon 31 May 2027 | May weekend | Holiday |
| Wed 30 Jun 2027 | Last day of term | Term ends |
| Summer | ||
| Thu 1 Jul 2027 to Sun 15 Aug 2027 | Summer holidaysPupils return Monday 16 August 2027 | Holiday |
Term dates 2027/28
| Date | What happens | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term | ||
| Thu 12 and Fri 13 Aug 2027 | Teachers return (in-service) | In-service |
| Mon 16 Aug 2027 | Pupils return | Term starts |
| Fri 17 and Mon 20 Sep 2027 | September weekendProvisional, subject to confirmation of the date of the Ayr Gold Cup | Holiday |
| Mon 11 to Fri 22 Oct 2027 | October holidays | Holiday |
| Fri 19 Nov 2027 | In-service day | In-service |
| Wed 22 Dec 2027 | Last day of term | Term ends |
| Christmas | ||
| Thu 23 Dec 2027 to Wed 5 Jan 2028 | Christmas holidays | Holiday |
| Spring term | ||
| Thu 6 Jan 2028 | Pupils return | Term starts |
| Thu 17 Feb 2028 | In-service day | In-service |
| Fri 18 and Mon 21 Feb 2028 | Mid-term holiday | Holiday |
| Fri 31 Mar 2028 | Last day of term | Term ends |
| Easter | ||
| Mon 3 to Mon 17 Apr 2028 | Easter holidaysIncludes Good Friday and Easter Monday | Holiday |
| Summer term | ||
| Tue 18 Apr 2028 | Pupils return | Term starts |
| Mon 1 May 2028 | May holiday | Public holiday |
| Mon 29 May 2028 | Schools closed | Holiday |
| Tue 30 May 2028 | In-service day | In-service |
| Fri 30 Jun 2028 | Last day of term | Term ends |
| Summer | ||
| Sat 1 Jul 2028 | Summer holidaysNext session not published yet | Holiday |
Keep these dates in your phoneSubscribe once and your calendar updates if the council changes a date.
Get the calendar fileSouth Ayrshire's 2026/27 calendar in brief
South Ayrshire Council runs the schools in Ayr, Prestwick, Troon, Maybole, Girvan and the rural villages to the south. Pupils return on Thursday 20 August 2026, after in-service days on 18 and 19 August. The September weekend is long, with schools closed from Friday 18 to Monday 21 September.
The October holidays run from Monday 12 to Friday 16 October. Monday 19 October is an in-service day. Christmas runs from Wednesday 23 December to Monday 4 January 2027.
February brings a four-day weekend. Friday 12 and Monday 15 are holidays and Tuesday 16 is an in-service day. The Easter break starts on Good Friday, 26 March, and lasts until Friday 9 April.
Pupils go back on Monday 12 April. Schools close on Monday 3 May. They close again for the May weekend on 28 and 31 May.
There are five in-service days in 2026/27. The session ends on Wednesday 30 June 2027. In 2027/28 the October break grows to two weeks, from 11 to 22 October 2027.
Schools in South Ayrshire
From the September 2025 pupil census.
Quick answers
- When do South Ayrshire schools go back after the summer 2026?
Pupils return on Thursday 20 August 2026. Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 August are in-service days.
- When is the September weekend in South Ayrshire in 2026?
Schools are closed from Friday 18 to Monday 21 September 2026.
- When does the Easter holiday start in South Ayrshire in 2027?
Schools close from Good Friday, 26 March, to Friday 9 April 2027. Pupils return on Monday 12 April.
- How long is the October holiday in South Ayrshire in 2027?
It is two weeks in 2027, from Monday 11 to Friday 22 October. There is no in-service day straight after it.
Individual schools can add their own closure days, and councils sometimes move in-service days. Your school's letter or website takes priority. South Ayrshire has five in-service days in 2026/27.