Council signs off 2027/28 school year timetable
South Lanarkshire Council has finalised the 2027/28 school calendar, confirming term dates and holidays after a public consultation in which a majority of respondents backed the proposed timetable. The authority said the schedule keeps faith with legal requirements for Scotland’s schools to be open for 190 days each academic year, alongside the customary allocation of in-service days for staff development.
Announcing the decision, the council’s Head of Education, Lynn Sherry, underlined the importance of early certainty for families and school communities.
“We believe that we have come up with a series of school holiday dates for 2027/28 that, while adhering to our legislative requirements, are also in line with previous years and arrangements in neighbouring local authorities. We also believe that having these dates confirmed well in advance allows parents to plan ahead.”
Key dates at a glance
The approved calendar sets out the return to classrooms after the summer break, mid-term closures and public holidays, as well as the end-of-term arrangements ahead of Christmas, Easter and the summer holiday period.
| Term or event | Date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Return after summer | Tuesday 17 August 2027 | First day of the 2027/28 school year |
| September long weekend | Fri 24 & Mon 27 September 2027 | Schools closed to pupils |
| October break | Mon 11 – Fri 15 October 2027 | Week-long holiday |
| In-service day | Monday 8 November 2027 | Pupils not in school |
| End of autumn term | Tuesday 21 December 2027 | Early finish at 2.30pm |
| Return after Christmas/New Year | Wednesday 5 January 2028 | Pupils back to school |
| February mid-term | Mon 14 – Wed 16 February 2028 | Three-day break |
| Start of Easter holiday | Friday 31 March 2028 (from 2.30pm) | Schools close early |
| Return after Easter | Tuesday 18 April 2028 | Term resumes |
| May Bank Holiday | Monday 1 May 2028 | Schools closed |
| Late May closures | Thu 25, Fri 26 & Mon 29 May 2028 | See Lanark variation below |
| Summer break begins | Tuesday 27 June 2028 (from 1pm) | Early finish to end the school year |
Lanark variation for Lanimers
A local adjustment applies for pupils in Lanark. Instead of being off on Friday 26 and Monday 29 May 2028, Lanark schools will close on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 June 2028 to accommodate the town’s Lanimer celebrations. The Thursday 25 May closure remains in place across the council area.
What families and schools can expect
The council emphasised that mapping out the academic year long in advance allows households to make childcare, work and travel plans with greater certainty. Having fixed dates for in-service training and holiday periods should also help schools to schedule assessments, enrichment activities and transitions across terms without clashing with established breaks.
Aligning the calendar with neighbouring authorities is intended to minimise disruption for staff and families who live or work across council boundaries, particularly where siblings attend schools in different areas or where staff commute between localities.
Consultation outcome and statutory framework
Under national regulations, Scottish schools are required to be open to pupils for 190 days over the course of an academic year. In addition, there are typically five in-service days for teaching and support staff training. The council reported that the “majority” of participants in its consultation supported the proposed pattern of dates, which broadly mirrors previous years.
Planning checklist
- Note early finishes on 21 December 2027 (2.30pm) and 31 March 2028 (from 2.30pm), and on 27 June 2028 (from 1pm).
- Families in Lanark should substitute 8–9 June 2028 for 26 & 29 May closures due to Lanimers.
- Confirm any school-specific communications in the run-up to in-service days and term ends.
Further details will be shared through individual schools in due course. Parents and carers are advised to keep an eye on routine updates from their school offices to ensure any local arrangements connected to the published dates are clearly understood.
