South Lanarkshire school holidays 2026/27
Every holiday, in-service day and early finish for South Lanarkshire Council schools in 2026/27 and 2027/28. South Lanarkshire has a one-week October break this year, and the usual five in-service days.
Checked against South Lanarkshire Council, School holidays 2026/27 (approved) on 1 October 2026
The school year at a glance
Term dates 2026/27
| Date | What happens | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term | ||
| Tue 11 and Wed 12 Aug 2026 | Teachers return (in-service) | In-service |
| Thu 13 Aug 2026 | Pupils return to school | Term starts |
| Fri 25 and Mon 28 Sep 2026 | September weekend holidayFriday 25 and Monday 28 September | Holiday |
| Mon 12 to Fri 16 Oct 2026 | October break | Holiday |
| Mon 9 Nov 2026 | In-service day | In-service |
| Tue 22 Dec 2026 | Last day before ChristmasSchools close at 2.30pm | Term ends |
| Christmas | ||
| Wed 23 Dec 2026 to Tue 5 Jan 2027 | Christmas holiday | Holiday |
| Spring term | ||
| Wed 6 Jan 2027 | Pupils return to school | Term starts |
| Mon 15 and Tue 16 Feb 2027 | February break | Holiday |
| Wed 17 Feb 2027 | In-service day | In-service |
| Fri 26 Mar 2027 | Good Friday | Public holiday |
| Mon 29 Mar 2027 | Easter Monday | Public holiday |
| Fri 2 Apr 2027 | Last day before spring breakSchools close at 2.30pm | Term ends |
| Easter | ||
| Mon 5 to Fri 16 Apr 2027 | Spring break | Holiday |
| Summer term | ||
| Mon 19 Apr 2027 | Pupils return to school | Term starts |
| Mon 3 May 2027 | May day | Public holiday |
| Thu 6 May 2027 | In-service day (all schools) | In-service |
| Fri 28 and Mon 31 May 2027 | Local holidayFriday 28 and Monday 31 May. Lanark schools stay open and close on 10 and 11 June instead | Holiday |
| Thu 10 and Fri 11 Jun 2027 | Lanark local holidayLanark schools only | Holiday |
| Fri 25 Jun 2027 | Last day of sessionSchools close at 1pm for summer break | Term ends |
| Summer | ||
| Sat 26 Jun 2027 to Mon 16 Aug 2027 | Summer holidaysPupils return Tuesday 17 August 2027 | Holiday |
Term dates 2027/28
| Date | What happens | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term | ||
| Fri 13 and Mon 16 Aug 2027 | Teachers return (in-service)Friday 13 and Monday 16 August | In-service |
| Tue 17 Aug 2027 | Pupils return to school | Term starts |
| Fri 24 and Mon 27 Sep 2027 | September weekend holidayFriday 24 and Monday 27 September | Holiday |
| Mon 11 to Fri 15 Oct 2027 | October break | Holiday |
| Mon 8 Nov 2027 | In-service day | In-service |
| Tue 21 Dec 2027 | Last day before ChristmasSchools close at 2.30pm | Term ends |
| Christmas | ||
| Wed 22 Dec 2027 to Tue 4 Jan 2028 | Christmas holiday | Holiday |
| Spring term | ||
| Wed 5 Jan 2028 | Pupils return to school | Term starts |
| Mon 14 and Tue 15 Feb 2028 | February break | Holiday |
| Wed 16 Feb 2028 | In-service day | In-service |
| Fri 31 Mar 2028 | Last day before spring breakSchools close at 2.30pm | Term ends |
| Easter | ||
| Mon 3 to Fri 14 Apr 2028 | Spring breakIncludes Good Friday | Holiday |
| Mon 17 Apr 2028 | Easter Monday | Public holiday |
| Summer term | ||
| Tue 18 Apr 2028 | Pupils return to school | Term starts |
| Mon 1 May 2028 | May day | Public holiday |
| Thu 25 May 2028 | In-service day (all schools) | In-service |
| Fri 26 and Mon 29 May 2028 | Local holidayFriday 26 and Monday 29 May. Lanark schools close on 8 and 9 June instead | Holiday |
| Thu 8 and Fri 9 Jun 2028 | Lanark local holidayLanark schools only | Holiday |
| Tue 27 Jun 2028 | Last day of sessionSchools close at 1pm for summer break | Term ends |
| Summer | ||
| Wed 28 Jun 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 Lanarkshire's 2026/27 calendar in brief
South Lanarkshire Council runs the schools in Hamilton, East Kilbride, Rutherglen, Cambuslang, Lanark, Carluke and Clydesdale. It has one of the earliest starts in Scotland. Teachers return on Tuesday 11 August 2026 and pupils go back on Thursday 13 August.
The September weekend falls on Friday 25 and Monday 28 September. The October break is one week, from Monday 12 to Friday 16 October. There is an in-service day on Monday 9 November.
Schools close at 2.30pm on Tuesday 22 December and reopen on Wednesday 6 January 2027. The February break is Monday 15 and Tuesday 16, with an in-service day on Wednesday 17 February. Good Friday and Easter Monday are holidays, then the spring break runs from 5 to 16 April.
The end of May local holiday is Friday 28 and Monday 31 May. Lanark schools take Thursday 10 and Friday 11 June instead. There are five in-service days in 2026/27.
Pupils attend for 190 days. The session ends early, at 1pm on Friday 25 June 2027.
Schools in South Lanarkshire
From the September 2025 pupil census.
Local public holidays
These are set by the council for the area. Schools may already be closed for the summer or a holiday.
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| Thu 10 and Fri 11 Jun 2027 | Lanark local holiday (Lanimer week)Lanark schools only, in place of the end of May local holiday |
| Thu 8 and Fri 9 Jun 2028 | Lanark local holiday (Lanimer week)Lanark schools only, in place of the end of May local holiday |
Quick answers
- When do South Lanarkshire schools go back after the summer 2026?
Pupils return on Thursday 13 August 2026. Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 August are in-service days for all schools.
- When is the October break in South Lanarkshire in 2026?
The October break runs from Monday 12 to Friday 16 October 2026.
- How many in-service days are there in South Lanarkshire in 2026/27?
There are five: 11 and 12 August, 9 November 2026, 17 February and 6 May 2027.
- Do Lanark schools have different holidays?
Yes. Lanark schools close on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 June 2027 instead of the end of May local holiday. In 2028 the Lanark dates are 8 and 9 June.
Individual schools can add their own closure days, and councils sometimes move in-service days. Your school's letter or website takes priority. South Lanarkshire has five in-service days in 2026/27.